Bible Study - Fear (1) - The Fear of GOD - Psalm 33:6-22 - December 4, 2022

 

Bible Study – Fear (1) -The Fear of GOD – December 4, 2022

This is lesson one in our series entitled, “Putting Fear in its Place.”

Our focus scripture in Psalm 33:6-22.

The fear of GOD gives us the foundation to face all other fears.

When many of us think of fear, we think of being afraid but this is NOT correct when it comes to GOD. When a person “fears GOD” it is showing GOD respect and honor.

We see the glory of GOD expressed in Psalm 33 ---

GOD reveals Himself through HIS handiwork and HIS protective guidance and care for those who choose HIM through faith in JESUS. GOD expresses Himself to all people in the world in which we live in many different ways. Most especially through nature as we read.

We read in Romans 8:19: ¹⁹ For [even the whole] creation [all nature] waits eagerly for the children of God to be revealed. (Amplified)

Let’s read Psalm 33:6-9:

The heavens were made by the word of the Lord,
and all the stars, by the breath of his mouth.
⁷ He gathers the water of the sea into a heap;^[a]
he puts the depths into storehouses.
⁸ Let the whole earth fear the Lord;
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
⁹ For he spoke, and it came into being;
he commanded, and it came into existence.

 

The psalmist saw the handiwork of GOD, which Moses captured in Genesis. I love Genesis 1:1-3:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.^[a]

² Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. ³ Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

To humanize the word “hovering,” an acquaintance who worked with space projects, related “hovering” to:

You are in charge of sending a spacecraft with people in it to a distant part of the solar system and it must work perfectly the first time. The Spirit of GOD was checking out earth very carefully to ensure that everything needed to create a world that would sustain life for as long as HE desired for it to function. Notice “GOD said, let there be light and there was light.” Moses had recorded the history of the creation of the earth and the psalmist was expressing his awe.

GOD spoke the world into existence and all that earth had to have in order to sustain human, animal and plant life. Just think about how intricate and wonderfully earth was fashioned to sustain human, animal and plant life.

 

Water, sunshine, oxygen, seasons, etc. are vital to sustaining life upon earth. GOD knew that and designed earth to be self-sustaining and put humans in charge to take care of it.

 

GOD spoke and earth came into existence, just as GOD commanded. We know, as humans, that order cannot come from chaos. Random probability does not produce order. GOD designed earth for human, animal and plant life.

 

People through the years attempt to figure it out but -----

 

Let’s read Psalm 33:10-15:

¹⁰ The Lord frustrates the counsel of the nations;
he thwarts the plans of the peoples.
¹¹ The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
the plans of his heart from generation to generation.
¹² Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord—
the people he has chosen to be his own possession!

¹³ The Lord looks down from heaven;
he observes everyone.
¹⁴ He gazes on all the inhabitants of the earth
from his dwelling place.
¹⁵ He forms the hearts of them all;
he considers all their works.

 

GOD is GOD and HE will be GOD for eternity. Man will die and return to the ground but those who have been born-again will live eternally in Heaven through the miracle of Spiritual birth. Unfortunately, those who reject JESUS will go eternally to Hell.

 

The psalmist states that “The LORD” frustrates the counsel or human wisdom and “thwarts the plans of the peoples.” Why? GOD desires for all leaders to look to HIM for HIS leadership and guidance.

 

The psalmist realizes that the “counsel of the LORD is eternal and when nations build upon GOD’S Wisdom, it carries over from one generation to another.” GOD is all knowing, omnipresent and sees into every person’s heart. GOD’S desire is for all to be in right relationship with HIM through faith in JESUS and to build upon that relationship as led by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

 

GOD did not make mankind robots but made mankind with the freedom to choose. HIS desire is for all people to choose HIM. HE chose for mankind to be first born human and then for all humans to choose HIM to be their eternal FATHER through the miracle of Spiritual birth.

 

GOD knows each person intimately. How do we know that? JESUS told us, as recorded in Luke 12:4-7:

 

⁴ “I say to you, my friends, don’t fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. ⁵ But I will show you the one to fear: Fear him who has authority to throw people into hell after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the one to fear! ⁶ Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies?^[b] Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. ⁷ Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

 

Do you know the number of hairs upon your head? GOD does. GOD fashioned every person while he or she was in their mother’s womb. GOD has a plan for every person born but HE also gives every person the free-will to choose.

 

GOD knows every person intimately but gives freedom to all to choose. Choose wisely my friends, choose wisely. GOD allows the Holy Spirit to appeal to every person his or her need for salvation but gives each person the freedom to choose. People have to stumble over the cross of JESUS to go to Hell.

 

GOD does HIS part in working in the lives of all people but HE never violates a person’s right to choose. GOD uses us who know the truth of salvation through Spiritual birth to reach out to those who are seeking salvation. FATHER, help us to be keenly aware of those to whom YOU desire for us to speak to with YOUR message of salvation through faith in JESUS and the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

 

Let’s read Psalm 33:16-22:

¹⁶ A king is not saved by a large army;
a warrior will not be rescued by great strength.
¹⁷ The horse is a false hope for safety;
it provides no escape by its great power.

¹⁸ But look, the Lord keeps his eye on those who fear him—
those who depend on his faithful love
¹⁹ to rescue them from death
and to keep them alive in famine.

²⁰ We wait for the Lord;
he is our help and shield.
²¹ For our hearts rejoice in him
because we trust in his holy name.
²² May your faithful love rest on us, Lord,
for we put our hope in you.

 

GOD led the psalmist’ to focus upon the power of GOD versus the power of humans. Often, humans feel secure in their power, human wisdom, government and might but GOD makes it clear that HE is the only true power for humans to place their faith and confidence upon. Faith in GOD and building according to HIS leadership is vital.

 

GOD is not telling us not to be prepared to defend our lives or country but to look to HIM as we build our defense. There are many perils that only HE is aware of and HE can be our guide as we build our defense.

 

GOD watches over HIS own. It is all about having and being in right relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS. What does GOD do from HIS vantage point:

 

¹⁸ But look, the Lord keeps his eye on those who fear him—
those who depend on his faithful love
¹⁹ to rescue them from death
and to keep them alive in famine.

²⁰ We wait for the Lord;
he is our help and shield.
²¹ For our hearts rejoice in him
because we trust in his holy name.
²² May your faithful love rest on us, Lord,
for we put our hope in you.

 

All who place their faith in JESUS do so with full confidence and assurance that their lives are secure. I rejoice that my FATHER watches over me. The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:12-17:

¹² So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, ¹³ because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons/daughters. ¹⁵ For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba,^[i] Father!” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, ¹⁷ and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

 

Those who have been Spirit-born wait upon the LORD because HE is our hope and our shield. We are in right relationship with HIM therefore, we trust HIM. FATHER, may our trust in YOU be based upon truth and not want-to-be truth. Only YOU can teach and confirm the difference.

 

We know from scripture, as we read in Matthew 7:11:

¹¹ If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him.

If you have not asked JESUS to come into your heart do so now.

 

Blessings!!!

 

First of all, the Bible tells us that HE knits us together in our mother’s womb. HE spoke the world and the universe into existence. GOD established the order of the universe. The Christian Religion can show the way to salvation and reveal how a person can be saved through faith in JESUS. The only way for any person to receive salvation is by placing his or her faith in JESUS, HIS passion and asking JESUS to forgive him or her for his or her sins and for JESUS to come into his or her heart.

The born-again person sees GOD in a new light. Old things pass away and behold all things are new because GOD, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, reveals truth, as we obediently serve HIM and study and apply HIS Word, the Bible.

 

When we are Spirit-born, we are no longer under the law but under “GOD’S Grace” through faith in JESUS. This is the vast difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament. JESUS paid the price for all sin, in full but every per must accept JESUS as his or her Savior to experience Spiritual birth.

To fear GOD is to show complete respect for HIM because HE is the source of love. GOD hates sin but loves the sinner that is why HE sent JESUS to earth to be born fully human and subject to physical death. JESUS had free will to sin but HE chose not to sin but HE chose to live obediently obeying HIS Father. We read in John 5:30 - ³⁰ “I can do nothing on my own. I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of him who sent me.” JESUS was speaking.

By living a sinless life, HE was and is the only fully qualified Savior for all mankind to give HIS life to pay for all sin, in full. JESUS willingly gave HIS sinless life for all who will place their faith in HIM. In doing so, JESUS fulfilled the law and a person’s faith in JESUS not only means eternal salvation.

When a person places his or her faith in JESUS, that person experiences the miracle of Spiritual birth. The instant our human spirit, (the egg), and the Holy Spirit (The Divine Sperm) unite and the person is Spiritually and eternally born into GOD’S Family.

This is “Good News” for all people and it should prompt each person to rejoice and express their love and adoration for such a loving and caring GOD. HE is awesome and worthy of praise! But also worthy of respect!

How does a person become “born-again”? He or she asks GOD to forgive him or her for their sins and for JESUS to come into his or her heart. The miracle of Spiritual-birth happens quicker than the twinkle of a person’s eye. That person becomes GOD’S Son or Daughter and is made an Ambassador for GOD upon earth. WOW!!! But we do not sit down and rest. No! It is time to continue to build our relationship with GOD through prayer, study of GOD’S Word and allowing the Holy Spirit to teach and guide a person’s new life in JESUS. Walk the talk!