02 – The Spirit of the Fear of the Lord

Transformation of my own understanding thru the years

1. Pasture of heart v.s. matured wisdom and stature in the Lord
2. Process
   1. Timid Fear: afraid of punishment from a place of inferiority and ignorance
   2. Affection and respect as a young son
   3. Father’s love gives me more a sense of equality
3. From honor or glory to humility
4. From love to service
5. The mind of Christ

Further clarity on the Mind of Christ

Phil.2, Isa. 11 and 1 Cor. 2

Testimonies in the Bible

Abraham

Ge 22:12 He said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”

Moses

Dt 10:12–13 12 “Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?

Solomon

Ec 12:13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.

Peter | John | Paul

Teach the fear of the Lord: from personal reverence to a culture of love, honor and respect

1. David: Psm. 34
2. Bring the disciples or believers’s mind to be in alignment with the mind of Christ
   

   2 Corinthians 10:3–6 (NASB95) 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 6 and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.

3. The beginning of wisdom
   

   Ps 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.

   Pr 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

   Pr 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Word Study:

Beginning

8040 רֵאשִׁית (rē(ʾ)·šîṯ): n.fem.; ≡ Str 7225; TWOT 2097e—1. LN 68.1–68.10 what is first, the beginning, i.e., the initiation of an action, process, or state of being (Ps 111:10); 2. LN 67.65–67.72 the beginning, first of time, i.e., a point of time which is the beginning (non prior) in a duration (Ge 1:1); 3. LN 65.20–65.29 best, choice, i.e., that which is superior in value to all others in the same class or kind (Nu 24:20; Dt 33:21); 4. LN 53.16–53.27 firstfruit, i.e., the first portion of something which has been set aside in dedication and offering to God (Ne 12:44; Pr 3:9), note: for focus on the firstfruit as a food, see also domain LN 3.33–3.46

רִאשֹׁנִי (ri(ʾ)·šō·nî) BDB: see 8038

Fear

3711 יִרְאָה (yir·ʾā(h)): n.fem.; ≡ Str 3374; TWOT 907b—1. LN 87.4–87.18 reverence, fear, i.e., a state of piety and respect toward a superior (Ex 20:20; Pr 1:7); 2. LN 25.251–25.269 fear, terror, i.e., a state of great anxiety and alarm (Dt 2:25; Ps 55:6EB 5; Jnh 1:10, 16); 3. LN 53.53–53.64 worship, i.e., the act or speech of showing profound reverence toward a superior, which may include ritual action (Ps 5:8EB 7; Job 4:6; 15:4; 22:4); 4. LN 25.206–25.222 awesomeness, i.e., that which causes wonder and astonishment (Eze 1:18), note: for MT

text in 2Ch 26:5, see 8011

Delight (draw close)

8193 רִיחַ (rîaḥ): v.; ≡ Str 7306; TWOT 2131—1. LN 24.71 (hif) smell, i.e., use the perceptual sense of the nose to distinguish odors or aromas and so respond appropriately (Ge 8:21; 27:27; Ex 30:38; Dt 4:28; Job 39:25; Ps 115:6+); 2. LN 57.125–57.141 (hif) accept, i.e., receive an object or accept a situation, as a figurative extension of smelling a pleasing aroma (Lev 26:31; 1Sa 26:19; Isa 11:3; Am 5:21+); 3. LN 15.75–15.80 (hif) come close, i.e., come very near to an object in linear motion, so as to virtually meet, as a figurative extension of placing the nose close to an object to smell it (Jdg 16:9+), note: some give

lexical form as 8118, with same meaning

Sweet Aroma

8194 רֵיחַ (rêaḥ): n.masc.; ≡ Str 7381; TWOT 2131b—1. LN 24.71 scent,

smell, i.e., odor which is unique and identifiable as a sensory input (Ge 27:27; Job 14:9+), see also domain LN 79.45–79.47; 2. LN 79.45–79.47 fragrance, i.e., a pleasant, perfume-type smell (SS 1:3, 12; 2:13; 4:10, 11, 11; 7:9EB 8,14EB 13; Jer 48:11; Hos 14:7EB 6+); 3. LN 79.45–79.47 unit: רֵיחַ (הַ־) נִיחֹחַ (rêaḥ (hǎ-) nî·ḥōaḥ) pleasing aroma, i.e., a pleasant, fragrance, implied to therefore be acceptable to an object (Lev 1:9; Eze 6:13), note: always in reference to deity; 4. LN 79.45–79.47 unit: בָּאַשׁ אֵת רֵיחַ (bā·ʾǎš ʾēṯ rêaḥ) odor, stench, i.e., that sensory input of smell that stinks and is unpleasant (Ex 5:21+)

Oppose or accuse

8189 I. רִיב (rîḇ): v.; ≡ Str 7378; TWOT 2159—1. LN 39.1–39.12 (qal) quarrel, i.e., be in a state of hostility and opposition to another person or group (Ge 26:20); (hif) oppose (1Sa 2:10+); 2. LN 56.2–56.3 (qal) contend, plead for, i.e., bring a lawsuit forth, either in accusation or prosecution, or as a defender in a case (1Sa 24:16; Ne 5:7; Ps 43:1); (hif) bring legal charges (Hos 4:4+)

8190 II. רִיב (rîḇ): n.masc.; ≡ Str 7379; TWOT 2159a—1. LN 39.22–39.32 contention, strife, disputes, i.e., conflict between two or more parties, often with a focus on the feelings between the parties (Ge 13:7); 2. LN 39.1–39.12 hostility, i.e., open opposition to another, with a focus on the actions of the parties (Isa 41:11); 3. LN 33.446–33.454 quarreling, disputing, i.e., an express difference of opinion or perception, with a focus on hostility and strife in the exchange (Pr 15:18; Pr 17:14); 4. LN 56.2–56.3 legal dispute, lawsuit, grievance, i.e., a legal action taken in court as a contest between two parties for justice (Ex 23:2; 1Sa 24:16EB 15), see also 8191; 5. LN 33.406–33.411 taunting, insulting, i.e., verbal mocking and ridicule (Ps 89:51EB 50), note: for MT text in Ps 89:51EB 50, see 8041; 6. LN 55.2–55.6 fighting, i.e., physical combat between two persons or armies, with a focus on the hostility and strife between the two parties (Jdg 12:2); 7. LN 56.4–56.11 accuser, prosecutor, i.e., one who makes a legal accusation against a party (Job 31:35); 8. LN 56.1 court, i.e., the area where legal disputes are held, in a public meeting place, such as a city gate (Pr 25:10); 9. LN 24.77–24.94 pain, distress, i.e., be in physical discomfort (Job 33:19)

8191 רִיבָה (rî·ḇā(h)): n.fem. oth n.masc.; ≡ Str 7379; TWOT 2159a—1. LN 33.439–33.445 argumentation, plea, i.e., a more or less formal, rational, verbal argument to make or defend a point of view in a debate (Job 13:6+), see also 8190; 2. LN 56.2–56.3 unit: דָּבָר רִיבָה (dā·ḇār rî·ḇā(h)) legal case, lawsuit, formally, word of dispute, i.e., a legal action taken in court as a contest between two parties for justice (Dt 17:8+)

As a personal pasture of heart (brief)

As a cultural norm and practice (more expounding)

Fruits of the fear of the Lord

Personal

• intimacy with God (love unto God)
• wisdom
• entrustment
• fulfillment of life

Cultural

Rom. 14:17-19 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.

• Godly love (love unto one another)
• Godly honor
• Godly harmony or peace
• Godly joy or fulfillment