Learning to Fear God Applied to Recovery

QUOTE

“At these words I was utterly stupefied and terror-stricken. I thought to myself, “With what tongue shall I address such majesty, seeing that all men ought to tremble in the presence of even an earthly prince? Who am I, that I should lift up mine eyes or raise my hands to the divine Majesty? The angels surround him. At his nod the earth trembles. And shall I, a miserable little pygmy, say ‘I want this, I ask for that’? For I am dust and ashes and full of sin and I am speaking to the living, eternal and the true God.”

― Martin Luther

SCRIPTURE (HCSB)

Proverbs 1:7. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Joshua 24:14 “Therefore, fear the Lord and worship Him in sincerity and truth. Get rid of the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and worship Yahweh . 15 But if it doesn’t please you to worship Yahweh, choose for yourselves today the one you will worship: the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my family, we will worship Yahweh.”

Psalm 33:18-19. Now the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him— those who depend on His faithful love 19 to deliver them from death and to keep them alive in famine.

Psalm 34:7-22. The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them. 8 Taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the man who takes refuge in Him! 9 You who are His holy ones, fear Yahweh, for those who fear Him lack nothing. 10 Young lions lack food and go hungry, but those who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing. 11 Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord . 12 Who is the man who delights in life, loving a long life to enjoy what is good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech. 14 Turn away from evil and do what is good; seek peace and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry for help. 16 The face of the Lord is set against those who do what is evil, to erase all memory of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them from all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit. 19 Many adversities come to the one who is righteous, but the Lord delivers him from them all. 20 He protects all his bones; not one of them is broken. 21 Evil brings death to the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished. 22 The Lord redeems the life of His servants, and all who take refuge in Him will not be punished.

STUDY QUESTIONS

1.  Did your parents teach you to fear God? If so, did they encourage a healthy fear of God?

2.  Do you have a healthy fear of God? If so, list a few examples.

3.  Do you struggle with an unhealthy fear of God? If so, where did it come from? And how does it manifest itself?

4.  Is your fear of God increasing as you age? If so, why? If not, how does this observation strike you?

5.  In your church, small group, or Sunday School class, is the fear of God given much emphasis?

6.  Describe how a healthy fear of God might change your current recovery efforts. 

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