FEAR GOD
Deuteronomy 5
“The Lord our God has shown us his glory and his majesty, and we have heard his voice from the fire. Today we have seen that a person can live even if God speaks with them. But now, why should we die? This great fire will consume us, and we will die if we hear the voice of the Lord our God any longer. For what mortal has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of fire, as we have, and survived? Go near and listen to all that the Lord our God says. Then tell us whatever the Lord our God tells you. We will listen and obey.”
When you read the Old Testament, the core picture of God (after the fall of man) is that God is to be feared. He is not to be trifled with and angering him will have severe and lasting consequences.
God does not reject such a view of him. In fact, it is good and right. He tells Moses, “I have heard what this people said to you. Everything they said was good. Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!”
This is because it reflects the truth. There is no power that can overcome the power of God, there is no place where you can hide from God, and there is no one who can save you from the wrath of God. God must be feared and therefore God must be obeyed.
The bible teaches us that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. It is the smart thing to do, to get on his good side. But beyond that, it is the smart thing to follow his commands because they are not frivolous or selfish; they not only teach you how to please him, they teach you how to live well in the environment and life that he has created.
“So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.”