15 Fall Ladies Bible Study September 18, 2018 Proverbs: Lesson 3 The Fear of the Lord Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, And caused the dawn to know its place? Job 38:12 I. The theme verse for the Book of Proverbs is The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Wisdom is not intellect, but it is proficiency. Explain how fearing the Lord is the starting place for wisdom. II. Fear is the mother of a thousand problems: Fear of failing, fear of aging, fear of change, fear of evil, fear of man, fear of conflict, fear of Satan, demons, fear of germs and sickness, fear of heights, fear of schedule, fear of storms, fear of financial loss, fear of insects, fear of you may add to the list. Fear is repeated in Psalm 34:1 11. The passage is a basic tool for handling fear. A. What is the heading, the description of David s circumstances? What method of escape did David use when legitimately fearful? B. In light of that, how does David begin the Psalm in 34:1 3? We need hearts that kneel before God. What principles do you get from those verses? C. Verses 4 7 describe deliverance, despite the fact that David s fears reerupted over other occasions. David prayed, but his circumstances did not immediately and completely change. What deductions can we make from 34:4 7?
16 D. How does David appeal to us in 34:8, 9, 11? III. How does the fear of the Lord guard against externalism/behaviorism? We may appear to be wise, but the war against ourselves is raging under the surface. Jeremiah Burroughs (1599 1646) addresses the issue of externalism in his book, Gospel Fear: Developing a Tender Heart that Trembles at athe Word of God. 1 It was first published in 1647, and continues to lift us with an awe of God, the antidote for superficiality. Some of his quotes will appear in this lesson in italics. IV. A heart that trembles at God s Word is precious in God s eyes. A. How does the LORD rebuke Israel s hypocritical worship in Isaiah 66:1, 2A? B. How is the true heart of worship described in Isaiah 66:2B? Pray that now. V. There is more godliness in the trembling of the heart than in the work of the hand. There is heart work to be done to prepare for walking in wisdom. In Proverbs God addresses real life impulses below, and many more. A. Explain the thought process of what should happen in a trembling heart when tempted: 1. To lie 2. To envy 1 Burroughs, Jeremiah. Gospel Fear: Developing a Tender Heart that Trembles at the Word of God. (Soli Deo Gloria Publications: Morgan, PA), 1991.
17 3. To worry 4. To be controlling B. Cleaning out these and other such attitudes allows wisdom s qualities to grow in our hearts. How does the prayer of Psalm 86:11 help us? What do the two requests indicate? VI. What trembling occurs in Isaiah 6:1 4? Describe the scene. A. Who was the king? Isaiah was fully aware of his life story. Scan God s assessment of him in II Chronicles 26:4 15, listing some specifics. (Hold your place in Isaiah 6). B. What is the first word in 26:16? Scan 26:16 21 and note connections in Uzziah s life with the thoughts above. Was he trembling perhaps in v. 19? C. Describe Isaiah s trembling response to God s holiness in Isaiah 6:5. VII. Notice other occasions of biblical tremblings. A. King Josiah may qualify as trembling. How do II Kings 22:11 and 19 describe his reaction to having found a book? His heart fell a trembling melted before the Lord. Oh, what a happiness would this be, for kingdoms to have kings with such tender hearts! If their hearts would fall and tremble in the presence of God, it would be a great mercy. p. 4
18 B. Another official, Felix, corrupt Roman governor described as having a more exact knowledge about the Way, listened and responded to Paul. Summarize the encounter described in Acts 24:24, 25? Did he repent? C. Who is said to shudder in James 2:19? Do they repent? D. Physiological theology indicates what may be happening in our souls. Obviously it is possible to tremble in response to truth, but not change. Note some of God s desired responses in the following. 1. Philippians 2:12 2. II Corinthians 7:1 3. Hebrews 4:16 4. Deuteronomy 10:12, 20, 21 5. II Corinthians 5:11A 6. I Peter 1:17 The true worshipper shrinks back in fear and draws near in awe.
19 VIII. The fear of the LORD is the appropriate response to the infinite perfections of God: His majesty, integrity, and glory. To fear Him is to live in awe of Him. It is reverence and humility before our Creator, our Redeemer. Identify the attributes of God in the following and note why we must fear. A. Isaiah 46:9 B. Psalm 5:7b C. Jeremiah 32:17 D. Jeremiah 23:24B E. Psalm 33:11 F. Psalm 99:1 IX. What are the benefits of the fear of the Lord as found in Proverbs? Scripture Blessing Proverbs 14:26 Proverbs 14:27A Proverbs 15:16
20 Proverbs 19:23 Proverbs 22:4 Proverbs 10:27A X. The fear of the Lord is demonstrated by keeping His commandments. Moses speaks after the Ten Commandments given. Exodus 20:18 20 The contrite heart has high, honorable, and reverent thoughts of God s Word Fear fastens the eye to God s Word. XI. The fear of the Lord will exist again in restored Israel during the Millennium. We will see people of the Jewish race doing what according to Hosea 3:5? XII. The non Christian is said to be without the fear of the Lord. Romans 3:18, quoted from Psalm 36:1 XIII. Fear Jude 23A For Small Group Discussion Wisdom enables living consistently and skillfully. Proverbs 23:17: Live in the fear of the Lord always. Proverbs 27:14 How blessed is the man who fears always. Fear threatens to rob us of the always. We must learn to look for warning signs in identifying the what if s. Choose some from the following list and discuss how to detect sin s default modes. What are some ways we may form new habits to fear always? Anger, grumpiness, impatience, judging motives, attempts to create safety zones, fear, attempts to ease pain, seeking guarantees, gloominess, isolation, sleeplessness, over-protection, demanding attention, anxiety, obsessive thinking.