There are a number of verses describing the fear of the LORD. None of them negate the words, “God is love.” I Jn.4:8.

     Here are a few examples:

Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. Ps.33:8

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. Ps.111:10

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Prov.1:7

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness. Prov.2:1-13

     Among the single greatest promises found in the Bible is a single verse from the prophet Isaiah: “Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want [be lacking] her mate [for all eternity]: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.” Isa.34:16

     People approach the Bible from a host of different ways. There are those who see the Scriptures only in the light of man’s condemnation before GOD. And so, the spirit of fear prevents them from reading and relishing the Text of Man’s Salvation, and thus prevents them from appreciating with tears of joy the grand promise of deliverance from a world burdened under the dominion of Satan and the sin he promotes among men.

     While others treat the Bible with a fierce hatred whose “enmity toward God” blinds them via the passions that overrule any ethical logic. And yet, the base passions should always be subservient to the noble power of reason. Among this class, many cloak their deep seeded hatred in a philosophical spirit of intellectual superiority, allowing them to remain calm, but still aloof from GOD’S call on their hearts. But all among them (without exception) know there is a GOD who tenderly calls with a “still small voice.” Jesus verifies this with His proclamation: “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.” Jn.16:7-11. I know this personally because for many years I resisted that call. And the LORD had to arrange circumstances in my life to open my heart to respond to His voice. At the heart of it all is a refusal of men to acknowledge any higher authority outside of their own.

     Then there are those who read the Scriptures intent on learning the great stories and their lessons of faith for their daily living. Among this class there is a broad range of individuality. Some treat their studies with prayerful consideration so as to not lose the intended lessons for their Christian growth. But among this sincere class there is the age-old trap of “the tradition of men” whose commentaries have beguiled faithful Christians by the millions to violate the most sacred principles that edify the life to godliness. The men who devised these commentaries were warned: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Heb.4:12.

     So many among churchmen go to their knees with their minds made up. Even their prayers before the congregation in church are more of a sermon than a plea to GOD for the blessing of His Presence to lead and guide. Pride has too often overruled humility even as their tone of voice boasts of their love for GOD, when Jesus said, “without me, ye can do nothing.” They have determined to carry out their own will apart from the will of GOD, making GOD such an one as themselves, and as such they are eager to find verses of Scripture that allow for their character flaws, in appetite, leisure, materialism and indifference. Historically, the ruling church has always shrouded its evil behind the cloak of service to GOD and Jesus Christ.

     Yet among this sincere class is “the remnant” whose sensitivity to GOD’S heart and desires has led to their receiving the discernment to see the contrast between the professing church and the primitive godliness that marked the opening of the Christian movement after Pentecost. To know the boundaries between the jurisdiction of GOD’S authority and that of the devil’s will become the pinnacle of demarcation “between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not,” and how it all ties in with the immutable Ten Commandments in whose transgression Satan was cast out of heaven, Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden of Eden, Christ was crucified, and the battle of Armageddon will be waged in the end of time.