DEVELOP YOUR HEART TO FEAR JEHOVAH

"If only they would develop this heart of theirs to fear me and to keep all my commandments always."-DEUTERONOMY 5:29.


FEAR has haunted mankind for centuries.  Fear of hunger, disease, crime, or war keeps millions of people in constant anxiety.  For this reason the preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights expresses the desire to bring about a world where all humans will enjoy freedom from fear.  Happily, God himself assures us that such a world will come-although not by human efforts.  Through his prophet Micah, Jehovah promises us that in his new world of righteousness,  'no one will make his people tremble.' -Micah 4:4.

On the other hand, fear can also  be a possible force in Scriptures, God's servants are repeatedly urged to fear Jehovah.  Moses told the Israelites:  "Jehovah your God you should fear, and him you should serve."  (Deuteronomy 6:13)  Centuries later Solomon wrote:  "Fear the true God and keep his commandments.  For this is the whole obligation of man."  (Ecclesiastes  12:13)  Through our witnessing work, carried out under angelic supervision, we likewise urge all people to "fear God and give him glory."  (Revelation 14:6, 7)  In addition to fearing Jehovah, Christians must love him with their whole heart.  (Matthew  22:37, 38) How can we love God and at the same time fear him?  Why is it necessary to fear a loving God?  What benefits do we derive from cultivating godly fear?  To answer these questions, we must first understand what the fear of God means and how this type of fear forms a fundamental part of our relationship  with Jehovah.

Next time: DEVELOP YOUR HEART TO FEAR JEHOVAH - Awe, Reverence, and Fear

The Watchtower, 2001