Yirat HaShem – The Fear of the LORD

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“By chesed (mercy) and emes (truth) avon (iniquity) is purged, and by the Yirat Hashem (Fear of the L-rd) men depart from rah (evil).” Mishle‬ ‭(Proverbs) 16:6‬ ‭OJB .

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A litany of woes assuredly befalls those who spurn God’s Torah or break covenant with Him. The deeper intent of this warning (God’s Tochecha–Rebuke) is to show the grave danger of forfeiting our relationship with God. (Lev 26:14-46)

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By refusing to be healed of our illusions in which we only deceive ourselves (James 1:22). The end result will be delusions that come from NOT loving His truth and righteousness (2 Thess 2:10-13).

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Chastisement is a blessing from heaven (Heb 12:5-13), the “troubles of love”, since its goal is to bring us back to God and to deliver us from eternal loss. Hence, the cry of Cain’s loss (Gen 4:13-14).

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This is why Yeshua spoke about the dangers of hell: if we do not heed the Voice of divine love, we risk literally losing everything, and that loss is eventually, irremediably eternal (Mark 8:36)!

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God’s warning about hell expresses the great passion of his heart for us (Eph 2:1-7), his love calls us to receive eternal life (Rom 10:8-13) and the abundant life blessings (1 Cor 2:9).

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BUT, if we refuse to come, we will suffer the loss of the only thing that ultimately matters, His love (Rom 2:3-11). The scales of Judgement and Mercy must be balanced.

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As it is written: “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God” (Heb 10:31). The stages of loss are from His heart (Acts 28:27), to His head (Isa 55:6-9), to His hands and then finally cast headlong into Hades (Matt 8:10-12)…Eternally Lost!

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The “Fear” of losing love evokes a healthy zeal to protect it from being lost. The same may be said of God’s relationship with us. The gospel represents God’s passion for us, the call of his heart (John 3:16).

His desire is to elevate us to the role of the beloved, and we respond by accepting Him as the Lover of our souls, the Ultimate Concern of our life. As was said, “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine” (SS 6:3).

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Sin threatens to seduce us away from God (James 1:13-15), to interfere with our relationship, which evokes God’s “jealousy” to protect His love from being lost (Ex 34:14). Lest we be deceived as Eve (2 Cor 11:2).

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So, Yirat HaShem, the “fear of the LORD” radically means: God’s OWN fear that we lose sight of our great need for His healing love, harden our hearts and NOT see how much He really loves us (Matt 13:15).

That is why HE offers us HIS healing in all areas of our lives. He heals the “broken-hearted” (Luke 4:18-19), the “afflicted” in soul (James 5:13-14) & “sick in body” and, of course “our backslidings” (Hosea 14:4).

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“The Mental Ascent To Habitual Sin”.

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That we might fulfill, “Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength” (Mark 12:29-30).

For to love Him with all our heart, and with all our understanding, and with all our soul, and with all our strength, and to love our neighbour as ourselves, is more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices. (Mark‬ 12:‭33).‭

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Finally, we will be married by our love. Our spirits and the Lord’s Spirit becoming one (1 Cor 6:17). The marital vows of the Jewish Torah-Ketubah, that takes one from Baali to Ishi (Hosea 2:16-23).

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The “Perfect Love” that casts out all fear of ever losing our relationship with Him. We are assured of His love for us (1 John 4:16-19). Because we love Him, keep His Commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His Sight (1 John 3:19-22). Reciprocal Love!

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Finally, our Marriage to Him becomes honourable in all, and the bed undefiled. No more whoremongers and adulterers that God must judge. (James 4:1-10). Our lifestyle is without covetousness. We become content with our lives.

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For he hath said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”. So that we may boldly say, “The Lord is my helper (Husband), and I will as His helpmeet (Wife), not fear what man shall do unto me.” (Heb 13:4-6‬)

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“The precepts of Hashem are yasharim (right), rejoicing the lev (heart); the mitzvat (Commandments) of Hashem is bara (clear, pure), enlightening the eyes. The Yirat Hashem (Fear of the L-rd) is tehorah (clean), enduring forever; the mishpatim of Hashem are emes (true) and righteous altogether.”

Tehillim‬ ‭(Psalms) 19:8-9‬ ‭OJB‬‬

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Enduring Love – Yirat HaShem – The Fear Of The Lord Completed.

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David J Sagil, MJR Dir, Ministry of Jewish Relations, MCM (Multi-Cultural Ministries), UPCI (United Pentecostal Church Int’l)