4 "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
Man does not have ultimate authority – God does. Scripture says we are to fear Him. In fact, that is the beginning of wisdom as the Psalmist states:
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Psalms 111:10 (NIV)
I love what David, the man after God’s own heart, states in Psalm 27:
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid? Psalms 27:1 (NIV)
David held great confidence in the Lord because He was his light signifying his understanding and joy and life and He was his stronghold signifying his defense and his fortified place. With these provisions given us, whom should believers fear?
David also tells us in Psalm 103:
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. 15 As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; 16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. 17 But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children-- Psalms 103:11-17 (NIV)
What exactly does “fear of the Lord” mean? According to the Old Testament Lexical Aids of the Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible, we find this definition of “fear”:
“A very positive feeling of awe or reverence for God, which may be expressed in piety or formal worship. Fear can be faced with trust in the Lord. “Fearing God” is often the motivation which produces godly living.”
Several examples of this from Scripture come to mind. The midwives of the Israelites in Egypt refused the kings orders out of their fear of God:
17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. Ex 1:16-17 (NIV)
God’s response to their actions:
20 So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own. Ex 1:20-21 (NIV)
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stood firm in their faith, fearing God over their king’s edict too:
12 But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon--Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego--who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up." Dan 3:12 (NIV)
Furious with rage the king orders them to become crispy critters! He heats up the furnace seven times hotter than usual and firmly ties them up and throws them in. The fire was so hot that it consumed the strongest soldiers in the king’s army that threw them into the blazing furnace! The outcome is well known but worthy of the re-read:
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, O king."
25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods." 26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way."
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon. Dan 3:24-30 (NIV)
22 Should you not fear me?" declares the LORD. "Should you not tremble in my presence? Jer 5:22 (NIV)
5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.