Monthly Study
April 2024Fear of the Lord
Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him.—Psalm 33:8
What does it mean to fear the Lord? Godly fear is not the same as human fear. Our human fear makes us want to run away, while the fear of the Lord draws us closer. Human fear feels like dread, anxiety, or vulnerability, while the fear of the Lord feels like love, faithfulness, and security.
Godly fear gives us a proper view of God. He’s not our “good buddy” or “co-pilot.” His ways and thoughts are incomparably higher. We approach God with awe and reverence. This is why not even Moses could enter the tabernacle when God’s presence filled it. As we study this month, I pray you will not only understand what it means to fear the Lord but also draw even closer to Him.
Your devotional author,
Bradley Baurain
Volume 37Edition 4
Managing Editor: Jamie Janosz, Senior Editor: Elena Mafter, Contributing Editor: John Koessler, Writer: Bradley Baurain, Art Director: Lynn Gabalec, Graphic Designer: Rachel Hutcheson, Marketing: JD Hamby, Production: Rhonda AuYeung
About the Author
Brad Baurain
Bradley Baurain is Associate Professor and Program Head of TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) at Moody Bible Institute.
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Podcasts
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A Call to Fear the Lord
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A rich French horn call opens one of my favorite classical music pieces, Piano Concerto No. 2 by Johannes Brahms.
April 1, 2024
Fear and the Messiah
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A daily devotional from Moody Bible Institute: In C. S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Susan and Lucy were preparing to meet Aslan,...
April 2, 2024
Good vs. Bad Fear
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Good fear, according to theologian Michael Reeves, is marked by reverence and awe. Bad fear is marked by anxiety.
April 3, 2024
Learning God’s Ways
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Not only do most Americans lack a proper fear of the Lord, but an increasing number also don’t even believe He exists.
April 4, 2024
How Great Is Our God
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The Israelites were trapped between the Egyptian army and the Red Sea (Exodus 14–15). There seemed to be no way out, until God parted the waters.
April 5, 2024
God’s Justice
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Have you ever heard it said that someone has “no fear of God”? This type of person will recklessly break laws and pursue criminal activity.
April 6, 2024
Fear and Obedience
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In A Treatise of the Fear of God (1679), John Bunyan explained: “[God] will be either our Saviour or Judge, [so] we are in reason and duty bound to give the more earnest heed to the things that shall be spoken,...
April 7, 2024
The Covenant Relationship
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In biblical times, the relationship between the idol and the worshiper seemed like a competition for control. People tried to manipulate the idol with gifts and flattery. In turn, the idol would keep people in line with perceived threats of punishment or disaster.
April 8, 2024
The Ten Commandments
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Psalm 112 says: “Blessed are those who fear the LORD, who find great delight in his commands.” This means that people who fear the Lord are, by definition, people who also delight in His commands.
April 9, 2024
Fear and Justice
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Have you ever heard a political candidate on the campaign trail? Or seen a video of one on TV? Sometimes it seems like they will say anything to get elected!
April 10, 2024
Fear and Purity
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According to the Journal of Food Research, blowing out the candles on a birthday cake multiplies the number of bacteria on the frosting by 1,400 percent!
April 11, 2024
Fear and Righteousness
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To be “righteous” means to be morally upright, to be without sin. Of course, holy perfection is an unreachable goal. Romans 3:10 tells us: “There is no one righteous, not even one.”
April 12, 2024
Fear of the Lord, Wisdom, and Shalom
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When our children were younger, we designed “treasure hunts” for them. One clue would lead to another as they scampered through the house and yard.
April 13, 2024
The Beginning of Wisdom, Part 1
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“Two people may possess essentially the same knowledge,” wrote author Jerry Bridges in The Joy of Fearing God.
April 14, 2024
The Beginning of Wisdom, Part 2
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A Pickles cartoon by Brian Crane shows an older gentleman named Earl hunched over a typewriter. When his wife, Opal, asks him what he’s doing, he responds...
April 15, 2024
The House of Wisdom
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On the road to the Celestial City in Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian stops to rest at the Palace Beautiful. There he meets four sisters...
April 16, 2024
The Key to Wisdom
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Losing keys is a common experience at our house. Did we leave them in the laundry room? With the groceries? In a coat pocket? Might they still be in the car?
April 17, 2024
Where Is Wisdom Found?
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One of the most famous riddles in history is the “riddle of the Sphinx” found in a Greek tragedy: “What walks on four legs in the morning, on two legs at noon,...
April 18, 2024
Abraham’s Fear of the Lord
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In the Marines, new recruits learn to obey their commanding officer quickly and without hesitation. When responding to a command, they say, “Sir, yes sir!”
April 19, 2024
Midwives Who Feared the Lord
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Sara McKinney was born without hands. One day she came home from school and announced she wanted to play a musical instrument.
April 20, 2024
Kings Who Feared the Lord
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Watching the sun rise is a worship-filled experience. God paints the morning sky daily with spectacular shades of purple, red, and gold.
April 21, 2024
Fear of the Lord and Protection
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In 1985, the Texas Department of Transportation started an anti-littering campaign that, as we would say today, went viral: “Don’t mess with Texas.”
April 22, 2024
The Wife Who Fears the Lord
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A good woman is priceless! Nonetheless, Salary.com recently tried to appraise the financial value of a stay-at-home mom. Based on the market value...
April 23, 2024
Ezekiel’s Fear of the Lord
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Why did Rahab betray the city of Jericho to the invading Israelites (Joshua 2)? She told the two spies: “I know that the LORD has given you this land
April 24, 2024
Peter’s Fear of the Lord
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Fat Bear Week is held every year at Katmai National Park in Alaska. Twelve bears are entered into a bracket-style competition,...
April 25, 2024
Ananias and Sapphira Did Not Fear
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Many these days have been wondering if we’re too casual or “flip” with God. We livestream church for our convenience. We check our phones during the worship service...
April 26, 2024
The Early Church Feared the Lord
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Saul had inspired much fear in the early church by pursuing and persecuting believers in Christ. When Christ met him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1–19),...
April 27, 2024
John’s Fear of the Lord
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Fear of the Lord is an important part of worship in the book of Revelation: “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come.
April 28, 2024
A Fearful Conclusion
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When a judge or jury renders their final verdict in a trial, it’s a significant event. People stand and pay attention.
April 29, 2024
All Nations Will Fear the Lord
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The Israelites spent a good part of the book of Exodus building the tabernacle according to God’s specifications. When it was time for the dedication, the nation rejoiced (Ex. 40).
April 30, 2024