Fear of the Lord IV: Our Refuge
This week we’re continuing our series on the fear of the Lord with Chuck Baggett, co-pastor at Christ Church New Albany.
In this episode, we’re talking about the fear of God as our refuge.
The answer to our fears is actually to fear God instead. “And He shall be your dread.”
There are two kinds of fear, servile and filial. R. C. Sproul defines servile fear as “a kind of fear that a prisoner in a torture chamber has for his tormentor, the jailer, or the executioner. It’s that kind of dreadful anxiety in which someone is frightened by the clear and present danger that is represented by another person. Or it’s the kind of fear that a slave would have at the hands of a malicious master who would come with the whip and torment the slave.”
Filial fear, however, is the fear a son has for his father. We long to draw near to God because He is so good. We fear Him, we’re in awe of Him, but we want to be near to Him.
We must live in light of this good kind of fear. If we live focused on ourselves, without reference to God, we rob God of His glory.
What grips you? Is it the current crises of the world? Or are you gripped by the realities of God? Do you run toward Him, no matter the circumstances? Is He your dread?
God possesses a holy might. He has the infinite ability to rule and also the right to rule over all things. The nations are specks of dust to Him. He is the ruler of wars, viruses, kings, nations, and creation itself. He is One to be feared.
Isaiah was gripped by holiness and fell down in fear, awe, and dread. God is not our buddy or pal and we should not approach Him casually. Yes, He is the Friend of sinners, but He is infinitely above us in His deity. But because of what He has done for us, we love Him and want to draw near to Him—but we do so reverently.
“Then He shall become a sanctuary;
But to both the houses of Israel, a stone to strike and a rock to stumble over,
And a snare and a trap for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Many will stumble over them,
Then they will fall and be broken;
They will even be snared and caught” (Isaiah 8:14-15).
Christ becomes a sanctuary to the believer. He is a place of refuge, the one place we are safe.
Do you fear Him? Do you hold Him in such reverence and awe that He has become a sanctuary for you?
“And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture:
‘Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone,
And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.’
This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,
‘The stone which the builders rejected,
This became the very corner stone,’
and,
‘A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense’;
for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed” (1 Peter 2:4-8).
O Lord God Almighty, my God, my refuge, and my strength, incline my heart to seek You in the name of Jesus Christ, and hear my prayer for His sake.
It is one of my highest privileges, and of my greatest mercies, that Your ear is ever open to the prayer of those that call upon You.
O Lord, though I have sinned, I have an Advocate with You, Jesus Christ the Righteous, who is the propitiation for our sins.
O grant me faith in Him, that I may be justified freely by Your grace through His redemption, be accepted in that beloved Son and be a partaker of His Spirit. Amen.
— Isaac Watts
A Guide to Family Worship
This prayer is taken from our new book, A Guide to Family Worship.
You can pre-order the book and get instant digital access when you purchase. Or if you’d like, you can buy the digital version only.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for weekly updates, or listen / subscribe on: iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify