His Treasure

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"The fear of the LORD is His treasure" (Isaiah 33:6).

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Study by Doug Maxwell.

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There are a few English definitions of fear. This "fear of the LORD" has its roots in Hebrew. "Fear of the LORD" is defined in Strong’s Hebrew Definition as reverence, respect and awe. It’s akin to worshipful heartfelt reverence proclaimed upwards to Almighty God in Jesus’ name. Thank you Lord.

Let’s review Scripture, taking account of His treasure.

1) God teaches those who reverence (fear) Him. God shares His secrets with those who reverence (fear) Him. He shows His ways to them.

"The Lord tells His secrets to [confides in; or makes friends with] those who respect [fear] Him; He tells them about [makes known to them] His agreement [covenant]. (Psalm 25:14, Expanded Translation).

2) Those who reverence (fear) Him have confidence. It is a fountain of life and brings peace of mind.

"In the fear of Adonai is powerful security, for his children there will be a place of refuge. The fear of Adonai is a fountain of life enabling one to avoid deadly traps" (Proverbs 14:26-27, CJB).

"Those who respect [fear] the Lord will live and be satisfied, unbothered by trouble [sleep well]" (Proverbs 19:23, Expanded Translation).

3) The reverence (fear) of the LORD is incompatible with evil (Job 28:28).

Pulpit Commentary provides this insight.  "…the beginning of wisdom is not found in keen insight, nor wide experience, nor the learn-hag of the schools, but in the temper of reverence and awe. The fear of the finite in the presence of the Infinite, of the sinful in the presence of the Holy, self-abhorring, adoring, as in Job’s confession."

Job’ confession is this:

"Then Job answered the Lord and said, ‘I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted…

Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; Therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes" (Job 42:1-6).

Paul expressed his position this way,

"Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:24-25).

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So? How do we obtain this "fear of the LORD?"

Jesus explains in a parable.

"The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field" (Matthew 13:44, NASB).

The man obtains the field and in turn His treasure. We can best understand His parable by looking into Proverbs.

"Search [Seek] for it like silver, and hunt [search] for it like hidden treasure.
Then you will understand respect [fear; awe] for the Lord, and you will find that you know God [the knowledge of God]" (Proverbs 2:4-5, Expanded Translation).

Maybe we can appreciate why the man willingly sold all he had to buy the field, obtaining His treasure when we consider the future value of His treasure.

Let’s read Malachi, beginning in chapter 3:16-20 and continuing into chapter 4.

"Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who esteem His name.

‘They will be Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.”

So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.

‘For indeed, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and everyone who commits wickedness will become stubble.

The coming day will consume them,’  says the Lord of Hosts, ‘not leaving them root or branches.

But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and playfully jump like calves from the stall.

You will trample the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day I am preparing,’  says the Lord of Hosts" (Malachi 3:18-4:3).

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His treasure has tremendous value today because Father God takes account of our reverence towards Him.

John records the significance of this reverence (fear) in Revelation 14:6-7,

"And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; and he said with a loud voice, ‘Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters’" (NASB).

Let us obtain His treasure like the man who purchased the field by offering up sincere, reverent admiration (fear) with daily praise, as Paul wrote,

"singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father" (Ephesians 5:20)

Amen.

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"Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name" (Psalm 103:1, KJV).

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