Reverence for God Psalm 89 5 9 Psalm

Reverence for God Psalm 89: 5 -9

Psalm 89: 6 -7 • For who in the heavens can be compared to the LORD? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the LORD? • God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around Him.

Reverence Hebrew: yare’ • • “a primitive root: to fear “Morally, to revere: “Causitive, to frighten; “affright, be afraid, dread, fear, reverence” • Oxford American Dictionary: “deep respect for someone or something”

The Beginning of Reverence for God Is Fear • • • Jacob at Bethel, Gen. 28: 17 Moses at the burning bush, Ex. 3: 4 -6 Israel at Mt. Sinai, Ex. 20: 18 -21 – Proper fear (respect) leads to reverence (obedience)

The Beginning of Reverence for God Is Fear • “You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD” – Lev. 19: 30 • “You shall fear the LORD your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His Name” – Deut. 6: 3 • “And the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day” – Deut. 6: 24

We Do Not Reverence God When… • • • We show up late, unprepared, disrespectful We pay little or no attention We fail to understand & study God’s Word & what it means to “reverence” God

God Requires A Certain Attitude In Worship • 1 Chron. 16: 29 – “…Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. ” • Phil. 3: 3 – “For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh” • John 4: 24 – “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth”

The Proper Attitude in Worship • Reverence – Heb. 12: 28; Lev. 19: 30; Ps. 111: 9 [KJV] • Fear – Malachi 1: 6; Ps. 2: 11; 5: 7; 34: 11

N. T. Christians “feared” God • Acts 2: 42 -43 “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. ” • Acts 5: 5 – at the death of Ananias • {Isaiah 11: 2 -3 – by Jesus while on earth!} • Acts 9: 31 – “…And walking in the fear of the Lord…”

The Wicked Have No Fear Of God • Rom. 3: 18 – “There is no fear of God before their eyes. ” – Brethren, do you have faith? Reverential fear? – Every time you come to worship in the House of God?

We Reverence God When… • We worship in spirit & truth, Jn. 4: 24; Ps. 89: 7 • We conduct ourselves like Christians should in a world of sin, Phil. 1: 27; 2: 12 • 1 Peter 4: 3 -4 – Not by practicing. . . – “Lewdness” – unbridled lust, licentiousness – “Lusts” – a strong longing for the forbidden – “Drunkenness” – overflow of wine – “Revelries” – reveling, rioting with alcohol & dancing

We Reverence God When… • We realize we are ever in His presence, Ps. 139: 7 -10

Conclusion • May God help us to have the will & the wisdom to understand what it means to reverence God in our lives. . . – At worship – At home – At work – At play