The Fear of God
The Psalmist states,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society. Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.” Abba Hillel Silver.
I firmly believe that an orderly society could not have evolved if there was no God. God I believe has if you will engraved on the harts and in the minds of each individual what is right and what is wrong.
He has expressed in basic form how he expects individuals to act with respect to God and to ones fellow man when he gave the ten commandments.
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
“You shall have no other gods before me.
“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.
For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
“Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
“You shall not murder.
“You shall not commit adultery.
“You shall not steal.
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Exodus 20:2-17.
It is when mankind fails to recognize these basic principles laid down by God that society starts to fall apart and human life becomes cheap.
It is when man fails to recognize there is a God who will one day judge him that people feel free to do as they wish.
We only have to look at Nazi Germany during world war two to see how true this is. Hitler and his henchmen turned from God and embraced evil, not fearing God’s wrath. As a result tens of millions suffered and died in what was the worst conflict in human history.
This is true of every dictator that has ever risen. When they do not recognize or fear God individuals suffer.
It is therefor I believe important that individuals and society as a whole recognize God and at the very least obey the ten commandments to ensure a civilized society.
Please think about it.
The Psalmist states,
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.”
Psalm 111: 10
Abba Hellel Silver said“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society. Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.” Abba Hillel Silver.
I firmly believe that an orderly society could not have evolved if there was no God. God I believe has if you will engraved on the harts and in the minds of each individual what is right and what is wrong.
He has expressed in basic form how he expects individuals to act with respect to God and to ones fellow man when he gave the ten commandments.
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
“You shall have no other gods before me.
“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.
For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
“Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
“You shall not murder.
“You shall not commit adultery.
“You shall not steal.
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Exodus 20:2-17.
It is when mankind fails to recognize these basic principles laid down by God that society starts to fall apart and human life becomes cheap.
It is when man fails to recognize there is a God who will one day judge him that people feel free to do as they wish.
We only have to look at Nazi Germany during world war two to see how true this is. Hitler and his henchmen turned from God and embraced evil, not fearing God’s wrath. As a result tens of millions suffered and died in what was the worst conflict in human history.
This is true of every dictator that has ever risen. When they do not recognize or fear God individuals suffer.
It is therefor I believe important that individuals and society as a whole recognize God and at the very least obey the ten commandments to ensure a civilized society.
Please think about it.
