The King Conquers Fear
Isaiah 8:11-17; Revelation 1:12-18
"Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen."
(Revelation 1:17-18, KJV)
We live in an age of fear. The media is filled with impending doom regarding the planet, the economy, terrorism, epidemics etc. God in Isaiah says, "Do not fear what they fear." We are only to "fear" the Lord. We are not to buy into conspiracy theories. The Amplified Bible says in verse 13, "The Lord of Hosts - regard him as holy and honor his Holy Name and let him be your fear and let him be your dread." In other words, He will be your hope of safety.
There is a difference between a healthy fear and an unhealthy fear. The fear or awe of God, "a wholesome dread of displeasing him," is the only healthy fear. We are not to be terrified of His coming as unbelievers are.
The angels in the nativity story say "Fear not" to Zechariah, to Mary, to Joseph, and to the shepherds. Their words come to us, too. Many in the world tell us not to worry, or to take care as though we could control the things we are afraid of. But only the One who controls the outcome can say, "Fear not;" He alone merits our awe.
INSIGHT
If I do not "fear" God, I will inevitably fear everything else. We are enjoined to fear Him so that nothing else can disturb us.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Jonah
Proverbs 21
3 John
Isaiah 8:11-17;
11 This is what the LORD says to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people:
12 "Do not call conspiracy
everything this people calls a conspiracy;
do not fear what they fear,
and do not dread it.
13 The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy,
he is the one you are to fear,
he is the one you are to dread.
14 He will be a holy place;
for both Israel and Judah he will be
a stone that causes people to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.
And for the people of Jerusalem he will be
a trap and a snare.
15 Many of them will stumble;
they will fall and be broken,
they will be snared and captured."
16 Bind up this testimony of warning
and seal up God’s instruction among my disciples.
17 I will wait for the LORD,
who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob.
I will put my trust in him.
Revelation 1:12-18
12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man,[a] dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
Footnotes:
a. Revelation 1:13 See Daniel 7:13.
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