Leviticus 25, Mark 1:23-45 • Key Verse: Leviticus 25:17
As God instructed His people in how they were to live, He gave them reasons. At times the
reason was one of relationship. “I am the LORD your God.” Other times the reason was one of
righteousness. “Be holy because I am holy.”
There is yet another reason behind His instructions. It’s one that doesn’t get much attention but is
a theme of Scripture. In this chapter the reason given is reverence. “Fear your God” (vv. .17, 36,
43).
Sometimes we emphasize God’s love exclusively. The fact that He is a God of grace
overshadows that He also is a God to be feared.
The inadequacy of understanding the fear of God also keeps its emphasis diminished. There is a
fear that debilitates and destroys. This is the most common way of understanding fear. Then
there is the fear that is beneficial. The fear of God is not baneful but a blessing.
The fear God commands is a reverence for Him and a restraining force for us. In reverence one
realizes that God truly is the awesome God.
God warns us to fear Him, and we should. Do not take lightly the consequences of disobeying
God.
Ask God to help you fear Him—not in the frightened sense, but in a life of reverential awe.
Woodrow Kroll & Tony Beckett
www.backtothebible.in