[This devotion is taken primarily from the third and concluding sections of the March 24 sermon. The first section of the sermon cites a number of passages in which joy in God and fear of Him are both commanded. The second examines wrong ways for us to fear God. The audio of the sermon will be available shortly at this link.

What does Nehemiah mean when he says God’s servants “delight to fear Your name” (Nehemiah 1:11)? How are God’s people rightly to fear Him and to delight in Him?

Three passages are particularly helpful in resolving this paradox: Isaiah 40, Mark 4, and Isaiah 11.

Isaiah 40

While the entire chapter is relevant, consider especially Isaiah 40:21-26:

Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? ²² It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in; ²³ who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness. ²⁴ Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows on them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. ²⁵ To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One. ²⁶ Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing. (emphasis added)

Isaiah says: Look at Who God is! It’s been clear from the beginning! He plays with planets and stars, supernovas and black holes, the way our little ones play with blocks. He knows every star and puts it exactly where He wants it. He places Mt Everest on a scale and says, “Looks like I need to add another three ounces to make this mountain the right weight.”

Consider the human beings who seem the most powerful, the most influential, as discussed in verses 23-24 – those who command armies, who influence our thinking, who lead movements, who govern countries. No matter how exalted their positions, no matter how imposing they may appear, God blows – Puff! – and they are gone, like the flame of a birthday candle. They are nothing – we are nothing – in comparison to God. He has no rivals. There is no one who approaches His importance, no one who rivals His power.

So Isaiah is telling us: Look! Open your eyes!  See Who He is! He is almighty. He is your God if you are among His people. So humble yourself before Him!

Mark 4:35-41

Jesus is in a boat with His disciples, crossing the Sea of Galilee. A great windstorm arises, far more dangerous than any these experienced fishermen have encountered previously. As waves burst over the sides, the disciples are bailing frantically, fearing for their lives.

Meanwhile, Jesus is asleep in the back of the boat.

They shake Him, crying out, “Don’t you care? Do something! At least help us bail!”

Jesus simply cries out, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind stops. The waves cease. There is a great calm.

How do the disciples react?

They were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41)

Do you see? Mark here presents the same idea as Isaiah 40. When the disciples looked at the wind and the waves and feared for their lives, they had a wrong fear – a fear of circumstances. Jesus is with them! He is in control! What evil could happen?

But the fear they experience after seeing Jesus’ power and authority is a right and proper fear. They are in awe of His power – but they know that power is with them, not against them. They can delight to have that type of fear.

Isaiah 11:3 and John 4:34

Prophesying about the coming Messiah, Isaiah tells us His “delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.”

Now, if we are united with Christ, we should become like Him; we are to take on His character. Our fear of God, therefore, as well as our delight, should be like His.

What did Jesus’ fear look like? John 4:34 helps us here. Remember the context. Jesus’ disciples have brought Him food to eat, but He doesn’t want any. They wonder – did someone else bring Him food? He says: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to accomplish His work” (John 4:34).

Jesus’ sustenance, Jesus’ joy, Jesus’ delight is to do the Father’s will. He knows that the Father’s will is perfect. He knows that the Father knows all, sees all, controls all. He knows no one can give the Father counsel, or correct His plans. He knows to follow Him will bring about the best outcome. So He humbles Himself before the will of His Father. He delights to do His will. He delights to obey Him in everything. He delights to fear His Name.

So you see: Fearing God is closely related to humbling ourselves before Him. This results from beholding our God (Isaiah 40:9) – that is, clearly understanding Who He is. Such fear, such humility, is the starting point for delight. We have to see His power and majesty, and our own inability and unworthiness, in order to delight in Him. If we are impressed with our own accomplishments and abilities, there is no place for fear or delight in Him. We must rejoice:

• That He is great and we are small.
• That He is all wise and we understand very little
• That He is holy and righteous and we are sinful and fallen
• That He controls the universe and we can’t even control our appetites

To rejoice in God is to rejoice in our weakness and His strength, our finitude and His infinity. And that requires a proper fear of Who He Is.

So behold our God!

• He is able to destroy this country – or any country – with a puff of His breath.
• He is able to destroy this planet – with a flick of His wrist.
• He is able to take a hardened, rebellious sinner, like the Pharisee Saul, and turn him into greatest missionary and theologian of all time, the Apostle Paul.
• He is able to take the most powerful of all earthly rulers, the Babylonian emperor Nebuchadnezzar, and cause Him to eat grass like an animal for seven years.
• He is able to punish you horribly for eternity, and He is able to make you into His beloved child.
• He is able to take you – weak and powerless and sinful as you are – and advance His global purposes through you.
• He is able to take millions of individuals from all times and places, and by their starts and stops, by their faithful acts and terrible failures, to bring about His perfect plan to fill the earth with the knowledge of His glory as the waters cover the sea.

So know His might. Know His justice. Know His holiness.

Know your insignificance. Know your lack of power. Know your lack of holiness.

If you are not in Jesus, you should have a fearful expectation of judgment (Hebrews 10:27). As Jesus Himself says, “Fear the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). You cannot stand before such a holy and righteous God in your sin. Humble yourself, asking for forgiveness based on the sacrifice of His Son. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ  – and then there will be no place for fear of judgment.

If you are in Jesus – even if you have only just now repented and believed – this mighty God is for you, not against you. He is working all things together for your good, as well as His glory. You are His precious child – and nothing can separate you from His love that is yours in Christ Jesus. You deserve punishment, but God has laid all your iniquity on Jesus. There is no retribution remaining. So delight in Him. Delight to do His will. Delight in His great plan – of which you are a part. Be overwhelmed by His majesty, by His holiness, by His grace.

And so delight to fear His Name.