Let us examine the scriptures every day 2025
Monday January 6, 2025
I will teach them the fear of the Lord (Ps. 34:11).
The fear of Jehovah is not a quality we are born with; we have to cultivate it. One way to do this is by observing creation. As we perceive Jehovah’s wisdom, power, and love in “created things,” our respect and love for him grow (Rom. 1:20). Another thing that will help us fear Jehovah is to have the habit of praying to him. The more we talk to our God, the more real He is to us. Every time we ask him for strength to endure a trial, we think of his immense power. When we thank him for giving his Son for us, we remember how much he loves us. And, when we ask for his guidance in facing a problem, we engrave on our hearts how wise he is. These prayers help us respect him more and be more determined to avoid anything that could damage our friendship with him. w23.06 15 paras. 6, 7.
How does prayer help us fear Jehovah?
Another thing that will help us fear Jehovah is to have the habit of praying to him. The more we talk to our God, the more real He is to us. Every time we ask him for strength to endure a trial, we think of his immense power. When we thank him for giving his Son for us, we remember how much he loves us. And, when we ask for his guidance in facing a problem, we engrave on our hearts how wise he is. These prayers help us respect him more and be more determined to avoid anything that could damage our friendship with him.
What do we have to do to not stop fearing Jehovah?
In order not to stop fearing Jehovah, we have to study the Bible with the aim of learning from the good and bad examples that we find in its pages. Let's look at three of those examples. First, we will talk about two faithful servants of Jehovah: Obadiah, who was in charge of King Ahab's house, and the high priest Jehoiada. Then we will review the life of King Jehoash of Judah, who started well but ended badly, far from Jehovah.
How did the fear of God help Obadiah? (1 Kings 18:3, 12).
The first time the Bible mentions Obadiah, it says: “Obadiah greatly feared Jehovah” (read 1 Kings 18:3, 12). How did the fear of God help you? On the one hand, it made him an honest and trustworthy man. Because of this, the king appointed him in charge of the royal household (compare Nehemiah 7:2). And, on the other hand, it helped him demonstrate extraordinary courage, a quality that he undoubtedly needed. Because? Because he lived during the reign of the wicked Ahab, who “was worse in the sight of the Lord than all the [kings] that were before him” (1 Kings 16:30). Furthermore, Ahab was married to Jezebel, who worshiped Baal and hated Jehovah with all her being, so much so that she wanted to end pure worship in Israel, the northern kingdom. He even killed many prophets of the true God (1 Kings 18:4). What a difficult time to serve Jehovah!
How did Obadiah demonstrate extraordinary courage?
How did Obadiah demonstrate extraordinary courage? When Jezebel began to persecute Jehovah's prophets to kill them, Obadiah hid 100 of them in caves “in groups of 50” and took it upon himself “to give them bread and water” (1 Kings 18:13, 14). If Jezebel had found out, this brave man would have been executed. Of course, like any person of flesh and blood, Obadiah did not want to die. But the love he felt for Jehovah and his servants was greater than the love he had for his own life.
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