They That Fear The Lord

Bible Study In Practice

Key Text

Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. (Malachi 3:16)

The Book

According to the text above it is when the people who fear the Lord speak often one with another that the book of remembrance is written. This offers some interesting challenges to us. As it becomes vital for us to understand properly who are the people that fear the Lord; thus we need to know what it means to “fear God”.

Parallelism

Parallelism is the literary device in which one passage of writing is explained or made clearer by a similar passage. The Webster’s dictionary of 1913 defines parallelism on this wise: “Similarity of construction or meaning of clauses placed side by side, especially clauses expressing the same sentiment with slight modifications, as is common in Hebrew poetry.”

Line Upon Line

“Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:” (Isaiah 28:9-10)

The Scripture is Related

The Bible is not a book of independent books. The Bible is a story with interrelated chapters and books that continue the story from one place to the next. Thus we are told:“All scripture is given by inspiration of God,” “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Timothy 3:16) (2 Peter 1:21)

The Whole Duty

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13) The entire duty of many is covered in two duties: (1)fearing God and (2)keeping His commandments.

The Saints

“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” (Revelation 14:12). Here we have presented that the saints are doing two things:(1) “keeping the commandments” (2) “having the faith of Jesus.” Here we recognize that “keep the commandments” matches from the previous verse but “fear God” has been replaced by “the faith of Jesus”.

The Remnant

“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (Revelation 12:17). Here we are presented with the entire scope of the duties of the remnant church in two short phrases:(1) Keep the Commandments of God(2) Have the testimony of Jesus Christ

The Remnant

The fact that satan is wroth with them is enough of an indication that these persons are in fact doing “the whole duty of man”. In comparison with Ecclesiastes 12:13 we recognize that once more “keep the commandments” matches again but here “fear God” is replaced by “have the testimony of Jesus Christ”.

Parallel Inference

After looking at three verses we have found that:1. To “fear of God” and to “have the faith of Jesus” are the same thing2. To “fear God” and to “have the testimony of Jesus Christ” are the same thing.3. It then follows that “the faith of Jesus” is also “the testimony of Jesus Christ”. (We will look at the concept of the faith of Jesus further but before that let us examine the testimony of Jesus).

The Testimony of Jesus

“And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10) “Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.” (Revelation 22:9).

The Spirit of Prophecy

Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men… And he gave … some, prophets (Ephesians 4:8, 11)Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit… But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit … prophecy; (1 Corinthians 12:4-10 KJV)

WitnessesNote that the brethren who are referred to as having “the testimony of Jesus” are then referred to as “the prophets”. Plainly those who have “the testimony of Jesus” must possess “the Spirit of prophecy” as is identified by Revelation 19:10; hence, according to Revelation 22:9 all prophets have prophesied about Christ.Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any. (Isaiah 44:8 KJV)

Faith

Of course this does give a very interesting reading to Malachi 3:16, belief of the prophets is fearing God; not only that, belief of the prophets is “the faith of Jesus”. Notice Paul describing Faith:So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Trusting the Creation Account

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (Hebrews 11:3)Of course the question becomes how do we know that these things happened? By the word of God as found in the Genesis chapters 1 and 2.

Peter Describes Paul’s WritingsAnd account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (2 Peter 3:15-16) (Paul writings are here compared with other scriptures)

Paul’s WritingsFor this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13)If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 14:37 KJV)

Inspired ProphecyAll scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:20-21)

The Effect of FaithKnowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Galatians 2:16)Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (Romans 3:22)

The Faith of Abraham

“For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.” “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all” (Romans 4:13-16). Here we have the fact that the faith of Abraham produced righteousness.

Testimony Sanctifies

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39). The scriptures testify of Jesus. Said differently the scriptures are the “testimony of Jesus”. This means the word of God is the “testimony of Jesus.” John 17:17 reveals that through the word we can be sanctified.

The Range of the Testimony

“And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.” “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day.” (Luke 24:44-47)

Reliance on God’s Word

Faith=trust; which is complete reliance on a person or thing: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6). This means that without faith, which comes by hearing the word of God (which is the testimony of Jesus), we cannot please God.

Reliance on God’s Word

Jesus reveals: “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” (John 8:29)David reveals:Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (Psalms 119:11 KJV)

Past Example

God … said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. (Genesis 22:1-2 KJV)

Past Example

And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. (Genesis 22:10 KJV)And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. (Genesis 22:12 KJV)

Results

By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, … That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. (Genesis 22:16-18 KJV)

Results ExplainedWas not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. (James 2:21-23 KJV)For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. (Romans 4:13 KJV)

End Time Possibilities

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;” “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (John 11:25-26) (Ephesians 2:1) (Matthew 4:4).

Shall not Sleep

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (1 Corinthians 15:51 KJV)Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:17 KJV)

Scripture Explained

Then they that feared the LORD [have the faith of Jesus, have the testimony of Jesus (understood the prophecies) and are alive in Christ] spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. (Malachi 3:16)