The Seven Eyes of the LORD: Omniscient Witness Over Creation (Zechariah 4:10, Rev 4:5,5:6)

 Zechariah 4:10 — The Seven Eyes

In the vision of the golden lampstand, the angel asks Zechariah, "Who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel — they are the eyes of the LORD which range to and fro throughout the whole earth."

The seven lamps on the lampstand are the seven eyes. They are not merely watching — they are rejoicing as God's purposes unfold in what looks like insignificant work (a small, struggling return from exile, a modest rebuilding project). God's omniscient gaze is active, engaged, and delighted in faithful obedience even when the world yawns.

Revelation — The Seven Eyes of the Lamb

The Apocalypse picks up the Zechariah thread and makes the identification explicit and stunning.

Revelation 4:5 — Before the throne burn seven torches of fire, identified as "the seven spirits of God." The number seven signals completeness, fullness, perfection.

Revelation 5:6 — The slain-yet-standing Lamb has seven horns and seven eyes, which are "the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth." The same seven spirits that illuminate the throne room are sent out as the Lamb's eyes — the Spirit's omniscient, active presence pervading all creation. The Lamb who was slain sees everything.

This is one of Scripture's most compressed theological statements:

• Seven horns = complete sovereign power
• Seven eyes = complete omniscient sight
• Sent into all the earth = nothing is beyond His field of vision

The Lamb is not a passive victim. He is the all-seeing King.

The God Who Sees — Across All of Scripture

He Named Himself "The God Who Sees"

Genesis 16:13 — Hagar, alone and desperate in the wilderness, names God El Roi — "You are the God who sees me." The first person in Scripture to name God did so because she was seen when no one else saw her. This name anchors everything else.

He Surveyed His Own Creation with Pleasure

Genesis 1 — Seven times in the creation account: "God saw that it was good." After man and woman: "God saw everything He had made, and behold, it was very good." The Creator looks at His work with delight. This is not neutral observation — it is pleasure, satisfaction, joy.

He Looks Down Continuously

Psalm 33:13-15 — "The LORD looks down from heaven; He sees all the children of man… He who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds." God is not an absentee landlord. He fashioned every heart and watches every deed — not as surveillance, but as the intimate knowledge of a Maker.

Psalm 14:2 / Psalm 53:2 — "The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God." God is actively searching for seekers.

His Eyes Run To and Fro

2 Chronicles 16:9 — "The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is fully committed to Him." This is the same phrase as Zechariah 4:10 — a dynamic, active, searching gaze — but here the purpose is stated: He is looking for whole-hearted faith so He can strengthen it. God is not looking to catch failures. He is scanning the earth for devotion.

Nothing Is Hidden

Hebrews 4:13 — "No creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account." Total exposure. The "seven eyes" of Revelation aren't metaphorical windows — they represent infinite perceptive penetration.

Job 34:21 — "His eyes are on the ways of man, and He sees all his steps."

Proverbs 15:3 — "The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good." No partiality in His sight.

He Sees Into the Heart

1 Samuel 16:7 — "Man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." The seven eyes pierce beneath the surface. He does not observe behavior — He reads motive, will, and love.

Psalm 139:1-4 — "O LORD, you have searched me and known me… you understand my thoughts from afar… even before a word is on my tongue, you know it altogether." Total omniscience, expressed as intimacy, not invasion.

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What He Sees and Does Not Like

The Seven Things He Hates

Proverbs 6:16-19 — Six things the LORD hates, seven are an abomination to Him:

1. Haughty eyes — pride
2. A lying tongue
3. Hands that shed innocent blood
4. A heart that devises wicked plans
5. Feet that run to evil
6. A false witness who lies
7. One who sows discord among brothers

Note that haughty eyes is listed first — the corrupted capacity for seeing turned into contempt.

He Cannot Look at Evil

Habakkuk 1:13 — "Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and you cannot tolerate wrongdoing." The same seven eyes that search the earth for devotion cannot dwell upon iniquity. Holiness is not squeamishness — it is the nature of pure light in the presence of darkness.

Isaiah 59:2 — "Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear." Sin obscures the view — from our side. God is not absent; we have pulled the shade.

What He Sees in Worship

Isaiah 1:11-15 — God says He is sated with burnt offerings and has no delight in solemn assemblies paired with bloodshed and injustice. "I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly." He sees through the ritual to the heart behind it.

Amos 5:21-24 — "I hate, I despise your feasts… But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." He sees hollow worship.

What He Takes Note of That Others Overlook

Malachi 3:16 — "Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed His name." The quiet conversations of the faithful — He records them. What the world ignores, He treasures.

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Summary: The Theology of God's Gaze

Theme	Text	What It Means
Named "The God Who Sees"	Gen 16:13	He sees the unseen and forgotten
Surveyed creation with joy	Gen 1	His sight includes delight
Seven eyes sent into all the earth	Zech 4:10; Rev 5:6	Complete, Spirit-empowered omniscience
Running to find whole hearts	2 Chr 16:9	He looks to strengthen, not expose
Sees hearts, not outward appearance	1 Sam 16:7	No performance fools Him
Cannot look at evil	Hab 1:13	Holiness governs His gaze
Records the faithful conversations	Mal 3:16	He notices what seems insignificant

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The pastoral core: The same eyes that cannot tolerate iniquity are the eyes that scan the earth searching for whole hearts to strengthen. The seven eyes of the Lamb who was slain are not the eyes of a judge waiting to condemn — they are the eyes of the Redeemer who paid to restore sight on both sides of the relationship. He sees us fully, and He still ran to us.

This connects beautifully back to Zechariah: those seven eyes rejoice over Zerubbabel's plumb line. The all-seeing God delights in faithful, ordinary, small-things obedience.

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Psalm 119:1-8, Intimacy, submission, and wholeheartedly seeking God

Psalm 119 doesn't just talk about the Word — its architecture embodies what it preaches. The Hebrew alphabet declares: from the very first letter to the last, from the strength of an ox to the mark of a covenant, God's Word orders everything.

I'm enjoying the AMP and Message versions. 

Psalm 119:1 You’re blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily (personal integrity) on the road revealed by God (guided by the precepts and revealed will of the LORD).

• YHWH and Adonai frame the full posture of biblical prayer: intimacy with the Covenant God (Psalm 119:57,89,137,151,174) + submission to the Sovereign Master (Psalm 119:12,52,108,126,149,126,149). When he cries out YHWH, he is appealing to covenant faithfulness: "You promised. You bound yourself to me." When he addresses Adonai, he is declaring submission: "You are Master. I am your servant (eved)."

Psalm 119:2 You’re blessed when you follow his directions (Keep His testimonies), doing your best to find him (consistently seek Him, long for Him wholeheartedly).

• Declared intention, spoken commitment, a vow (Psalm 119:10,57,106). Begin each day or study season with a stated intention. Write it down. Speak it aloud. The psalmist modeled verbal covenant renewal before God.
• Saturate mind through meditation (Psalm 119:15,23,48,78,97,99,148). Wholehearted seeking is sustained by returning to the Word repeatedly throughout the day — not one morning reading, but ongoing mental rehearsal.
• Ask God constantly, "teach me your statutes" (Psalm 119:12,26,33,64,68,108,124,135). Give me understanding, incline my heart, open my eyes. Prayer for illumination is not optional preparation — it is the first act of Bible engagement. Never approach the Word without asking God to open your eyes (Psalm 119:18).
• Hide the Word in your heart (Psalm 119:11,55,62,23,69,81). Memorization is a seeking discipline. What you hide in your heart, you carry with you when circumstances strip everything else away.
• Walk in obedience, not just knowledge (Psalm 119:1-3,44,57-60,112). Audit where obedience is being delayed. Delayed obedience reveals where the heart is still divided.
• Cry out honestly in affliction - don't go silent (Psalm 119:25,28,81,107,143,153). Lament is a seeking act - not silence, not numbing the pain, he converts suffering into petition. Wholehearted seeking includes bringing your worst days to God in honest, direct prayer. The psalmist models that you can grieve and seek simultaneously.
• Choose the Word over competing loves (Psalm 119:36-37,72,97,127,162-163). Identify what competes with the Word for your heart's first attention each day. Ask God specifically to incline your heart away from it.
• Persist through the night and long season (Psalm 119:55,62,147-148,164). Wholehearted seeking is rhythmic, not episodic. Build fixed times of seeking — morning, midday, evening — that function as anchors regardless of how the day unfolds.

That’s right—you don’t go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set.

You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it (follow, careful diligence).

• Diligence is speed of response to known obligation. The gap between hearing and doing is minimized to near zero. This eliminates procrastination, delayed obedience, waiting for better conditions. The diligent person treats God's word like an urgent command — not a suggestion to consider when convenient.
• Diligence guards the Word before the world can steal it (Psalm 119:9-11,101,104). Direction (way), interior (heart), daily steps (feet). Carelessness is the assumption that the Word will stay with you without effort. Diligence knows the Word must be actively protected.
• Careful diligence is not measured in good seasons. It is proven in the seasons when everything argues against it. Diligence keeps the whole not just the convenient parts (Psalm 119:6,128,160,172). Partial obedience is the most common form of disobedience. Lord, help me reject the false way (Psalm 119:104,128), I see that one tolerated false path fractures the whole. Lord help me reject double-mindedness (Psalm 119:113). Help me to walk in the fear of the Lord, to lay the old me down and put on the new me. I want to attach myself to your Word physically and emotionally (Psalm 119:20,40,131,162,167), disciplined desire that puts my will, affections pulling in the same direction. 
• Careful diligence includes rigorous self-examination (Psalm 119:26,59,168). Stop, evaluate, turn. The diligent person is not only active in keeping — he is regularly still enough to examine whether he is actually keeping. Persistent through failure without quitting (Psalm 119:25,28,67,71,176). The final verse of the entire psalm is a confession of straying. The psalmist ends not with triumphant arrival but with honest admission of wandering — and a cry for God to seek him.
• The opposite of diligence is not failure — it is the person who strays and doesn't return. The diligent person falls and gets up. He names the straying, receives the discipline, and runs back. He never makes peace with the wandering.

Hebrew	Transliteration	Meaning	Where It Appears
שָׁמַר	shamar	To keep, guard, watch carefully	22+ times in Psalm 119
נָצַר	natsar	To keep watch, preserve, guard	Psalm 119:2,22,33,56,69,100,115,129, 145
דָּרַשׁ	darash	To seek diligently, inquire, investigate	Psalm 119:2,10,45,94,155
חָפֵץ	chaphets	To delight in, desire earnestly	Psalm 119:16,35,47,70,77,92,143,174
זָרִיז	zariz	To be alert, energetic, diligent	Root behind "I hasten" in Psalm 119:60

Oh, that my steps might be steady (established), keeping to the course you set (obediently accepting and honoring them);

Then I’d never have any regrets (not ashamed) in comparing my life with your counsel (Your commandments as my guide).

A) Joyful are people who commit to follow the instructions of the LORD (Psalm 119:1-8)

Jesus teaches love precedes obedience and the indwelling Holy Spirit

Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome (1 John 5:3)

I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways (through discipline, I understand your righteous judgements for my transgressions).

I’m going to do what you tell me to do; don’t ever walk off and leave me (when I fail).

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Fearing God — What It Means and Why It Matters

Jonah 1:9  NIV: "I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land."

ESV: "I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land." 

In the Bible, “fearing your Creator” and “reaping and sowing” are deeply connected through the idea that God designed a moral and spiritual order into creation. What a person plants in thought, worship, speech, and action eventually produces fruit.

The “fear of the Lord” is not mainly terror. It is reverence, awe, alignment, and recognition that God is Creator, Judge, Sustainer, and Redeemer. It means living with the awareness that life is accountable to Him.

The principle of sowing and reaping explains the consequences of that posture.

One of the clearest passages is in Galatians:

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.”

Paul connects this directly to life in the Spirit versus life centered on the flesh. The idea is not merely agricultural. It is covenantal and moral. God built reality so that choices shape character, relationships, and destiny.

From a Biblical perspective:

• If a person sows pride, rebellion, greed, deception, or selfishness, those things eventually produce corruption, fracture, and death.
• If a person sows humility, obedience, mercy, truth, generosity, and faithfulness, those things produce life, peace, and righteousness.

The fear of the Lord changes what a person chooses to sow.

Proverbs repeatedly says:

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

Wisdom in Scripture is not abstract intelligence. It is living in harmony with how God made the world. A person who fears God understands:

• actions matter,
• hidden things are seen by God,
• consequences are real,
• and eternity matters more than temporary gratification.

This is why sowing and reaping are often tied to judgment and stewardship.

In Ecclesiastes, Solomon speaks about youth, pleasure, labor, and mortality, then concludes:

“Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”

Ecclesiastes wrestles with the apparent randomness of life, yet concludes that God ultimately brings all things into account. Sowing and reaping may not always appear immediate, but God’s justice is not absent.

There is also a redemptive dimension.

In the Gospel, humanity has already sown sin collectively and individually. The consequence is separation from God. Yet Jesus Christ enters the harvest humanity deserved and offers grace instead. Believers then “sow to the Spirit” not to earn salvation, but because a transformed heart produces new fruit.

Jesus also used agricultural imagery constantly:

• seeds,
• soils,
• harvests,
• vineyards,
• fruit-bearing trees.

Why? Because spiritual life grows progressively. Fear of God is the soil posture of humility and receptivity. What is planted in that soil eventually becomes visible.

Biblically, fearing your Creator means recognizing:

• God designed reality,
• moral actions have consequences,
• spiritual laws are as real as physical laws,
• and every life becomes a harvest of what it trusted, loved, and pursued.

So sowing and reaping are not separate from fearing God. They are one of the main reasons Scripture calls people to fear Him wisely and lovingly.

The following is Based on John Bunyan's "A Treatise of the Fear of God" (1679)

This book is about one big idea: fearing God. That does not mean being scared of God the way you are scared of a monster. It means having deep respect and love for God — so much that you do not want to do anything that displeases him.

The Bible says this many times. Psalm 128:1 says, "Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord." Revelation 14:7 says simply, "Fear God."

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What Does "Fear God" Mean?

The word fear is used three ways in the Bible when it talks about God.

1. Fear Means God Himself

Sometimes "the Fear" is just another name for God. Jacob called God "the Fear of my father Isaac." Why? Because God is great and awesome. He made everything. He is everywhere. When he shows up, even good news from God feels overwhelming. When Jacob saw God in a dream, he woke up shaking and said, "How awesome is this place!" Even angels showing up made people fall to the ground in terror. If angels are that amazing, how much more is God himself?

God is so great that even his kindness makes us want to bow down. When Job finally saw God clearly, he said, "Now I see you — and I am nothing." That is what the right fear of God feels like.

2. Fear Means God's Word

The Bible is also called "the fear of the Lord." That is because God's Word is the rulebook for how we should fear and obey him. When we read the Bible, we learn how to fear God the right way.

Psalm 19 lists many names for God's Word — law, statutes, commandments, judgments — and then adds, "The fear of the Lord is clean." They all mean the same thing: God's written Word.

We should tremble when we read the Bible. When Josiah heard God's Word read, he tore his clothes in sorrow. God noticed and honored him for it.

Why is the Bible so powerful?

• It comes from God himself.
• It tells us where we will spend forever — heaven or hell.
• It cannot be broken. Not one word of it will ever fail.

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Kinds of Fear — Not All Fear Is Good

There are several kinds of fear. Not all of them are good.

Bad Fear #1 — The Fear That Makes You Run from God

When Adam sinned, he was afraid and hid from God. That was a wrong fear. It did not make him want to come back to God. It made him run away. Some people today do the same thing. When the Word of God convicts them of sin, they stop going to church. They do not want God close. This kind of fear is wrong. It leads away from God, not toward him.

Bad Fear #2 — The Fear That Keeps You Stuck

Some people come to church and know the right things, but they never really live for God. They are afraid — not of punishment exactly, but of what it might cost them. Like the servant in the parable who buried his talent. He was afraid of his master, but in the wrong way. His fear made him do nothing. That is bad fear too.

Bad Fear #3 — The Fear That Leads to Made-Up Religion

Some people are afraid of God, but instead of trusting Jesus, they try to earn God's favor. They add their own rules and rituals. The Pharisees did this. Some people today do this. They think if they do enough, God will like them. But this kind of fear misunderstands God. It is fear without faith.

Good Fear That Comes at First — But Does Not Stay Forever

When the Holy Spirit first works in someone's heart, he shows them their sin. The person feels the weight of it. They cry out, "What must I do to be saved?" This is a good kind of fear — because it is true. They really are sinners. They really do need Jesus. But this fear is only meant to last until they trust Jesus. After that, the Spirit comes as a Father, not a judge. We no longer have to fear being thrown out — we are children of God.

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The Real Fear of God — A Lasting Grace

Now we come to the best kind of fear. This is the kind that God plants in the hearts of his children. It never leaves. It is not a scary fear. It is more like deep respect, deep love, and deep care not to hurt the one you love most.

Where Does This Fear Come From?

• God's love — God puts this fear in us because he loves us. It is part of the new covenant.
• A new heart — You cannot have this fear with an old, hard heart. God gives us a new heart, and this fear grows there.
• God's Word — The more the Bible soaks into us, the more we fear God rightly.
• Faith — We believe God's promises, and that creates this fear.
• Repentance — When we are truly sorry for sin, this fear grows.
• God's mercy — When we see how kind God has been to us, we want to honor him more.

What Does This Fear Look Like?

Here are the things that flow out of true fear of God:

1. Reverence — You treat God's name, his Word, and his worship with great respect.
2. Watchfulness — You watch your heart, your mouth, and your actions so you don't sin.
3. Fellowship — You want to talk about God with other believers and grow together.
4. Holy worship — You come to church with awe, not just going through the motions.
5. Self-denial — You give up things that might hurt others or dishonor God.
6. Honesty — You do what you do simply for God, not for show.
7. Caring for others — You help people in need, especially fellow believers in trouble.
8. Prayer — You pray often, earnestly, and from the heart.
9. Obedience even when it costs you — Like Abraham, you trust God enough to give up what you love most.
10. Humility — You think less of yourself and more of God and others.
11. Hope — Because you fear God, you also hope in his mercy.
12. Delight in God's commands — You actually want to do what God says.
13. Enlarged heart — Your heart grows bigger — more love for God and people.

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The Blessings of Fearing God

God has made special promises to people who fear him. Here are some of them:

• God will be your help and shield (Psalm 115:11)
• God will teach you the right path (Psalm 25:12)
• God will show you his secrets and his covenant (Psalm 25:14)
• God's eye is always on you for good (Psalm 33:18)
• You will not lack any good thing (Psalm 34:9–10)
• Angels will camp around you (Psalm 34:7)
• God's salvation is close to you (Psalm 85:9)
• God's mercy covers you forever (Psalm 103:17)
• God pities you like a father (Psalm 103:13)
• God will give you what you truly desire (Psalm 145:19)
• God takes delight in you (Psalm 147:11)
• Both the small and great are blessed (Psalm 115:13)

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Who Does NOT Have This Fear?

Here are signs that someone lacks the fear of God:

• They are proud and full of themselves.
• They are greedy — money matters more than God.
• They overeat and get drunk and live only for pleasure.
• They lie regularly.
• They cry to God in trouble but ignore him in good times.
• They hurt or mock God's people.
• They do not tremble at God's Word.
• They look down on others who fear God.

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How to Grow in the Fear of God

Here is how you can grow in this grace:

1. Learn the difference between right and wrong fear. Don't confuse the fear that leads away from God with the fear that draws you to him.
2. Know the new covenant. God has promised to be your Father through Jesus. Rest in that.
3. Keep your faith strong. Remember what God has done for you.
4. Set God before you. Think about his greatness. The more you think about him, the more you will fear him rightly.
5. Love his Word. Read it. Obey it. Let it soak in.
6. Pray for this grace. Ask God to make your heart fear him more.
7. Devote yourself to it. Think about God. Talk about God. Stay near him.

Things That Kill This Fear — Watch Out For:

• A hard heart — sin hardens the heart fast.
• A prayerless life — no prayer means little fear.
• A careless, lazy spirit — drifting away from God weakens fear.
• Greed — it pushes God's Word out of your heart.
• Unbelief — it cuts off the very thing that feeds this fear.
• Forgetfulness — forget what God has done, and fear shrinks.
• Complaining against God — murmuring is the opposite of awe.
• Pride — a big view of yourself means a small view of God.
• Envy — envying sinners shows you have forgotten who God is.

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A Word to People Who Fake It

Some people look like they fear God but do not. They say the right things and do some of the right actions — but their heart is empty. God sees right through this. Pretending to fear God while your heart is far from him is dangerous. The Bible says the hypocrite's hope will be cut off. Their joy lasts only a moment.

Do not fake the fear of God. Ask God for the real thing.

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The Good News

If you truly fear God — even a little — you are blessed.

You do not have to be a preacher or a scholar or rich or strong. You can be sick in bed. You can be poor. You can have nothing the world values. But if you fear God, you have everything that matters.

When the sailors asked Jonah who he was, he did not brag about his job or his hometown. He said: "I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven."

That is the greatest thing any person can say about themselves.

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"Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord." — Psalm 128:1

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Fear and Reverence in Las Vegas (Malachi 1-4)

Malachi 1-4 

"I the Lord do not change...Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty." Malachi 3:6-7

Kim and I are celebrating 20 years of marriage this weekend in Las Vegas! We're taking a short trip to rest, eat good food, and have fun at our hotel. We're also studying the book of Malachi together from our Bible class, which makes it extra special.

Right outside our hotel is something amazing called the Sphere. It's a giant round building covered in lights and moving pictures. Right now it's showing the Wizard of Oz, with all its bright colors lighting up the night sky.

That got me thinking. In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy does things wrong, gets lost far from home, and has to figure out how to get back. The whole story is really about going home.

The book of Malachi is kind of like that too. God shows His people the wrong things they've been doing things that might seem small or easy to ignore and lights them up in full color so they're impossible to miss. Like when Dorothy's world went from black and white to bright, beautiful color.

And just like Dorothy, God's people wanted to run away from their problems. But God says: running away isn't the answer. The real question is, "How do I get back home? How do I get back to the God I love?"

That's the heart of Malachi. And honestly? It's a pretty good question for all of us.

AIM: Fear and Reverence is the right response to who God is

His name reveals who He is. Fear of the Lord is the response to who He is. Reverence for His name is that same fear given expression in speech, worship, and life. One is the inward posture; the other is the outward testimony of the same reality.

Malachi 2:5 may be the single most powerful verse showing their unity, a man who truly fears the Lord will stand in awe of His name. They cannot be separated.

A) Lord provides covenantal law, yet God's people violate the law and are cursed (1-2:12)

B) Only the Lord can restore the Covenant, making our lives acceptable to the Lord (2:13-3:4)

C) Fear and reverence to the Lord is the way to return to Him (3:5-4:6)

1-5) Lord to Israel through Malachi, Love revealed in comparison, see Edomites curse

• Twin Cities: Esau=Edom, Jacob=Israel

6-14) Honor system broken-vows/cheating/defiled sacrifice father/master/God's name 

• "good will donations" - garbage not fit for use and quality gifts (I've done both), Malachi 1:14

2:1-6) Priest listen/resolve: honor/revere God's name - else blessings are cursed, Levi covenant: Life (reverence, instruction) + Peace (uprightness, turned many from sin)

•  Lord help me listen and resolve to honor your name today, live in covenant

7-9) Priest preserve knowledge as messenger of Lord Almighty who people seek, violate Levi's covenant (partiality law): many stumble, humiliated

• The Covenant with Levi

10-12) God created us, yet Judah unfaithful desecrated Lord sanctuary wives worship foreign god, remove him regardless of offering brought.

B) Only the Lord can restore the Covenant, making our lives acceptable to the Lord (2:13-3:4)

13-16) flood Lord's altar tears, not accepted because of unfaithfulness, divorce is violence, faithfulness protects.  (Malachi 2:13)

• God refuses compartmentalized religion (Jeremiah 7:9-11, Malachi 2:13,1 Peter 3:7)
• So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful. (v16)

17) Wearied Lord w/words "all who do evil/good w/Lord, pleased w/them" "God's Justice?"

3:1-4) Messenger prepares, refiner's fire, so men offer righteousness, acceptable to Lord

• Jesus Fulfilling Malachi 2:17–3:5

C) Fear and reverence to the Lord is the way to return to Him (3:5-4:6)

5) Lord's trial against (relational sins from lack of reverence) sorcerers, adulterers, perjurers, defraud laborers, oppress widows/fatherless, deprive foreigners justice, no fear of Lord Almighty

• Lord's covenant lawsuit speech (Malachi 3:5)

6-12) Lord's consistent decree, "Return to me, and I will return to you" tithe, exponential blessing

13-15) Arrogant speech against God, grumbles about serving, envies evildoers

16-18) Fear God speech, Lord listened, restores eyes to see right from wicked, peaceful yoke

4:1-3) Day coming evildoers on fire, no root or branch/ revere God's name righteousness rises like the healing sun

• Today is the day of repentance Hebrews 3-4

4-6) Remember Moses law, Elijah (John the Baptist), repent the kingdom is near!

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Lord's covenant lawsuit speech (Malachi 3:5)

“So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,” says the Lord Almighty. - Malachi 3:5

The Malachi 3:5 list is a covenant lawsuit (rib) — the Lord serving as both witness and judge. It's notable that all six sins are relational and social, and the diagnosis is a single spiritual root: no fear of the Lord. This same structure appears in the prophetic tradition (Amos 2, Isaiah 1, Zechariah 7) and resurfaces in the NT especially in James 5.

"I will be a swift witness against..." (Malachi 3:5)

Sorcerers / Witchcraft

• Mal 3:5 — primary text
• Exod 22:18 — "Do not allow a sorceress to live"
• Deut 18:10–12 — detestable practices list; divination, sorcery, witchcraft
• Lev 19:26, 31; 20:6, 27 — prohibitions against mediums and spiritists
• Rev 21:8; 22:15 — sorcerers excluded from the New Jerusalem

Adulterers

• Mal 3:5
• Exod 20:14; Deut 5:18 — seventh commandment
• Lev 20:10 — death penalty prescribed
• Prov 6:32 — destroys himself
• Matt 5:27–28 — Jesus expands to heart adultery
• Heb 13:4 — God will judge adulterers
• 1 Cor 6:9–10 — adulterers will not inherit the kingdom

Perjurers / False Oaths

• Mal 3:5
• Exod 20:7; Deut 5:11 — misusing the name of the Lord
• Lev 19:12 — do not swear falsely by God's name
• Zech 5:3–4 — the flying scroll as judgment on those who swear falsely
• Deut 19:16–19 — false witness receives the punishment intended for the accused
• Prov 19:5, 9 — false witness will not go unpunished

Defrauding Laborers / Withholding Wages

• Mal 3:5
• Lev 19:13 — "Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight"
• Deut 24:14–15 — pay the same day; "it is a sin against you"
• Jer 22:13 — woe to those who build by unrighteousness, using neighbors without pay
• James 5:4 — wages held back cry out; the Lord Almighty has heard their cry
• Prov 3:27–28 — do not withhold good from those to whom it is due

Oppressing Widows and the Fatherless

• Mal 3:5 - who oppress the widows and the fatherless
• Exod 22:22–24 — "Do not take advantage of a widow or orphan... my anger will be aroused"
• Deut 10:18; 27:19 — God defends the fatherless and widow; cursed who withholds justice
• Isa 1:17, 23 — learn to do right; seek justice; your rulers are rebels who do not defend the fatherless
• Isa 10:1–2 — woe to those who make unjust laws, depriving the poor of their rights
• Ps 68:5 — "Father to the fatherless, defender of widows"
• Ps 146:9 — "The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and widow"
• Zech 7:10 — do not oppress the widow, fatherless, foreigner, or poor
• James 1:27 — pure religion: look after orphans and widows in distress

Depriving Foreigners / Aliens of Justice

• Mal 3:5 - deprive the foreigners among you of justice
• Exod 22:21; 23:9 — do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner
• Lev 19:33–34 — love the foreigner as yourself; "you were foreigners in Egypt"
• Deut 10:18–19 — God loves the foreigner; you are to love them too
• Deut 24:17 — do not deprive the foreigner or fatherless of justice
• Deut 27:19 — cursed who withholds justice from the foreigner, fatherless, or widow
• Zech 7:10 — do not oppress the foreigner
• Ezek 22:7, 29 — Jerusalem's sins include mistreating the foreigner

No Fear of the Lord

• Mal 3:5 — identified as the root cause of all the above
• Prov 1:7 — "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom"
• Prov 8:13 — "To fear the Lord is to hate evil"
• Prov 16:6 — "Through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided"
• Deut 6:2, 13, 24 — fear the Lord your God; this is the covenant foundation
• Ps 36:1–4 — "There is no fear of God before his eyes" leads to wickedness
• Rom 3:18 (quoting Ps 36) — Paul's indictment of universal sin
• Isa 8:13 — the Lord Almighty is the one to fear

Prophetic Tradition

Amos 2 — Oracle Against Israel

The covenant lawsuit against Israel for social sins:

• Amos 2:6–8 — selling the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals; trampling the heads of the poor into the dust; a man and his father using the same woman; lying down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge; drinking wine taken as fines in the house of their god
• Amos 2:4–5 — Judah's parallel indictment: rejecting the law of the Lord, not keeping his decrees, being led astray by false gods

Isaiah 1 — The Great Indictment

• Isa 1:2–4 — opening accusation: a rebellious nation, children who have forsaken the Lord
• Isa 1:10–17 — the Lord rejects their sacrifices and religious performance; the command: "Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow" (v. 17)
• Isa 1:21–23 — the faithful city become a prostitute; rulers are rebels and companions of thieves; they love bribes, chase after gifts; they do not defend the fatherless; the widow's case never comes before them

Zechariah 7 — The Fasting Question and the Covenant Response

• Zech 7:9–10 — "Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other."
• Zech 7:11–12 — they refused to pay attention, stubbornly turned their backs, stopped their ears, made their hearts as hard as flint so they could not hear the law or the words the Lord had sent
• Zech 7:13 — "When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen" — the judicial consequence of covenant rebellion

James 5 — NT Echo of Malachi 3:5

James 5 is arguably the closest NT parallel to Mal 3:5 — same sins, same divine title (Lord Almighty), same courtroom posture:

• James 5:1–3 — woe to the rich who have hoarded wealth that will testify against them
• James 5:4 — "The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty." — direct echo of Mal 3:5 on defrauding laborers; unique use of Kyrios Sabaoth (Lord of Hosts/Almighty) in the NT
• James 5:5–6 — you have fattened yourselves, condemned and murdered the innocent who were not opposing you (oppression of the powerless)
• James 5:12 — "Do not swear — not by heaven or by earth or by anything else" — connects to the perjury/oath strand

The Common Thread

All four passages share the same covenant lawsuit structure:

Element	Amos 2	Isa 1	Zech 7	James 5	Mal 3:5
Social oppression indicted	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Widow / fatherless	—	✓	✓	—	✓
Foreign / poor	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Wage theft	—	—	—	✓	✓
Lord as judge/witness	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Root: spiritual unfaithfulness	✓	✓	✓	—	✓

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The Lord Is Good: A Stronghold for Those Who Trust Him (Prov 21:22,Nahum 1:7)

I’ve been enjoying Choose Your Stronghold - Bill Johnson,. It feels especially timely. Yesterday, a rocket went to the moon, and my brother’s wife lost her job. In the middle of life’s extremes, one thing becomes clear: what we trust in matters deeply.

The fear of God is not panic. It is wisdom. It is like wearing a seat belt when driving fast, or like an X-ray technician putting on a protective shield. There is a right kind of fear that keeps you aligned with reality. I want to be found in Christ, abiding in Him and standing firm.

One of the strongest points in Bill’s sermon is this: God takes our trust seriously. If we think trust is important, we should multiply that understanding by a thousand. Scripture says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:1–7). Faith is not a vague feeling. It is where we place our confidence, our dependence, and our identity.

A stronghold is often an idea that feels safe in our lives, but may actually be a lie. One common lie is, “I was born this way,” as though we are forever locked into broken patterns with no hope of transformation. But the Word of God confronts lies and calls us into truth. It spurs us on to love and good deeds, showing us the way to live and flourish.

I am continually amazed that His Word is truly living and active. It does not merely inspire. It cuts with precision, surgically removing false beliefs and replacing them with truth that leads to life. One example I got to share this week was about stealing. The world says, “You did the crime, now do the time.” But God says something far more transformative: “If you are a thief, steal no longer. Work diligently with your hands so that you will have abundance to give to those in need.” God does not just stop sin. He redeems identity and redirects purpose.

When faith is working properly in our heart, soul, and mind, it becomes a stronghold of truth. But we also have an enemy who tries to establish counterfeit strongholds, anger, bitterness, hatred, lust, debauchery, sloth, and every kind of destructive pattern. These are not harmless thoughts. They become fortresses if left unchallenged.

So we must tear down false strongholds and learn to yield to the divine power of God’s Word. The question is not whether we will live from a stronghold. The question is: which one will we choose?

One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty, and pull down the stronghold in which they trust. Prov 21:22

• Strong holds are the ideas we put our trust in: many trust in substance, situations, health (all are shifting sand). "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds." 2 Cor 10:4

"May the word of Christ dwell in you richly" (Colossians 3:16) means allowing Jesus' teachings to permeate your life, thoughts, and actions continuously rather than occasionally. It implies that Scripture should be at home in the believer, shaping wisdom, guiding relationships, and fostering a thankful heart.

• The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 
• The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. Psalm 37:39
• Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. Psalm 8:2
• The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Psalm 9:9
• The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2

The Foundation: Who God Is

Nahum 1:7 packs three towering truths into one verse: God's goodness, God's protection, and God's personal knowledge of those who trust Him. Each deserves its own biblical development.

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1. The Lord Is Good

This is not a feeling about God — it is a declaration about His nature.

"For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations." — Psalm 100:5

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." — James 1:17

"You are good and do good; teach me your statutes." — Psalm 119:68

The point: God's goodness is not circumstantial. It does not fluctuate with the economy, your health, or your circumstances. Nahum wrote during a time of Assyrian terror, yet declared God good. Goodness is God's character, not His reaction to our comfort.

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2. He Is a Stronghold in the Day of Trouble

A stronghold in the ancient world was not a retreat — it was a fortified position from which you could survive and fight. God is not a hiding place from life; He is a secure base within it.

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." — Psalm 46:1

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe." — Proverbs 18:10

"The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble." — Psalm 9:9

"He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken." — Psalm 62:2

"I will say to the Lord, 'My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'" — Psalm 91:2

"But the Lord has been my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge." — Psalm 94:22

Key contrast: The Assyrians trusted in military might, city walls, and numbers. Nahum contrasts their coming destruction with the security of those whose stronghold is the Lord Himself. The world's fortresses fall. God's does not.

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3. He Knows Those Who Trust in Him

This is perhaps the most personal phrase in the verse. "He knows" is covenantal language — intimate, relational, chosen knowledge.

"But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.'" — Isaiah 43:1

"The Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." — Psalm 1:6

"I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me." — John 10:14

"But if anyone loves God, he is known by God." — 1 Corinthians 8:3

"The Lord knows those who are his." — 2 Timothy 2:19

The point: To be known by God is not just awareness — it is watchful care, active protection, and personal engagement. He does not forget you in your trouble. He is fully present and fully attentive.

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4. What It Means to Trust

Trust is the hinge on which this whole verse swings. God is good and a stronghold — but Nahum says these realities belong specifically to those who take refuge in Him. Trust is not passive.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." — Proverbs 3:5-6

"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid." — Psalm 56:3-4

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act." — Psalm 37:5

"Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever." — Psalm 125:1

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." — Isaiah 26:3

Trust is a direction, not just a doctrine. It means turning toward God, running to His name, anchoring your mind on His character when circumstances shake everything else.

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5. The Day of Trouble — Why This Matters

Nahum's context is critical. He wrote to Judah under the shadow of Assyria, one of the most brutal empires in history. This was not metaphorical trouble; this was existential threat. Yet the declaration stands: God is good. God is a stronghold. God knows you.

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me." — Psalm 23:4

"In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." — John 16:33

"We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed." — 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

"And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." — 1 Peter 5:10

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Summary: One Verse, Three Unshakeable Truths

Truth	Verse Anchor	What It Means
The Lord is good	Psalm 100:5, James 1:17	His character never changes
He is a stronghold	Psalm 46:1, Proverbs 18:10	He is your secure place in every storm
He knows those who trust	John 10:14, Isaiah 43:1	You are personally held, not just generally protected

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The message of Nahum 1:7 is not wishful thinking — it is theological bedrock. When the day of trouble comes (and it will), the person rooted in this truth does not simply endure. They stand in a fortress that cannot be taken.

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Repentance agrees with God’s verdict, revival reaches root causes (Nehemiah 9)

Repentance is turning fully back to God, and revival is what happens when that turning is met by the renewing mercy and presence of God. Nehemiah 9 teaches that revival is not manufactured. It happens when God’s people are brought low by truth, awakened by His Word, convicted over sin, and drawn back by His mercy. 

And repentance here is not shallow regret. It is:

• humility
• confession
• truthfulness
• Scripture-shaped awareness
• God-centered worship
• realignment of life

Stages of repentance and revival in Nehemiah 9

1. Gather before God	"The Israelites assembled" (Neh 9:1)
2. Humble yourself	Fasting, sackcloth, dust on heads (Neh 9:1)
3. Hear the Word	Read from the Book for a quarter of the day (Neh 9:3)
4. Confess sin honestly	Confessed and stood confessing (Neh 9:2-3)
5. Remember God's faithfulness	The great recital: Abraham to exile (Neh 9:7-31)
6. Acknowledge God's righteousness	"You are righteous in all that has happened" (Neh 9:33)
7. Cry out for mercy	"Do not treat lightly all the hardship" (Neh 9:32)
8. Worship Him	Levites led corporate praise (Neh 9:4-5)
9. Commit to renewed obedience	Sealed the covenant (Neh 9:38)

This isn't accidental. Ezra and the Levites structured this gathering as a model. The sequence has internal logic: you cannot honestly confess (stage 4) until you've heard the Word (stage 3) that exposes sin, and you cannot cry out for mercy (stage 7) with any confidence unless you've first remembered that God is faithful (stage 5) and righteous (stage 6). The order is theological, not arbitrary.

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Prescriptive Verses for Each Stage

1. Gather before God "Let us not neglect meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another." (Hebrews 10:25). Joel 2:16 goes further: "Gather all the people... Call a solemn assembly." This is commanded community action, not a private option.

2. Humble yourself James 4:10: "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor." 2 Chronicles 7:14 makes humility the first condition of healing: "If my people will humble themselves and pray..." For the helpless, humility is involuntary and God uses it. For the able, it is a chosen posture.

3. Hear the Word Romans 10:17: "Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." Revival never originates in human feeling; it is always ignited by the proclaimed Word. Isaiah 55:10-11 grounds this: God's word "accomplishes what I desire and achieves the purpose for which I sent it."

4. Confess sin honestly 1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us." Psalm 32:5: "Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt." Note the word "finally" — honest confession requires breaking through denial. Proverbs 28:13 sharpens it: those who conceal sin don't prosper; those who confess find mercy.

5. Remember God's faithfulness Lamentations 3:21-23: "Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends." Remembering is an act of faith against despair. Psalm 77:11-12: "But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago."

6. Acknowledge God's righteousness Daniel 9:7,14: "Lord, you are righteous... you are righteous in everything you have done." This is the crucial move where the soul stops bargaining and agrees with God's judgment. Psalm 51:4: "You are right when you speak, blameless when you judge."

7. Cry out for mercy Psalm 123:2-3: "We keep looking to the Lord our God for his mercy... Have mercy on us, Lord." The cry for mercy presupposes God's righteousness (stage 6) and God's faithfulness (stage 5). Luke 18:13 gives it personal form: "God, be merciful to me, a sinner."

8. Worship Him Psalm 22:3: God inhabits the praises of his people. Romans 12:1: "Give your bodies to God as a living sacrifice... This is your true and proper worship." Worship here is not sentiment but surrender.

9. Commit to renewed obedience Joshua 24:21-24: "We will serve the Lord our God. We will obey him alone." Ezekiel 36:26-27 roots obedience in the new heart: "I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees." True revival always produces covenantal commitment, not merely emotional experience.

God defines victory by persistent faith and obedience

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Fear God’s eternal authority with awe, confidence, obedience, and bold trust.

The three most important attributes of God are Holy, Creator, Lord. He is distinct from everything (Holy), has beginning authority (Creator) and ending authority (Lord). The biblical teaching on the fear of the Lord establishes a foundational distinction between improper fear of temporal human threats and proper reverential awe of God's eternal authority. These passages reveal that while humans can only harm the physical body, God alone possesses authority over eternal destinies, both soul and body. Yet this "fear" is not servile terror but rather a healthy recognition of God's holiness and justice that exists within the security of His loving providence.

Servile terror means being afraid of God like a slave who's terrified of a cruel master.

It's the kind of fear where you:

• Cower and tremble, just trying not to get punished
• Obey only to avoid getting hurt, not out of love or respect
• Want to run and hide rather than draw close
• See God as an angry tyrant ready to strike you down
• Have no trust, no relationship, just dread

In contrast, the biblical "fear of the Lord" is more like:

• Deep respect mixed with love (like healthy respect for a loving but just parent)
• Awe at His greatness and holiness
• Awareness that He's incredibly powerful and judges sin, but also trustworthy and loving
• Reverence that draws you closer, not pushes you away

Think of it this way: servile terror makes you want to avoid God; proper fear of the Lord makes you want to worship God and live in a way that honors Him. One is the fear of a beaten slave; the other is the respectful awe of a beloved child toward a good but holy Father.

The same God who can cast into hell also numbers the hairs on our heads and notices every sparrow that falls. This dual reality (sovereign Judge and tender Father) produces transformative results: believers gain eternal perspective that prioritizes soul over body, develop boldness against human opposition, pursue obedience rooted in reverence rather than manipulation, and worship God with appropriate awe. 

Ultimately, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10) and encompasses the whole duty of humanity (Ecclesiastes 12:13). It redirects our anxieties from horizontal human threats to vertical divine accountability, while paradoxically providing confident assurance that nothing can separate us from God's love in Christ (Romans 8:38-39). This "perfect love" doesn't eliminate fear but rather perfects it, transforming dread into devoted reverence and producing lives marked by courageous faithfulness in the face of opposition.

These passages redirect fear. They warn against fearing people with temporary power and call us to fear God who holds eternal authority. This fear is not panic. It is reverent awe before the One who judges, protects, and rules forever.

1. Proper vs. Improper Fear
Jesus draws a sharp line. Do not fear those who can kill the body. Fear the One who determines eternal destiny (Matthew 10:28. Luke 12:4-5). True fear shifts our attention upward, not outward.

Additional references: Proverbs 29:25. Isaiah 51:7-8. Ezekiel 2:6. Jeremiah 1:8.

2. God the Judge and Protector
Scripture holds both truths. He judges sin with final authority (Hebrews 10:31. Revelation 20:11-15). Yet He guards His people with intimate care (Luke 12:6-7. Psalm 139:13-16). Fear and trust coexist in proper proportion.

Additional references: Psalm 103:11-17. Malachi 3:16-17. Romans 8:28.

3. Eternal Over Temporal
Physical death is not the final threat. Eternal judgment is (2 Corinthians 5:10. Ecclesiastes 12:14). The Bible reframes fear by lifting our sight to the age to come. Present pressure becomes small in comparison (Romans 8:18. Revelation 14:7).

Additional references: Matthew 16:26. Luke 16:19-31. Acts 17:31.

4. Fear Produces Wisdom
Fearing God leads to knowledge, wisdom, and obedience (Proverbs 1:7. Proverbs 9:10. Deuteronomy 10:12). It is the starting point of a life aligned with His will.

Additional references: Proverbs 14:26-27. Ecclesiastes 12:13. Revelation 14:7.

5. Love Perfects Fear
Believers do not fear punishment. God’s perfect love removes dread (1 John 4:18). His love holds us so securely that nothing can separate us from Him (Romans 8:38-39). The fear that remains is reverent awe, not terror.

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Practical Implications

Persecution: Do not compromise truth because of pressure or threats.
Evangelism: Eternal stakes outweigh temporary discomfort.
Priorities: Align values with what lasts forever, not what fades.
Worship: Approach God with awe, not casual indifference.
Obedience: Respond to the God who commands with holy authority.
Confidence: Trust His care for every detail of life even as He rules with justice.

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Summary
The fear of the Lord is reverent awe rooted in His holiness, authority, justice, and love. It produces obedience, courage, and trust. It frees us from fearing man and fixes our eyes on eternal reality.

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