Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. PSA 112:1

 The Godly fear spoken of in our text is not a slavish fear, but a Holy Reverence for God and His Holy Will. The world is full of religion today, but our Saviour tells us in MAT 7:13-23 that there are two sorts of religions, i.e., those who, "Enter...the strait gate," that leadeth unto life, and the broad way, "...that leadeth to destruction." Of the stait gate Jesus said, "few there be that find it," but of the broad way He said, "many there be which go in thereat."

Our Saviour admonishes all who have this broad road religion, that they will say unto Him in the judgment day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity," MAT 7:22-23.

Those who have this broad road religion have never learned to reverence God and His Holy Will: our Saviour identifies them as those, "...that work iniquity."

Our text says, "Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments." Those who truly fear the Lord are motivated by love, and therefore they delight to keep His commandments.

Jesus said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven," MAT 7:21. This is not a legalistic religion, this is the "strait gate," that is found by so few!

Oh, beloved, faith to see one glimpse of our Saviour's obedience in suffering for the sin of His church, would fill your heart with Holy awe for God's Holy Will. As by Adam's disobedience the human race became sinners, so by the obedience of Jesus Christ His church is made righteous, ROM 5:19. The test in Gethsemane and on the cross was whether Jesus Christ, the Son of God, would obey His Father's command to lay down His life for His church, and take it again, JOH 10:17.

The Father was fully glorified with Jesus' Godly fear, i.e., perfect submission to, and Holy reverence for His Father's Will. Jesus prayed, "Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done," LUK 22:42. "When he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears...he was heard in that he feared," HEB 5:7-8.

What does that word "feared" mean? That is a Holy, reverent respect for the Father's will. Jesus was heard because of His Holy reverence for the will of the Father, and an angel was sent to strengthen Him. Jesus Christ purchased salvation for His church with His life's blood as an act of obedience.

The Lord will claim those who fear Him, and often speak to each other of His precious bleeding dying love. He says, "And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not," MAL 3:16-18.