A Daily Devotional for November 7
From the Pen of John Bunyan
Where is Our Fear of God?
“A son honors the father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear?
Malachi 1; 6b.
[We tremble and fear] his name: I am, Jah, [and] Jehovah. What is by them intended but his nature, as his power, wisdom, eternity, goodness, and omnipotency—might be expressed and declared. The name of God is therefore the object of a Christian’s fear. David prayed to God that he would unite his heart to fear his name (Psalm 86: 11). Indeed, the name of God is a fearful name, and should always be reverenced by his people: Yea his “name is to be feared for ever and ever,” and that not only in his church, and among his saints but even in the world and among the heathen—“So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, and all kings thy glory” (Psalm 102: 15). God tells us that his name is dreadful and that he is pleased to see men be afraid before his name. Yea, one reason why he executes so many judgments upon men as he does, is that others might see and fear his name. “So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun” (Isaiah 59: 19; Malachi 2: 5).
The name of a king is a name of fear— “And I am a great king, saith the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 1: 14). The name of master is a name of fear— “And if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord” (v 6). Yea, rightly to fear the Lord is a sign of a gracious heart. And again, “To you that fear my name,” saith he, “shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings” (Malachi 4: 2). Christ . . .will . . . reward . . . his saints, “and to them that fear his name, small and great” (Revelation 11: 18).
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