Hebrews 12:28
by Arthur W. Pink
No exhortation in this Epistle is more needed by our perverse generation than this one. How this imperative requirement “with reverence and godly fear” rebukes the cheap, flippant “worship” (?) of the day. O what unholy lightness and ungodly familiarity now marks the religion of Christendom: many address the great Deity as though they were His equals, and conduct themselves with far less decorum than they would show in the presence of an earthly monarch. The omission of bowing the head in silent prayer when we take our place in the congregation, the vulgar glancing around, the unseemingly whispering and chattering, the readiness to smile or laugh at any remarks of the preacher’s which may be wrested, are all so many instances of this glaring and growing evil. “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about Him” “(Psa. 89:7).The Greek word for “reverence” is rendered “shamefacedness” in 1 Timothy 2:9. This, in extraordinary instances, is called a “blushing,” a “being ashamed,” a “confusion of face” (Ezra 9:6; Dan. 9:7); yet, the essence of it, ought always to accompany us in the whole worship of God. “Godly fear” is a holy awe on the soul when engaged in sacred duties, and this from a consideration of the great danger there is of our sinful miscarriages in the worship of God, and of His severity against such heinous offences. God will not be mocked. A serious soul is hereby moved unto watchfulness and diligence not to provoke so great, so holy, so jealous a God, by a neglect of that reverence and godly fear which He requires in His service, and which is due unto Him on account of His glorious perfections. If the seraphim veil their faces before Him (Isa. 6:2), how much more would we do so!
“For our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:29). This is the reason given why we must serve God with reverence and fear. The words are taken from Deuteronomy 4:24 where they are used to deter Israel from idolatry, for that is a sin God will not tolerate. The same description of God is here applied by the Apostle unto those lacking grace to worship Him with the humility and awe which He demands. If we are graceless in our persons, and devoid of reverence in our worship, God will deal with us accordingly. As a fire consumes combustible matter case into it, so God will destroy sinners. The title “our God” denotes a covenant relationship, yet though Christians are firmly assured of their interest in the Everlasting Covenant, God requires them to have holy apprehensions of His majesty and terror: see 2 Corinthians 5:10, 11.
The twin graces of love and fear, fear and love, should be jointly active in the believer, and it is in preserving a balance between them that his spiritual health largely consists. So it is here: observe the remarkable conjunction: “our God,” in covenant relationship, our Father; and yet “a consuming fire,” to be trembled at! The first is to prevent despair from considering God’s ineffable purity and inflexible justice; the latter is to check a presumptuous irreverence unto which a one-sided occupation with His grace and love might embolden us. Thus, the principal exhortation “let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably” is urged by two widely different motives: because we have “received a kingdom” and because God is “a consuming fire.” Carnal reason would ask, If we have received a kingdom which cannot be moved, why should we fear? But if God be such “a consuming fire” how can we ever expect such a kingdom, since we are but as stubble? But the Spirit-taught have no difficulty in perceiving why the Apostle joined together these two things.
The Christian’s interest in His favour is no warrant for casting off a solemn fear of God: though He has laid down Hi enmity against him, He has not cast off His majesty and sovereignty over him. “Even those who stand highest in the love and favour of God, and have the fullest assurance thereof and of their interest in Him as their God, ought, notwithstanding, to fear Him as a sin-avenging God and a consuming fire” (Ezekiel Hopkins, 1680). Though God has taken His redeemed into intimate nearness to Himself, yet He requires that they always retain a due apprehension of the majesty of His Person, the holiness of His nature, the severity of His justice, and the ardent jealousy of His worship. If we truly dread falling under the guilt of this awful sin of irreverence, our minds will be influenced unto godly fear. The grace of fear is in nowise inconsistent with or an impediment to a spirit of adoption, holy boldness, or godly rejoicing: See Psalm 2:11, Matthew 28:8, Philippians 2:12.
“Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably,” (Heb. 12:28), for without it there will be neither “reverence” nor “godly fear.” Without Divine aid and unction we cannot serve God at all, for He accounts not that worship which is offered by graceless persons. Without grace in actual operation we cannot serve God acceptably, for it is in the exercise of faith and fear, love and awe, that the very life and soul of spiritual worship consists. O how earnestly de we need to seek an increase of Divine “grace” (2 Cor. 9:8; 12:9), and keep it operative in all duties of the worship of God: that in view of His awful wrath, we may have a dread of displeasing Him; in view of His majesty our hearts may be humbled; and in view of His love, we may seek to honour, please and adore Him. “Sanctify the LORD of hosts Himself; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread” “(Isa. 8:13 and cf. Matt. 10:28).
Originally edited by Emmett O'Donnell for Mt. Zion Publications, a ministry of Mt. Zion Bible Church, 2603 West Wright St., Pensacola, FL 32505. www.mountzion.org
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