Praise for
The Joy of Fearing God
The Joy of Fearing God , like its author, is a timeless classic. Years ago I led a group study of this unique book, and we all found it deeply refreshing and rewarding in our walks with Christ. I have the highest regard for Jerry Bridges, and Im delighted to see one of his greatest books available for a new generation of readers!
RANDY ALCORN, author of Heaven and Happiness
Reading Jerry Bridges is like eavesdropping on an angel enraptured by adoration. He understands the fear of God as an awe-filled reverence before the divine majesty. This book will expand the mind and loose the soul to soar on high.
R. C. SPROUL
Only the fear of God has the power to disarm any other fear that would capture our hearts and control our lives. I am thankful that Jerry Bridges has written a book that defines and practically explains what the fear of God is all about and the beautiful effects it will have on our lives.
PAUL DAVID TRIPP, pastor, author, and conference speaker
Jerry Bridges has deeply plumbed and warmly written about the gospel for decades. This work, The Joy of Fearing God , is no different. The fear of God he writes of in his classic work is one of intense, joyous, intimate relationship with a sovereign God who, though He demands perfect obedience, has nevertheless opened wide his arms of welcome to sinners. It is because we are conscious of both our own sinfulness and His indescribable condescension and love that we run into His presence with worship and awe. Im thankful for Bridges and his commitment to live under the gospel every day. You will be too.
ELYSE FITZPATRICK, author of Good News for Weary Women
Joy and fear are not two words that usually go together. Jerry Bridges shows why they doindeed, mustgo together when it comes to our relationship with God. Drawing from deep wells of scriptural and historical reflection, Bridges introduces us to a God who amazes us with His power and woos us with His grace.
TREVIN WAX, managing editor of The Gospel Project, author of Clear Winter Nights and Holy Subversion
This classic from Jerry Bridges is the epitome of a journey bookthe kind of book that isnt content to skim the surface of truth, but one that takes us by the hand and leads us into the depths of the knowledge of God. Its not merely about fearing God. Its about who God is, about what hes done in the gospel, and how we should live in the light of his reality.
JONATHAN PARNELL, lead pastor, Cities Church, MinneapolisSt. Paul
THE JOY OF FEARING GOD
PUBLISHED BY WATERBROOK PRESS
12265 Oracle Boulevard, Suite 200
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80921
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are taken from the King James Version. Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org ). Scripture quotations marked (Williams) are taken from the New Testament: A Translation in the Language of the People, by Charles B. Williams, copyright 1937 Moody Bible Institute. Used by permission.
Italics in Scripture quotations reflect the authors added emphasis.
Trade Paperback ISBN 978-1-4000-7064-0
eBook ISBN 978-0-307-55194-8
Copyright 1997, 2016 by Jerry Bridges; study guide copyright 1998 by WaterBrook Press
Cover design by Mark D. Ford; cover photo by Andy and Michelle Kerry, Trevillion Images
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Published in the United States by WaterBrook Multnomah, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.
WATERBROOK and its deer colophon are registered trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file with the Library of Congress.
v3.1_r2
To
JEFF AND KATHY
DAN AND LISA
These are the commands, decrees and laws
the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe
in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess,
so that you, your children and their children after them
may fear the LORD your God as long as you live
by keeping all his decrees and commands
that I give you, and so that you may
enjoy long life.
DEUTERONOMY 6:12
CONTENTS
1 Glorious Truth
Joy, Wisdom, and the Fear of God
2 A Parable of Awe
How the Right Fear Grows
3 Soul of Godliness
Should Christians Fear God?
4 Beyond Measure, Beyond Compare
The Greatness of God
5 Transcendent Majesty
The Holiness of God
6 Skill and Splendor on Display
The Wisdom of God
7 Our Amazing Father
The Love of God
8 Fanning the Flames
Growing in the Fear of God
9 He Is Lord
All of Life Under All His Authority
10 The Fruit of the Tree
The Delight of Right Obedience
11 He Is Here
All of Life in His Conscious Presence
12 For Life and Breath and Everything
Depending on God
13 His Excellence Shining Forth
Bringing Glory to God
14 He Is Worthy
Fearing God in Worship
15 Special Blessings, Special Honor
Enjoying Him Now and Forever
FROM A FELLOW PILGRIM
PROVERBS 31:30 reads, Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. I memorized that verse (in the King James Version) more than forty years ago to give myself, as a young single man, an important guideline in looking for a wife.
But what does it mean to fear the Lord? Looking back now, I realize I had only the foggiest notion. I suggest this is true for most Christians.
Fast-forward my life almost thirty years to 1982. While doing research for a book on godliness I came across the statement that the fear of God is the soul of godliness. My attention was arrested, and I began a small study on the fear of God. Ten or so years later, my friend Dan Rich asked me to consider writing a book on the subject. This book is the response to that request.
A man who is himself a nationally known Bible teacher has said that people who teach the Bible are hypocrites because none of them live up to their teaching. I agree with the intent of his statement, but not his choice of words. In my mind a hypocrite is someone who pretends to be something he isnt. At the same time, though, I agree that none of us live up to the truths we teach. I dont want to be a hypocriteso let me say right up front that I dont fully live up to the standard of truth presented in this book. I want to and I seek to, but Im not there yet, nor will I ever be completely, in this life.
