Sharon Reformed Presbyterian Church · Sermon study sheet

Do Not Fear! (Deuteronomy 31:1-6)

Zach Smith · June 29, 2020

Deuteronomy 31:1-6

sharonrpc.org/sermons/do-not-fear-deuteronomy

Summary

At the edge of the promised land, Israel faces powerful enemies and a change from Moses to Joshua, yet Moses commands strength and courage because the Lord himself goes with them.
The sermon distinguishes natural fear connected with danger, sinful fear arising from unbelief, and holy fear that reveres God; it does not treat every experience of fear as sin.
Sinful fear may grow from excessive attachment to health, security, possessions, or comfort, from ignorance of God's promises, or from an unfaithful response to genuine trouble.
Fear can become a snare that leads to further sin, dishonors God's sufficient grace, consumes strength needed for present duties, and hinders growth in holiness.
God does not command courage because circumstances are easy or human strength is adequate, but because the sovereign, holy, covenant-keeping Lord is present with his people.
Holy fear of God displaces the fear of creatures by restoring their true scale and leads to wisdom, obedience, and blessing.
God has demonstrated his commitment supremely in Emmanuel: through Christ's atoning death, the holy God dwells with his redeemed people and promises never to leave or forsake them.

What circumstances made Israel's transition into Canaan an occasion for fear?
How do natural, sinful, and holy fear differ from one another?
Which loves, uncertainties, or gaps in biblical knowledge tend to feed sinful fear?
How can fear become a snare leading to sins such as deception or denial?
Why does anxious preoccupation with tomorrow weaken faithfulness in today's duties?
What grounds God's command to be strong and courageous?
How does holy fear of God reduce creaturely threats to their proper scale?
How do Christ's incarnation and atoning death secure the promise of God's presence?

Natural fear: A creaturely response to real danger that may serve self-preservation and is not necessarily sinful.
Sinful fear: Fear governed by unbelief or misplaced trust that dishonors God and draws a person away from faithful duty.
Holy fear: Reverent awe of God's holiness, power, and authority that leads to trust, worship, wisdom, and obedience.
Fear of man: Treating another creature's approval or power as controlling, so that fear becomes a snare to disobedience.
Covenant presence: God's pledged commitment to be with, preserve, and lead his people.
Emmanuel: ‘God with us,’ fulfilled in Jesus Christ, through whom the holy God dwells with his redeemed people.