Learning to Find Enjoyment in the Fear of Jehovah

“Come, you sons, listen to me; the fear of Jehovah is what I shall teach you.”​—PSALM 34:11.

1. How will fear be banished by God’s Kingdom, but does that mean all fear?

PEOPLE everywhere long for freedom from fear​—fear of crime and violence, fear of unemployment, fear of serious illness. What a grand day it will be when that freedom becomes a reality under God’s Kingdom! (Isaiah 33:24; 65:21-23; Micah 4:4) Yet, not all fear will be banished then, nor should we seek to push all fear out of our lives now. There is fear that is good and fear that is bad.

2. (a) What sort of fear is bad, and what kind is desirable? (b) What is godly fear, and how do the cited scriptures indicate that?

² Fear can be a mental poison, paralyzing a person’s ability to reason. It can undermine courage and destroy hope. Such fear may be experienced by someone who is physically threatened by an enemy. (Jeremiah 51:30) It may be experienced by one who attaches too much importance to having the approval of certain influential humans. (Proverbs 29:25) But there is also fear that is wholesome, the sort that holds us back from doing anything rash, from injuring ourselves. Godly fear includes even more than that. It is awe of Jehovah, a profound reverence for him, coupled with a wholesome dread of displeasing him. (Psalm 89:7) This fear of incurring God’s displeasure stems from appreciation for his loving-kindness and goodness. (Psalm 5:7; Hosea 3:5) It also includes an awareness that Jehovah is the Supreme Judge and the Almighty, who has the power to inflict punishment, even death, on those who refuse to obey him.​—Romans 14:10-12.

3. How does fear of Jehovah contrast with that associated with some pagan deities?

³ Godly fear is wholesome, not morbid. It motivates one to be firm for what is right, not to compromise by doing wrong. It is not like the fear associated with the ancient Greek deity Phobos, described as a sinister god that inspired terror. And it is not like the fear associated with the Hindu goddess Kali, who at times is depicted as bloodthirsty, using corpses, snakes, and skulls as ornaments. Godly fear attracts; it does not repel. It is intertwined with love and appreciation. Thus, godly fear draws us to Jehovah.​—Deuteronomy 10:12, 13; Psalm 2:11.

Why Some Have It and Others Do Not

4. As shown by the apostle Paul, to what condition has humankind come, and what accounts for this?

⁴ Mankind as a whole is not motivated by the quality of godly fear. At Romans 3:9-18, the apostle Paul describes how far humans have fallen from original perfection. After stating that all are under sin, Paul quotes from the Psalms, saying: “There is not a righteous man, not even one.” (See Psalm 14:1.) Then he provides details by citing such things as mankind’s negligence in seeking for God, their lack of kindness, their deceitful speech, cursing, and bloodshed. How accurately that describes the world today! The majority of people have no interest in God and his purposes. Any semblance of kindness is too often reserved for occasions when there is something to be gained by it. Lying and foul speech are commonplace. Bloodshed is featured not only in the news but also in entertainment. What accounts for such a situation? It is true that all of us are descendants of the sinner Adam, but when people adopt as their way of life the things described by the apostle Paul, something more than that is involved. Ro 3 Verse 18 explains what it is, saying: “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”​—See Psalm 36:1.

5. Why do some people have godly fear, while others do not?

⁵ Why is it, though, that some people have godly fear, while others do not? Simply stated, it is because some people cultivate it, whereas others do not. None of us are born with it, but all of us have the capacity for it. Godly fear is something that we have to learn. Then, for it to be a powerful motivating force in our lives, we need to cultivate it.

An Appealing Invitation

6. Who extends to us the invitation recorded at Psalm 34:11, and how does this text show that godly fear must be learned?

⁶ An appealing invitation to learn the fear of Jehovah is extended to us in Psalm 34. This is a psalm of David. And whom did David foreshadow? None other than the Lord Jesus Christ. A prophecy that the apostle John specifically applied to Jesus is recorded in Ps 34 verse 20 of this psalm. (John 19:36) In our day, Jesus is the one who extends an invitation like that in Ps 34 verse 11: “Come, you sons, listen to me; the fear of Jehovah is what I shall teach you.” This clearly shows that godly fear is something that can be learned, and Jesus Christ is superbly qualified to teach us. Why is that?

7. Why is Jesus especially one from whom to learn godly fear?

⁷ Jesus Christ knows the importance of godly fear. Hebrews 5:7 says regarding him: “In the days of his flesh Christ offered up supplications and also petitions to the One who was able to save him out of death, with strong outcries and tears, and he was favorably heard for his godly fear.” Such godly fear was a quality that Jesus Christ manifested even before he was confronted with death on a torture stake. Remember, in Proverbs chapter 8, the Son of God is described as the personification of wisdom. And at Proverbs 9:10, we are told: “The fear of Jehovah is the start of wisdom.” So this godly fear was a fundamental part of the personality of God’s Son long before he came to the earth.

8. At Isaiah 11:2, 3, what do we learn about the fear of Jehovah?

⁸ Furthermore, concerning Jesus as Messianic King, Isaiah 11:2, 3 states: “Upon him the spirit of Jehovah must settle down, the spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the spirit of counsel and of mightiness, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah; and there will be enjoyment by him in the fear of Jehovah.” How beautifully that is expressed! The fear of Jehovah is nothing unpleasant. It is positive and constructive. It is a quality that will pervade the entire domain over which Christ rules as King. He is ruling now, and to all who are being gathered as his subjects, he is giving instruction in the fear of Jehovah. How?

9. How is Jesus Christ teaching us the fear of Jehovah, and what does he want us to learn about it?

⁹ By means of our congregation meetings, assemblies, and conventions, Jesus, as appointed Head of the congregation and as the Messianic King, helps us to understand clearly what godly fear is and why it is so beneficial. Thus he endeavors to deepen our appreciation for it so that we will learn to find enjoyment in the fear of Jehovah just as he does.

Will You Put Forth the Effort?

10. When attending Christian meetings, what must we do if we are to understand the fear of Jehovah?

¹⁰ Of course, our simply reading the Bible or attending meetings in a Kingdom Hall is not going to guarantee that we will have godly fear. Notice what we need to do if we are really to understand the fear of Jehovah. Proverbs 2:1-5 says: “My son, if you will receive my sayings and treasure up my own commandments with yourself, so as to pay attention to wisdom with your ear, that you may incline your heart to discernment; if, moreover, you call out for understanding itself and you give forth your voice for discernment itself, if you keep seeking for it as for silver, and as for hid treasures you keep searching for it, in that case you will understand the fear of Jehovah, and you will find the very knowledge of God.” So when attending meetings, we need to pay attention to what is said, put forth earnest effort to concentrate on and remember key thoughts, think deeply about how the way we feel about Jehovah ought to influence our attitude toward counsel given​—yes, open our hearts. Then we will understand the fear of Jehovah.

11. To cultivate godly fear, what should we do earnestly and frequently?

¹¹ Psalm 86:11 draws attention to another important factor, that of prayer. “Instruct me, O Jehovah, about your way. I shall walk in your truth,” prayed the psalmist. “Unify my heart to fear your name.” Jehovah approved of that prayer, for he had it recorded in the Bible. To cultivate godly fear, we too need to pray to Jehovah for his help, and we will benefit by praying earnestly and frequently.​—Luke 18:1-8.

Your Heart Is Involved

12. Why must the heart be given special attention, and what does that include?

¹² There is something else that we ought to notice at Psalm 86:11. The psalmist was not asking simply for an intellectual grasp of the fear of God. He mentions his heart. The cultivating of godly fear involves the figurative heart, which requires special attention because it is the inner person as manifest in all our activities of life and includes our thoughts, our attitudes, our desires, our motivations, our goals.

13. (a) What may indicate that a person’s heart is divided? (b) As we cultivate godly fear, toward what goal should we work?

¹³ The Bible warns us that a person’s heart may be divided. It can be treacherous. (Psalm 12:2; Jeremiah 17:9) It may motivate us to share in wholesome activities​—going to congregation meetings and out in the field ministry—​but it may also love certain aspects of the world’s way of life. This may hold us back from being truly whole-souled in promoting Kingdom interests. Then the treacherous heart may try to persuade us that, after all, we are doing as much as many others. Or perhaps in school or at our place of secular work, the heart may be influenced by fear of man. As a result, in those surroundings we may hesitate to identify ourselves as Jehovah’s Witnesses and may even do things that are not appropriate for Christians. Afterward, however, our conscience bothers us. That is not the sort of person we want to be. With the psalmist, therefore, we pray to Jehovah: “Unify my heart to fear your name.” We want the entire inner person, as manifest in all our activities of life, to give evidence that we “fear the true God and keep his commandments.”​—Ecclesiastes 12:13.

14, 15. (a) When foretelling the restoration of Israel from captivity in Babylon, what did Jehovah promise to give his people? (b) What did Jehovah do with a view to implanting the fear of God in the hearts of his people? (c) Why did Israel turn aside from Jehovah’s ways?

¹⁴ Jehovah promised that he would give such a God-fearing heart to his people. He foretold the restoration of Israel and said, as we read at Jeremiah 32:37-39: “I will bring them back to this place and make them dwell in security. And they will certainly become my people, and I myself shall become their God. And I will give them one heart and one way in order to fear me always, for good to them and to their sons after them.” In Jer 32 verse 40, God’s promise is reinforced: “The fear of me I shall put in their heart in order not to turn aside from me.” In 537 B.C.E., Jehovah did bring them back to Jerusalem as he had promised. But what about the rest of that promise​—that he would give them ‘one heart in order to fear him always’? Why did the ancient nation of Israel turn aside from Jehovah after he had brought them back from Babylon, so that their temple was destroyed in 70 C.E., never again to be rebuilt?

¹⁵ This was not due to any failure on Jehovah’s part. Jehovah did, indeed, take steps to put the fear of God in the hearts of his people. By the mercy that he showed in delivering them from Babylon and restoring them to their homeland, he gave them every reason to view him with profound reverence. God reinforced all of that with reminders, counsel, and reproof by means of the prophets Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi; by Ezra, who was sent to them as a teacher; by means of Governor Nehemiah; and by God’s own Son himself. At times the people listened. They did so when they rebuilt Jehovah’s temple at the urging of Haggai and Zechariah and when they sent away foreign wives in the days of Ezra. (Ezra 5:1, 2; 10:1-4) But more often they did not obey. They were not consistent about paying attention; they did not continue to be receptive to counsel; they did not keep their hearts open. The Israelites were not cultivating godly fear, and as a result, it was not a powerful motivating force in their lives.​—Malachi 1:6; Matthew 15:7, 8.

16. In whose hearts has Jehovah implanted godly fear?

¹⁶ Yet, Jehovah’s promise to put godly fear in the hearts of his people did not fail. He made a new covenant with spiritual Israel, those Christians before whom he set a heavenly hope. (Jeremiah 31:33; Galatians 6:16) In 1919, God restored them from captivity to Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion. In their hearts he has firmly implanted the fear of him. This has brought rich benefits to them and to the “great crowd,” who have the hope of life as earthly subjects of the Kingdom. (Jeremiah 32:39; Revelation 7:9) The fear of Jehovah has come to be in their hearts too.

How Godly Fear Gets Implanted in Our Hearts

17. How has Jehovah put godly fear in our hearts?

¹⁷ How has Jehovah implanted this godly fear in our hearts? By the operation of his spirit. And what do we have that is a product of holy spirit? The Bible, God’s inspired Word. (2 Timothy 3:16, 17) By what he has done in the past, by his dealings with his servants now in fulfillment of his prophetic Word, and by prophecies of things to come, Jehovah provides a sound basis for all of us to develop godly fear.​—Joshua 24:2-15; Hebrews 10:30, 31.

18, 19. How do conventions, assemblies, and congregation meetings help us to acquire godly fear?

¹⁸ It is noteworthy that, as reported at Deuteronomy 4:10, Jehovah said to Moses: “Congregate the people together to me that I may let them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they are alive on the soil and that they may teach their sons.” Similarly today, Jehovah has made abundant provisions to help his people to learn to fear him. At conventions, assemblies, and congregation meetings, we recount the evidence of Jehovah’s loving-kindness and his goodness. That is what we were doing when studying the book The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived. How did that study affect you and your attitude toward Jehovah? As you saw various facets of our heavenly Father’s grand personality reflected in his Son, did this not strengthen your desire never to be displeasing to God?​—Colossians 1:15.

¹⁹ At our meetings, we also study accounts of Jehovah’s deliverance of his people in times past. (2 Samuel 7:23) As we study the Bible book of Revelation with the aid of the book Revelation​—Its Grand Climax At Hand!, we learn about prophetic visions that have already been fulfilled in this 20th century and about fear-inspiring events yet to come. Regarding all such acts of God, Psalm 66:5 states: “Come, you people, and see the activities of God. His dealing with the sons of men is fear-inspiring.” Yes, properly viewed, these acts of God implant in our hearts fear of Jehovah, a profound reverence. Thus we can see how Jehovah God fulfills his promise: “The fear of me I shall put in their heart in order not to turn aside from me.”​—Jeremiah 32:40.

20. In order for godly fear to become deeply implanted in our hearts, what is required on our part?

²⁰ It is evident, however, that godly fear does not come to be in our hearts without effort on our part. The results are not automatic. Jehovah does his part. We must do ours by cultivating godly fear. (Deuteronomy 5:29) Natural Israel failed to do that. But with reliance on Jehovah, spiritual Israelites and their companions are already experiencing many of the benefits that come to those who are God-fearing. We will consider some of these benefits in the following article.

Benefits of Fearing the True God

“I, Jehovah, am your God, the One teaching you to benefit yourself, the One causing you to tread in the way in which you should walk.”​—ISAIAH 48:17.

1. What calamities could have been averted by godly fear?

IF Adam had cultivated godly fear, it could have restrained him from the sin that led to his own eternal death and to thousands of years of grief for his offspring. If the ancient nation of Israel had heeded Jehovah’s counsel to fear him and to love him, that nation would not have been taken captive to Babylon, nor would they have spurned God’s Son and become guilty of shedding his blood. If the world today feared God, there would be no corruption in government or in business, no crime, no war.​—Proverbs 3:7.

2. In spite of conditions in the world around us, why should we cultivate fear of Jehovah?

² Regardless of what the world around us does, however, we as individuals, as families, and as congregations of Jehovah’s servants can benefit from cultivating fear of the true God. This is in harmony with the reminder that Moses gave to the nation of Israel: “What is Jehovah your God asking of you but to fear Jehovah your God, so as to walk in all his ways and to love him and to serve Jehovah your God with all your heart and all your soul; to keep the commandments of Jehovah . . . for your good?” (Deuteronomy 10:12, 13) What are some of the benefits that come to us when we fear Jehovah, the true God?

Wisdom​—More Precious Than Gold

3. (a) What is the foremost benefit that we can receive? (b) What is the meaning of Psalm 111:10?

³ The foremost benefit is true wisdom. Psalm 111:10 declares: “The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom.” What does that mean? Wisdom is the ability to use knowledge successfully to solve problems, ward off danger, and attain certain goals. It involves sound judgment. The beginning, the first part, the foundation of such wisdom, is the fear of Jehovah. Why? Because all creation is the work of his hands. It is dependent on him. He endowed humankind with free will but not with the ability to direct their own steps successfully apart from his guidance. (Joshua 24:15; Jeremiah 10:23) Only if we appreciate those fundamental facts about life and live in harmony with them can we have lasting success. If our knowledge of Jehovah gives us unshakable conviction that God’s will is certain of success and that his promise and ability to reward faithfulness are sure, then godly fear is going to motivate us to act wisely.​—Proverbs 3:21-26; Hebrews 11:6.

4, 5. (a) Why did a young man’s university education leave him without true wisdom? (b) How did this man and his wife later acquire real wisdom, and in what way did this change their lives?

⁴ Consider an example. Some decades ago, a young man was attending the University of Saskatchewan, in Canada. Included in the curriculum was biology, and he was taught evolution. After graduation, he specialized in atomic physics, receiving a scholarship to continue his studies at the University of Toronto. As he studied, he saw marvelous evidence of order and design in atomic structures. But no answers were given to the questions: Who designed all of this? When? And why? Without those answers, could he possibly use his knowledge wisely in a world that was then at war? What would guide him? Nationalism? A desire for materialistic rewards? Really, had he acquired true wisdom?

⁵ Not long after his graduation, that young man and his wife began to study the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses. From God’s own Word, they began to get the answers that they had been missing before. They came to know the Creator, Jehovah God. As they studied about Moses at the Red Sea and about Daniel and his companions in Babylon, they learned the importance of fearing not men but God. (Exodus 14:10-31; Daniel 3:8-30) Such godly fear coupled with real love for Jehovah began to motivate them. Soon the entire course of their lives changed. The young man at last knew the One whose handiwork he had studied in biology. He began to understand the purpose of the One whose wisdom he had seen reflected in his study of physics. Instead of using his knowledge to produce instruments that would destroy his fellowman, he as well as his wife wanted to help others to love God and to love their neighbor. They enrolled in full-time service as proclaimers of God’s Kingdom. Later, they attended the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead and were sent out as missionaries.

6. If we have wisdom that is rooted in the fear of Jehovah, what shortsighted pursuits will we avoid, and what will we be doing instead?

⁶ Of course, not everyone can be a missionary. But all of us can enjoy the wisdom that is rooted in fear of Jehovah. If we cultivate that wisdom, we will not be eagerly absorbing the philosophies of men who really are only guessing at what life is all about. We will be applying ourselves to the study of the Bible, inspired by the Source of life, Jehovah God, the one who can give us eternal life. (Psalm 36:9; Colossians 2:8) Instead of becoming slaves of a commercial system that is itself tottering on the brink of ruin, we will heed Jehovah’s counsel to be content with food and covering, while making our relationship with God the foremost thing in life. (1 Timothy 6:8-12) Rather than act as if our future depended on getting well-situated in this world, we will believe Jehovah’s Word when it tells us that the world is passing away and so is its desire, but he who does the will of God remains forever.​—1 John 2:17.

7. (a) How does Proverbs 16:16 help us to have a balanced sense of values? (b) What rewards come from making God’s will the focal point of our lives?

⁷ Proverbs 16:16 encourages us by stating truthfully: “The getting of wisdom [the wisdom that starts with fear of Jehovah] is O how much better than gold! And the getting of understanding is to be chosen more than silver.” Such wisdom and understanding are going to move us to make the doing of God’s will the focal point of our lives. And what is the work that God has entrusted to his Witnesses for this period in human history? Preaching about his Kingdom and helping honesthearted ones to become genuine disciples of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 24:14; 28:19, 20) This is work that yields rewards of true satisfaction and much happiness. With good reason, then, the Bible says: “Happy is the man that has found wisdom.”​—Proverbs 3:13.

Safeguard Against Wrongdoing

8. (a) Name a second benefit that comes from fearing God. (b) What is the bad against which we are safeguarded? (c) How does godly fear become a powerful motivating force?

⁸ A second benefit from fearing God is that we are thus safeguarded against doing what is bad. Those who deeply respect God do not decide for themselves what is good and what is bad. They do not view as bad what God says is good, nor do they consider things that God says are bad to be good. (Psalm 37:1, 27; Isaiah 5:20, 21) Furthermore, a person who is motivated by godly fear does not stop at simply knowing what Jehovah says is good and what he says is bad. Such a person loves what Jehovah loves and hates what Jehovah hates. As a result, he acts in harmony with God’s standards. Thus, as stated at Proverbs 16:6, “in the fear of Jehovah one turns away from bad.” Such godly fear becomes a powerful motivating force to achieve what a person may not be able to do in his own strength.

9. How did a strong desire not to displease God influence the decision of a woman in Mexico, and with what outcome?

⁹ Even if godly fear is only beginning to develop in a person, it may fortify him to avoid doing something that he could regret for the rest of his life. For example, a pregnant woman in Mexico asked one of Jehovah’s Witnesses about abortion. The Witness read several scriptures to the woman and then reasoned: “To the Creator, life is very important, even the life of those who have not yet been born.” (Exodus 21:22, 23; Psalm 139:13-16) Clinical examination had suggested that her baby might be abnormal. But now, motivated by what she had seen in God’s Word, the woman decided to have her baby. Her doctor refused to see her again, and her husband threatened to leave her, but she was firm. In time, she gave birth to a girl​—normal, healthy, and beautiful. Moved with gratitude, she sought out the Witnesses, and they began to study God’s Word with her. Within a year she and her husband were baptized. At a district convention a few years later, they were delighted to meet the first Witness again and introduce her to their lovely four-year-old daughter. Proper respect for God and a strong desire not to displease him certainly exercise powerful influences in one’s life.

10. Godly fear can fortify people to break free from what forms of wrongdoing?

¹⁰ Godly fear fortifies us against a broad range of wrongdoing. (2 Corinthians 7:1) When properly cultivated, it can help a person to put a stop to secret sins, known only to himself and Jehovah. It can help him to break free from slavery to alcohol abuse or drug abuse. A former drug addict in South Africa explained: “As I took in knowledge of God, I also developed a fear of hurting or displeasing him. I knew he was watching, and I had a longing to be approved in his sight. It moved me to destroy the drugs that were in my possession by flushing them down the toilet.” Godly fear has helped thousands more in similar ways.​—Proverbs 5:21; 15:3.

Protection Against Trembling at Men

11. Against what common snare can wholesome fear of Jehovah safeguard us?

¹¹ Wholesome fear of God also safeguards us against fear of man. Most people are afflicted by fear of man to a greater or lesser degree. Even the apostles of Jesus Christ abandoned him and fled when he was seized by soldiers in the garden of Gethsemane. Later, in the courtyard of the high priest, thrown off balance and in the grip of fear, Peter denied that he was one of Jesus’ disciples and that he even knew him. (Mark 14:48-50, 66-72; John 18:15-27) But the apostles were helped to regain spiritual balance. On the other hand, in the days of King Jehoiakim, Urijah the son of Shemaiah was so overcome with fear that he abandoned his service as a prophet of Jehovah and fled the country, only to be seized and killed anyway.​—Jeremiah 26:20-23.

12. (a) To what protection against fear of man does Proverbs 29:25 point? (b) How is trust in God developed?

¹² What can help a person to conquer fear of man? After warning that “trembling at men is what lays a snare,” Proverbs 29:25 adds: “He that is trusting in Jehovah will be protected.” Trust in Jehovah is the key. Such trust is based on knowledge and experience. By studying his Word, we see evidence of the rightness of Jehovah’s ways. We become acquainted with events demonstrating his dependability, the surety of his promises (including that of the resurrection), his love and almighty power. Then when we act on that knowledge, doing the things that Jehovah directs and firmly rejecting what he warns against, we begin to experience firsthand his loving care and his dependability. We personally see evidence that his power is brought to bear to accomplish his will. Our confidence in him grows and, with it, our love for him and our earnest desire to avoid displeasing him. Such trust is built on a solid foundation. It serves as a bulwark against fear of man.

13. How can godly fear help us at our secular work, at home, and at school?

¹³ Our trusting in Jehovah, coupled with godly fear, will make us firm for what is right if an employer threatens us with the loss of our job for refusal to participate in dishonest business practices. (Compare Micah 6:11, 12.) Such godly fear enables many thousands of Christians to persevere in true worship in the face of opposition from unbelieving family members. It also gives youths attending school the courage to identify themselves as Jehovah’s Witnesses, and it fortifies them to deal with ridicule from classmates who make light of Bible standards. Thus, a teenage Witness said: “What they think really doesn’t matter. What Jehovah thinks is what counts.”

14. How are Jehovah’s servants able to come off victorious even when their lives are threatened?

¹⁴ That same conviction strengthens true Christians to hold firmly to Jehovah’s ways even when their lives are threatened. They know that they must expect persecution from the world. They realize that the apostles were flogged and that Jesus Christ himself was beaten and killed by wicked men. (Mark 14:65; 15:15-39; Acts 5:40; compare Daniel 3:16-18.) But Jehovah’s servants have full confidence that he can strengthen them to endure; that with God’s help they can come off victorious; that without fail Jehovah will reward those who are faithful​—if necessary even by resurrection to life in his new world. Their love for God coupled with godly fear powerfully motivates them to avoid doing anything that would displease him.

15. What enabled Jehovah’s Witnesses to maintain their integrity in the Nazi concentration camps?

¹⁵ This motivation enabled Jehovah’s Witnesses to stand up to the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps during the 1930’s and 1940’s. They took to heart Jesus’ counsel found at Luke 12:4, 5: “I say to you, my friends, Do not fear those who kill the body and after this are not able to do anything more. But I will indicate to you whom to fear: Fear him who after killing has authority to throw into Gehenna. Yes, I tell you, fear this One.” Thus, Gustav Auschner, a Witness who was in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, later wrote: ‘The SS shot August Dickmann and threatened to shoot the rest of us if we did not sign a paper renouncing our faith. None of us signed. We had more fear of displeasing Jehovah than of their bullets.’ Fear of man leads to compromise, but fear of God makes one firm for what is right.

The Preservation of Life

16. What enabled Noah to maintain a right course decade after decade till the Deluge, and what was the outcome for him and his household?

¹⁶ Noah lived through the last days of the antediluvian world. Jehovah had determined to destroy the wicked world of that time because of man’s badness. In the meantime, however, Noah was in that world that was filled with violence, gross immorality, and indifference toward the divine will. Despite Noah’s preaching of righteousness, “they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away.” (Matthew 24:39) Yet Noah was not deterred from the work that God set before him. He did “according to all that God had commanded him. He did just so.” (Genesis 6:22) What kept Noah on course year after year right down till the Deluge? Hebrews 11:7 answers: “By faith Noah, after being given divine warning of things not yet beheld, showed godly fear.” As a result, he and his wife and his sons and their wives were preserved through the Deluge.

17. (a) Regardless of what other people do, what should we do? (b) Why are those who fear Jehovah the truly happy people?

¹⁷ We live in a period similar in many respects to Noah’s day. (Luke 17:26, 27) Again a warning is being sounded. Revelation 14:6, 7 tells of an angel flying in midheaven who urges people of every nation and tribe and tongue to “fear God and give him glory.” Regardless of what the world around you does, heed those words, and then extend the invitation to others. Like Noah, act in faith and show godly fear. Your doing so can lead to the preservation of your life and the lives of many others. As we contemplate the benefits enjoyed by those who fear the true God, we can only agree with the inspired psalmist who sang: “Happy is the man in fear of Jehovah, in whose commandments he has taken very much delight.”​—Psalm 112:1.