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Job lived mindful of God’s eyes upon him; and God indeed witnessed Job’s actions in a way his friends did not.
Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.
My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God. (Job 16:19,20)
Job understood that those bent on wickedness are only concerned that human eyes aren’t watching them.
The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face. In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light. (Job 24:15,16)
Eliphaz accused Job of having lived a “double life,” in which he hid his secret sins from men and thought God wouldn’t see as well.
Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?…
And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud? Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not … (Job 22:5, 13,14)
Job refuted the accusation that he had not lived in the fear of the Lord, mindful of God’s eyes upon him.
He affirmed his belief that God was aware of his every step, so much so that he guarded what entered his eyes and thought life.
I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high? Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?
Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? (Job 31:1-4)
The testimony of Job’s conscience excused him, bearing witness to what God saw from heaven.
And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? (Job 1:8)
eschew > Hebrew – sûr > turn aside, depart
God takes special knowledge of those who depart from evil when it is presented to them.
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the LORD is against them that do evil … (Psalm 34:14-16)
God knows those who “depart from iniquity.”
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (2 Timothy 2:19)
In the day of judgment, many who thought they belonged to God will find out they didn’t.
He will tell them to depart from Him, because they did not depart from their iniquity.
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23)
Men teach men the concept of the fear of God as a reverence for God. But it is not a mere profession of respect.
We honor God when we listen to Him. We walk in a true fear of God when we engage with Him on a heart level, knowing one day we will give and account for all we said and did.
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men (Isaiah 29:13)
David was a man after God’s heart because of the intimacy he wanted with God. He wanted to know and be known of God. He brought all his desires before God, and hid none of his pain.
Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee. (Psalm 38:9)
David wanted God to see and know his ways and thoughts, and correct anything that needed correction.
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23,24)
David knew that wicked behavior begins when there is no fear of God before a man’s eyes.
The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.
He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil. (Psalm 36:1-4)
Those who walk in the fear of man, are controlled by a fear of what man can do to them. They don’t genuinely hate evil; they would do evil if they thought they could get away with it.
The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. (Proverbs 29:25)
Jesus told His disciples to fear God more than man; being more concerned with what God can do to them, and less concerned with what man can do to them.
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28)
God promised a new covenant where He would put His fear in the heart by a new birth, and enable us not to depart from Him.
And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:
And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. (Jeremiah 32:39,40)
When we walk in the fear of God, we walk in the “one heart” and “one way” of God, hating what He hates.
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. (Proverbs 8:13)
The fear of the Lord is the basis of wisdom and positions us to depart from evil which is the basis of understanding.
And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. (Job 28:28)
… By the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. (Proverbs 16:6)
God would have His saints live before Him without blame because we love Him.
He has blessed us with all the spiritual blessings we need to stay faithful and obedient to Him at all times.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love (Ephesians 1:3,4)
To whom much is given, much is required.
We are the Lord’s “dearly beloved,” having been made holy through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ. But this holy calling is left unfinished and unrealized in our life unless we walk in the fear of God.
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7:1)