Rejoice and Tremble: The Surprising Good News of the Fear of the Lord (Union)

by Michael Reeves

Publisher:

Crossway

, 2021

Overview

Fear is one of the strongest human emotions, and it is one that often baffles Christians.

When they turn to the Bible, the picture seems equally confusing: Is fear a good thing or a bad thing? While God commands his people to fear him, they are also told to fight fear. Michael Reeves brings clarity where there is confusion as he encourages readers to rejoice in the strange paradox that the gospel both frees them from sinful fear and leads them to godly fear. This book argues from Scripture that godly fear is the opposite of being afraid of God or his punishment, as if he were a tyrant. Instead, it is the intensity of the saints’ love for, delight in, and enjoyment of all that God is. Rejoice and Tremble examines what it looks like when a believer is filled with a right and healthy fear of God, and how this fear is the means by which the people of God exhibit to the world the divine qualities of holiness, blessedness, happiness, wholeness, and beauty as they point to Christ Jesus.

Key Features

• Explores the connection to wisdom, joy, and humility
• Examines the difference between sinful fear and godly fear
• Corrects negative perceptions of the fear of God

Contents

• Do Not Be Afraid!
• Sinful Fear
• Right Fear
• Overwhelmed by the Creator
• Overwhelmed by the Father
• How to Grow in Fear
• The Awesome Church
• Eternal Ecstasy

Top Highlights

“They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it. (vv. 8–9)” (Page 46)

“Drilling to the bottom of the matter, the Dutch theologian Wilhelmus à Brakel explained that ‘fear issues forth from love.’¹ That is, we fear because we love: we love ourselves and so fear bad things happening to us; we love our families, our friends, our things and so fear losing them.” (Page 27)

“And the more you want something, the more you fear its loss. When your culture is hedonistic, your religion therapeutic, and your goal a feeling of personal well-being, fear will be the ever-present headache.” (Page 19)

“What both ירא‎ (yr’) and פחד‎ (phd) show is that, if we are to be faithful to Scripture’s presentation of the fear of God, we should ideally use words that encompass that spectrum of positive and negative experience. What פחד in particular helps us see is the common feature of those fears: trembling. It shows us that the fear of God is no mild-mannered, reserved, or limp thing. It is a startlingly physical, overpowering reaction. And so, respect and reverence are simply too weak and grey to stand in as synonyms for the fear of God. Awe seems a much better fit, though even it doesn’t quite capture the physical intensity, the happy thrill, or the exquisite delight that leans toward, instead of away from, the Lord.” (Page 58)

“I want you to rejoice in this strange paradox that the gospel both frees us from fear and gives us fear. It frees us from our crippling fears, giving us instead a most delightful, happy, and wonderful fear.” (Page 16)

Product Details

• Title: Rejoice & Tremble: The Surprising Good News of the Fear of the Lord
• Author: Michael Reeves
• Series: Union
• Publisher: Crossway
• Print Publication Date: 2021
• Logos Release Date: 2021
• Pages: 179
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Subjects: God (Christianity) › Worship and love; Fear of God › Christianity
• ISBNs: 9781433565328, 9781433565359, 9781433565335, 9781433565342, 1433565323, 1433565358, 1433565331, 143356534X
• Resource ID: LLS:REJOICETREMBLE
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T02:40:26Z

Benefits of Logos Edition

In the Logos Reader Edition, this volume is enhanced to best fit the content. Scripture references are hand-tagged to integrate with powerful functionality in Logos Bible Software. Page milestones and internal citation tagging provide accurate points of reference. Search important words across resources to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive tools for reading digital content are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.

About Michael Reeves

Michael Reeves is theologian-at-large at Wales Evangelical School of Theology. He previously served as head of theology for the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship (UCCF) and is the author of several books, including Delighting in the Trinity: An Introduction to the Christian Faith.