The Fear of the Lord

Psalm 25:12-14, NIV | "Who, then, are those who fear the Lord? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose. They will spend their days in prosperity, and their descendants will inherit the land. The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them."

As a church, we are united by a craving for—an overwhelming need for—intimacy with Almighty God. It's the deepest need of any human being. 

Psalm 1:31 | "My eyes are not proud, O Lord. My eyes are not haughty. I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me, but I have stilled and quieted my soul like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me."

Wouldn't you love to be like that in God's arms right now, like a weaned child resting comfortably and at peace?

How often have you read those accounts of the little children with Jesus and wish you could have been one, crawling up in Jesus's lap? Or could you be like John at the Last Supper, putting his head on Jesus' breast and asking him questions? Intimacy with God is a deep need. But our God is a consuming fire, as it says in the New Testament. It says that he dwells in an unapproachable light. The holiness of God, like a searing, bright light, pierces our reality. How do we put these concepts together? How do you cuddle up with a consuming fire? As people imagine God, they may focus on one aspect over the other.

While much preaching today focuses on love, grace, blessings, and prosperity, no one wants to talk about the fear of God, about the wrath of God, or about how holy and supreme our God is.

What is the fear of the Lord?

The word “fear” is typically used in a negative context. When we are afraid of something, it’s usually because that particular something is bad or negative in some way. But what about when we are talking about the fear of the Lord? We know God is a good God. He is our heavenly father, our creator, who loves us and who made each of us in His image. So why are we supposed to fear the Lord?

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “fear” as “an unpleasant, often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger; anxious concern; or unpleasant alarm,"  but it also notes that it means “profound reverence and awe, especially toward God.” Fear is used throughout the Bible as well. Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary tells us that fear means terror or awe, depending on the context. For example, concerning the Book of Proverbs, Mounce’s tells us, “The fear of God is central to the acquisition of wisdom. In this sense, fear is a positive quality and something to be pursued in the life of the believer.”

Bible verses about fearing the Lord

Proverbs 9:10, NIV | "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."

Proverbs 14:26–27, NIV | "Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children, it will be a refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death."

Psalm 34:7-9, NIV | "The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.”

Proverbs 16:6, NIV | "Through love and faithfulness, sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord, evil is avoided."

Examples of 'Fear of the Lord' in the Bible

The word fear appears in the Bible hundreds of times. Often, we see it in verses of assurance, such as, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand,” from Isaiah 41:10, or “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go,” from Joshua 1:9b.

In the Book of Proverbs, the concept of fear is of particular focus. Thought to have been written by King Solomon and filled with much wisdom about how to live a life in line with God and God’s principles, Proverbs details how, because we fear (respect, admire, and love) God, we should want to be wise and live well. The Book of Proverbs starts by saying, “The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behaviour, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple; knowledge and discretion to the young—let the wise listen and add to their learning; and let the discerning get guidance—for understanding proverbs and parables“ (Proverbs 1:6a).

Indeed, these are good reasons for wisdom. We all want to do right and be insightful. But there is more to this. Solomon says in Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Wisdom from above expresses itself in mighty works and is neither verbal, theoretical, nor vocabulary-based wisdom; not powerful talks, but mighty works; see Psalm 104:24 and Proverbs 3:19.

The Word of God is the platform for meditation.

One of the covenant channels of access to this wisdom is meditation (see John 8:4–9). Jesus meditated as He wrote on the ground, and through meditation, His answer came for the men who were set to stone the woman. Meditation paved the way for Jesus. Learn to sit on things and not move impulsively using your earthly wisdom; also, be careful of who you go to and take counsel from. Meditation requires time. Separate yourself from social media and wrong voices and learn to think, putting on the mind of Christ (see Matthew 15:30). Learn to work, not watch. Know that you have only one chance on earth; there’s no return match. If you miss it now, you’ve missed it for life. The foundation for accessing the wisdom of God is embedded in the fear of God.

What Does It Mean to Fear the Lord?

A frequent command given to God’s people in the OT is to “fear God” or “fear the Lord.” It’s important that we understand what this command means for Christ’s followers today. Only as we truly fear the Lord will we be freed from all destructive and satanic fears. By fearing God, we can avoid being trapped by the natural pull toward going our own way, defying God, and giving in to the inviting ways of immoral behaviour.

Deuteronomy 6:1-2 | “These are the commands, the decrees, and the 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 a long life.”

What does it mean to Fear God? - (This is an excerpt adapted from the Fire Study Bible Notes.)

The broad command to “fear the Lord” involves understanding several things about a believer’s relationship with God.

• God is loving and just. We must recognise that God is loving, merciful, and forgiving, but He is also holy, just, and righteous. Knowing God and understanding His character (see Proverbs 2:5) means accepting the fact that His justice and holiness (i.e., purity, perfection, completeness of character, and separation from evil) cause Him to judge sin. In this sense, fearing the Lord is to appreciate His character.
  

• FEAR OF THE LORD CAN PRODUCE AWE: Fearing the Lord means to be in reverent awe of His holiness, to give Him complete reverence, and to honor Him as the God of great glory, majesty, purity, and power. When the psalm writer reflects on God as Creator, he says, “Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere Him. For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm” (Psalm 33:8–9).

• FEAR OF THE LORD CAN PRODUCE FAITH: Fearing God produces confidence, hope, and trust in Him, which are necessary when we are looking to God for mercy, forgiveness (Luke 1:50; Psalm 103:11; 130:4), and spiritual salvation (Psalm 85:9). Here, fearing God means being moved to belief and trust.
  

• God is angry about sin. Finally, to fear God involves recognising that He is angry about sin and has the power to punish those who stand arrogantly against Him and break His laws (Psalm 76:7-8). The author of Hebrews acknowledges God’s coming vengeance and judgment and then writes, “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). This type of fear is to be afraid, especially if you are caught on the wrong side of God’s justice.

Why fear God?

The reasons for fearing God are found in the different meanings of “fear of the Lord,” as described above. Although there are different types of fear, part of our respect and awe is in the knowledge of his wrath and power. It’s all connected.

We should be in awe of Him because of His matchless power as the Creator of all things and all people (see Psalm 33:6–9; 96:4–5; John 1:9). In addition, the amazing power that He continues to exercise over his creation—including humankind—is cause for fearing God (Exodus 20:18–20; Ecclesiastes 3:14; John 1:11–16; Mark 4:39–41).

When we truly realise God’s holiness (i.e., His purity, perfection, and separation from evil), the normal response of the human spirit is to fear Him (Revelation 15:4). Anyone who sees or experiences a manifestation (i.e., a visible or physical sign or demonstration) of God’s glory cannot help but become afraid (Matthew 17:1–8).

The continual blessings we receive from God, especially the forgiveness of our sins (Psalm 130:4), should lead us to fear and love Him (1 Samuel 12:24; Psalm 34:9; 67:7).

Above all, the fact that the Lord is a God of justice who will judge the entire human race should be reason enough to produce a godly fear (Deuteronomy 17:12–13; Isaiah 59:18–19; Malachi 3:5; Hebrews 10:26–31). It is a sobering and absolute truth that God is constantly aware of our actions and motives, both good and bad, and that we will be held accountable for those actions, both now and on the day of our personal judgment.

How will fearing God affect our lives?

The fear of the Lord is far more than a Biblical teaching, principle, or idea. It is relevant to our daily lives in many ways. Here are six to get started:

1. WE BECOME OBEDIENT: If we truly fear the Lord, we will obey His commands, live according to His Word, and say “no” to sin. In Ecclesiastes, the whole duty of the human race is summarised by two simple requirements: “Fear God and keep His commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). On the contrary, anyone who is content to live wickedly or defy God does so because “there is no fear of God before his eyes” (Psalms 36:1-4).

2. WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN: Not only should the fear of the Lord affect individual lives, but it should also affect families. God instructs His followers to teach their children to fear Him by training them to hate sin and to love God’s commands (Deuteronomy 4:10; 6:1-2, 6–9). A Christian’s basic goal for his or her children should be that they learn to live by God’s principles of wisdom (Proverbs 1:1–6). Teaching them to fear the Lord is a critical first step.

3. WE GROW IN SANCTIFICATION: The fear of the Lord has a sanctifying (i.e., purifying, separating from sin, spiritually maturing) effect on God’s people, just as applying the truth of God’s Word does (John 17:17). It compels us to hate sin and avoid evil (Proverbs 3:7; 8:13; 16:6). It causes us to be careful in what we say (Proverbs 10:19; Ecclesiastes 5:2, 6-7). It protects us from weakening our consciences and our moral sensitivity toward what is right.

4. WE WORSHIP WHOLE-HEARTEDLY: The holy and reverent fear of the Lord motivates God’s people to worship Him with their whole being. People who truly fear God will praise and honour Him as Lord of all (Psalms 22:23).

5. THERE IS A PROMISED REWARD: God has promised to reward all those who fear Him. “Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth, honour, and life” (Proverbs 22:4). Other promised rewards include security and protection from death (Proverbs 14:26–27), provisions for daily needs (Psalms 34:9; 111:5), and a long life (Proverbs 10:27). Those who live in reverent awe of God know that “it will go better with God-fearing men,” regardless of what happens in the world around them (Ecclesiastes 8:12–13).

6. WE GAIN A HUMBLE CONFIDENCE: Those who fear God and obey his Word will experience a deep sense of spiritual security and the anointing (i.e., empowering) of the Holy Spirit. They can be sure that God ultimately will “deliver them from death” (Psalms 33:18–19).

1 John 4:18 | “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in  love."

Although this verse may seem contrary to the above information, it’s all about perspective; when we are filled with and washed over by God’s perfect love, we do not need to be afraid of His wrath.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom!

Prayer

Thank you, Father God, for who you are – holy and righteous, creator and awesome in power. Thank you that we can come to you as children to their Father but also that we can know you as our Great God in whom we stand in awe of. Help us to fear you and flee from all evil. Help us to raise our children and spiritual children in the fear of the Lord. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.