WHAT IS THE FEAR OF THE LORD?

The fear of the Lord is a powerful Biblical truth that has been minimized by some and even dismissed as not relevant by others. I believe there needs to be a renewal of the power of a proper fear of the Lord in our lives.

Having a True Fear of God

Often the definition we hear today goes something like, “to fear the Lord doesn’t mean to be afraid of God, but to simply have a reverent respect for Him.”   Does that definition line up with how the Bible actually defines and presents a true fear of the Lord? 

It’s a Mistake to Minimize the Fear of the Lord

Jeremiah 5:22 says, “Should you not fear me?” declares the Lord. “Should you not tremble in my presence?”  This is a loving admonition and powerful revelation from God Himself directly to us.  He tells us we should and need to have a genuine deep fear of the Lord.  It would be a mistake to ignore or downplay the significance of having a real fear of God. 

What Happens When There’s an Absence of a Healthy Fear of God

Why is it important to embrace a genuine fear of God?    When there is an absence of a healthy fear of the Lord, people end up doing what they believe is right in their own eyes.   Moral absolutes no longer exist, and everyone is free to establish their own truth.  In the world the result is a culture steeped in secularism and humanism and without God.  In the church Christians end up drifting and losing direction.  Their lives become unstable and filled with many uncertainties.

We Struggle to Accurately Define

Why do we struggle to accurately explain and embrace a true “fear of the Lord”?  First, the dilemma of how to share a real fear of God without being seen as legalistic or overreaching the truth and present a false view of a condemning God.  Second, we don’t want to offend anyone or run them off.  As a result, we often bounce back and forth from one extreme to another.  Either God is presented as some kind of hard and mean God of judgment or as a God so full of love that He would not condemn anyone and just lets everything slide. The challenge or difficulty we have is in reconciling the apparent discrepancy between a God who is to be feared and a God who the Scriptures clearly tell us “is love”.

The Answer to this Dichotomy

We find the answer to this dichotomy at the foot of the cross. If it were not for the cross, we would all be consumed by the wrath of God and live under a curse.  The very thought of life without Christ’s saving grace should stir within us fear, terror, and awe. It is the power and the foolishness of the cross that enables us to straddle the dichotomy of God’s love and His awesome power.  Jesus is the answer. He is the reconciler.

It is because of the love of God that we are now able to be at peace with the God that we are to fear.  At the cross Jesus took our sins upon Himself, removing them from us as far as the east is from the west.  Jesus built a bridge that enables us to come into the very presence of almighty God. While we fear God because of who He is, we need never fear His presence because His wrath and anger toward us have been turned aside at Calvary.

More than a Reverent Respect

So, what exactly is the fear of the Lord?  First, it is much deeper and greater than simply having a reverent respect for God.  We are to tremble and be in awe of the God who created heaven and earth and who redeemed us from the curse.  (Jer. 5:22)   There should be a nervousness and reverence that creates an alarm within us. He is so awesome!  Even when we get to heaven we will fall to our feet and bow before His presence. 

Fear God for Who He Is

Proverbs 1:17 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, something which fools despise”, and Proverbs 9:10 tells us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”   The word “fear” in both verses is translated here from the Hebrew word, (yireh), which means— to be afraid, to have a reverent fear, terror, or dread. There are other words in Hebrew that mean a mere respect, reverence, or honor, such as kabad (Ex 20:12). In Greek the word fear or terror is phobo (Mat 28:4,1 Pet 2:17c).  The Greek word for reverence or honor is timao (1 Pet 2:17a/d).  To say the fear of the Lord means to only having a mere “respect’ is an oversimplification and a softening of the true meaning. 

God is to be feared because of who He is.  Who is – is love!  There is no true love of God without a proper fear of God. We don’t obey God out of fear, but out of love, however, fearing God is living in obedience to God.

Humility Key to Proper Fear of God

Having a spirit of humility is the key to having a proper fear of God.  Proverbs 22:4 says, “Humility is the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life”.   Pride and self-centeredness are reined in by a genuine fear of God and leads to walking with Him in wisdom and righteousness. To love God as Father includes a healthy fear of Him that keeps us humble and causes us to strive to bring holiness to completion in the fear of God.

7 Benefits and Rewards

Having a proper reverent “Fear of the Lord” is crucial for a fruitful life as a follower of Christ.   There are many, many benefits and rewards for those who fear the Lord.  Here are 7 rewards for those who truly fear the Lord;

1. Knowledge “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,   but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7).
2. Wisdom “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10).
3. Prolonged life “The fear of the Lord prolongs days,but the years of the wicked will be shortened.” (Proverbs 10:27).
4. A fountain of life “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.” (Proverbs 14:27).
5. Deliverance from trouble “For the angel of the Lord is a guard;  he surrounds and defends all who fear him.” (Psalm 34:7).
6. God’s watchful care and provision “But the Lord watches over those who fear him,
       those who rely on his unfailing love.  He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine.” (Psalm 33:18–19).
7. A satisfying life “The fear of the Lord leads to life and whoever has it rests satisfied;
       he will not be visited by harm.” (Proverbs 19:23).

My Prayer for You

My prayer for each of us is to earnestly seek to develop and maintain a consistent genuine fear of the Lord.  David made this prayer in Psalm 86:11, ““Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name” (Psalm 86:11).

Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine” (Psalm 33:18–19).