“I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me” (Jer. 32:40). To fully understand “the fear of God,” one must first understand the meaning of the word, “fear.” The first reaction we have when we hear the word is thinking of something threatening our safety. We fear walking around in the dark, especially in cities, because of the danger of being mugged by some criminal. Kids that are bullied and spouses that are abused physically, mentally, emotionally, or sexually are fearful of the perpetrator. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines fear as “an unpleasant, often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger.”
Most, if not all, phobias are accompanied by varying degrees of fear, and horror movies can also make us quite uneasy. Countless other dangers also exist, and we are conditioned to avoid them at all costs, but none is greater than the fear of dying. In fact, research after research has concluded that death is what we are most afraid of. The type of fear described above is not what God means when He tells us to fear Him. It couldn’t be, or verses like 1 John 4:18 would be a lie, and we know that cannot be. In part, it reads, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” God does not want us to be terrified of Him, and we shouldn’t be. He is, after all, not only the source but also the destination of all obedient believers.
In Romans 3:18, Paul quotes Psalms 36:1, but for further clarity, I will also include vs. 2-4: “Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. 2. For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. 3. The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good. 4. He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.” This passage speaks of the wickedness of some people and describes them as having no fear of God. Ecc. 8:13 warns the wicked with these words, “But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.”
When I read those two verses, it helps to clarify what “fear of God” means to me. If the unfaithful, the wicked of the world, do not fear God and things will not go well for them, then the faithful and obedient should. But, in case that is not clear enough for you, I have a verse that spells it out with absolute clarity for anyone who can read or hear the words. After the Israelites had received the Ten Commandments, they were afraid they would die if God spoke to them, but Moses had this to say to them – Exo. 20:20, Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.’” Clearly, the fear of God will prevent you from sinning, and not sinning means you will be obedient, and being obedient, means you will follow the commandments of the New Testament, and that, in turn, means you will be rewarded with everlasting life in heaven.
So here is the summary before the definition. Not fearing God leads to misery, but fearing Him has these advantages. Firstly, it is the source of knowledge – Pro. 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” It is the foundation of wisdom – Psa.111:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!” It guarantees His mercy – Luke 1:50, “And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.” As if that is not enough, we have an extraordinary promise in Psa. 25:14 if we fear Him, “The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him….”
It will also motivate us to disciple others – 2 Cor. 5:11, “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.” Want to be blessed by God? Read Pro. 28:14, “Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always.” But best of all, read the following verse and do so in the context of eternity, Pro. 10:27, “The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.” So, here is my definition of the “fear of God.” It is the reverent awe of the Creator God expressed by my faith in His promises for me as a believer. The only terrified-based fear I have is for the consequences of not believing in Him.
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