The Fear of the Lord

The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge: Prov. 1:7 and Prov. 9:10

We see “the fear of the Lord” or some variation of the words throughout Scripture. It’s overwhelming how many times it is referenced in Scripture….But, what is it? What does it really mean? It’s so critical for us to know what phrases we say and hear repeatedly actually mean.

The fear of the Lord is reverence. It is Godly awe of who God is which leads to devotion and submission. It can also be fear of God’s displeasure and fatherly discipline which also leads to submission. So, to fear the Lord is to understand who God is and submit to Him.

I like what John Piper say about the fear of the Lord: “There are two great commands in the Bible. The first is: “Fear the Lord.” And the second is “Fear not!” What we should not fear is to draw close to God and what we should fear is to run away from him. God is a joy and a refuge to those who cling to his neck, but he is a terror to those who flee. So the “fear of the Lord” is a very peaceful and secure feeling. In fact, fearing the Lord means counting on our fellowship with God to make us happier in the future than anything else could. Romans 15:4 says that the whole Bible was written to persuade us that this is true: staying close to God and not running away into sin is the most hope-full way to live. Promise after promise verifies it: “the friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him” (Psalm 25:14). “How abundant is your goodness which you have laid up for those who fear you” (Psalm 31:19). “The eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in His steadfast love” (Psalm 33:18). “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them” (Psalm 34:7). “As the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him” (Psalm 103:11,17). “As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear him” (Psalm 103:13). “He fulfills the desire of all who fear him” (Psalm 145:19)."

A.W. Pink says, “Happy the soul that has been awed by a view of God’s majesty, that has had a vision of God’s awful greatness, His ineffable holiness, His perfect righteousness, His irresistible power, His sovereign grace.”

Paul wrote in Philippians 2:12-13 “ Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”

The passage was written right after He pleads with them to walk in humility. (Note the “therefore” at the beginning of verse 12.) A great definition of humility is to have a right understanding of who God is and your position in relation to Him. It seems fitting that Paul would then plead with them to work out their salvation with fear and trembling.

Isaiah 66:2 “All these things my hand has made,
and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.”

Let’s revere God and walk humbly before Him together, fixing our eyes on Christ as we journey together on the race set out before us. (Hebrews 12:1-3)