The "Fear of God" as described in the Bible is a central theme and refers to a deep reverence, awe, and respect for God, recognizing His holiness, authority, and supreme power. Thus, the believer’s fear is the reverence of God. Hebrews 12:28-29 “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire.” This reverence and awe are exactly what the fear of God means for Christians.
Let us also understand the difference between terror and fear. While terror and dread are appropriate reactions for sinners before the God who is infinitely holy, powerful, omnipresent, and righteous, there is a difference between the fear of the Lord and the terror of him. Jonah 1:9-10 “And he said unto them, I am a Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land. 10 Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD because he had told them.” Here the people were seized with terror as the opposite of fear. For God’s people, fearing the Lord is a response of reverent awe, obedience, and trust in the Lord.
In the Psalms, we see that fearing the Lord means to stand in awe of the living God. Psalms 33:8 “Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.” We are to glorify him and to trust him wholeheartedly. Those who fear the Lord receive his steadfast love. Proverbs 1:7 “ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” In the book of Proverbs, we learn that the fear of the Lord is a continual submission to God in humility and faith and consists of hatred of evil and the desire to turn away from it. Here are some key aspects of the "Fear of God" as described in the Bible:
Beginning of Wisdom: Proverbs 9:10 states, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”
Obedience: The fear of God often leads to obedience and righteous living. In the Old Testament, God's people were called to obey His commandments out of fear and reverence for Him.
Awe and Worship: The fear of God involves a sense of awe and worship. It's about approaching God with humility and reverence in prayer and worship.
Trust: Trusting in God's sovereignty and wisdom is part of fearing Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding."
Consequences of Sin: The fear of God also includes an awareness of the consequences of sin and a desire to turn away from it. Proverbs 16:6 "By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil."
Judgment: Believers in the fear of God understand that there will be a final judgment, where God will hold everyone accountable for their actions.
Dr Ashwin Drummond
Laddertoheaven.co.in