What does it mean to “fear God”?
Let’s look at a few verses that instruct us to fear God.
- Deuteronomy 8:6, “Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.”
- Ecclesiastes 12:13, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
- 1 Peter 2:17, “Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.”
We can see from these few verses (and there are many), that the Lord wants us to fear Him.
Many verses show us the benefits of fearing God.
- Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”
- Proverbs 10:27, “The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.”
- Proverbs 14:27, “The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.”
What do these things mean? Does God want us to be afraid of Him? We are even told that the Lord Jesus feared God! Hebrews 5:7-8 tells us, “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and WAS HEARD IN THAT HE FEARED; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.”
We most often think of fear as being afraid or being terrorized. Yet, in Psalm 2:11, we see fear and trembling connected with service and rejoicing. Psalm 2:11 says, “Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.” Isaiah 33:6 says, “And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.”
When considering the believer’s fear of the Lord, the word actually refers to the reverence or piety we should have for the Lord. We read in Hebrews 12:28-29, “Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let’s show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with REVERENCE and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.” (NASB). The KJV refers to this reverence as ‘godly fear.’ How great are the results of having a reverence or godly fear of the Lord. Many of the verses we have already cited refer to the blessings that are ours when we reverence the Lord.
We will close this meditation by considering the words of Solomon in Proverbs 2:1-5, “My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.” Do you desire to understand the fear of the Lord? Do you desire to find the knowledge of God? Seek His truths in His Word and give yourself over to them. Obey them. Value them as silver and treasure. Then you will understand. (CC) (536.2)