The fear of the Lord

Today I accomplish something I have been longing to do: share on this mysterious and often thought difficult subject concerning our faith as Christians. This subject is no longer the talk of our generation. Yet profoundly, I think it is one subject that will revolutionize your walk with God once you understand it. The fear of the Lord is one thing that Christian babes fear to talk about and in my realization, even church going Christians fable about not knowing exactly what it is.

By googling it, you would realize that the phrase is used more than 300 times in the bible and it is not just a subject of the Old Testament. So what is the fear of the Lord? Is it different from being born again?

Well, before I rashly say what it is, I find it prudent to take you through some of these scriptures.

The first instance in the bible we come across the fear of the LORD is when Abraham had to lie concerning his wife to King Abimelech. Abraham responded, 

"Because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will kill me on account of my wife.” (Genesis 20:11)

On the New Testament, we encounter it in Acts 9: 31, 

“Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.”

The thief on the cross asked his fellow thief, “Dost not thou fear God?” (Luke 23:40).

The most wise man to ever live made reiterations on this matter while writing the book of proverbs. Indeed, this was the characteristic of those who went before us. Joseph told his brothers, “I fear God” Genesis 42:18. He knew it. It was in him. Nehemiah also cites the fear of the LORD as the reason he would not extort charges from people. Nehemiah 5:15. Job was a man who feared God. Job 1:1. Cornelius in the New Testament was also a man who feared God even before he was born again (Acts 10:2).

The dictionary defines ‘the fear of God’ as a feeling of profound respect for God. I actually agree with this definition but hope we can take it further. I know certainly that there are those of you reading this blog who do not even believe there is a God anyway. Unfortunately, I will have to come after you later in another blog post (this one is meant for them that believe there is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who alone is eternal and wise).

The only extension I would wish we realize in our understanding is that, this reverence and devotion towards God is practiced when we continually recognize that we are in the presence of a Holy and Righteous God. Think about it for a moment: what made Joseph run away from Potiphar’s wife even after she wooed her continually to lie with her? Joseph knew he was constantly present before a Holy and Righteous God. He explained to her, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Genesis 39:9.

The reason why adulterous pastors are preaching on the pulpit every other Sunday is because they do not fear God (they have total disregard for the presence of a Holy God). It is for the same reason wonderful voices are singing in the Church choir with scandalous lifestyles and disgraceful “men of God” have turned the House of God to an economic hub. 

The fear of the Lord is the main motivation for us to flee sin. You may ask, where is salvation in all of these?

Salvation is the free gift obtained by grace that makes us a new creation. Through salvation the power of sin is defeated in our lives. Yet continually we find ourselves in situations where we have to choose whether to yield to temptations and therefore fall into sin or say no to all ungodliness therefore overcoming temptations. Remember that sin has no power over us since we are born again. The blood of Jesus Christ has given us victory over sin. But choices have to be made still! The knowledge and awareness that you are in the presence of a Holy God even when faced with that situation and that your choice should be one that glorifies God by reflecting that you greatly respect Him is what we are referring to as the fear of God.

Is it situational then? No at all. We ought to realize that right now as we live we are always in the presence of a Holy God. He knows your thought as well as my intentions. The question is are you honoring Him right now. This is the question I ask myself all the time, “am I honoring God right now?” It does not matter the environment or the happenings, is God still honored! Job would not curse God though he had lost everything. He feared God. He knew he was in the presence of a Holy God who does righteous acts.

Through the Scriptures we understand that the fear of the Lord is learnt. Psalms 34:11 says, “Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.” Further Deuteronomy 17:19 says, 

“And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:”

2Kings 17:28 Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.

From this narration my brother and sister, it is possible for you to have received salvation but never to have learnt to live in the fear of God. It is lamenting that most of us have been ignorant of this! We actually learn to fear God. Learning who God is and understanding His ways takes place when we invest our effort in studying the Scriptures and fellow-shipping with God through prayer. The Holy Spirit reveals to us the Father and reminds us of his presence. What you do when all of us are not there is a clear indication whether you are a God fearing man or woman. 

Many church goers are born again but no fear of God!

May you grow in the fear of the Lord. Shalom.

Selected Additional Scriptures:

Proverbs

Proverbs 2:5 Then (when you receive God’s word) shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

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 14:26  In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

Proverbs 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

Proverbs 15:16  Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

Proverbs 15:33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

Proverbs 22:4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

Proverbs 23:17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.

New Testament

2Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

1Peter 2:17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

Other Old Testament

Exodus 18:21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

Deuteronomy 6:24 And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.

Joshua 24:14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.

1Samuel 12:24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.

Psalms 15:4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.

Psalms 34:9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

Psalms 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments:

Psalms 115:11 Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

Psalms 115:13 He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.

Malachi 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.