Proverbs 9:10
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
It is said that Glossophobia, the fear of public speaking, is tops on the list of what people fear most. The fear of death, Necrophobia, fear of spiders, Arachnophobia, and Achluophobia, the fear of darkness, round out the top four. I am thankful that none of those give me pause except for spiders which are creepy but don’t cause me to be overly anxious.
Growing up in a military family, I was keenly aware of what rules I was expected to follow and which ones I felt were worth pushing the limits. My parents had some pretty strict standards and there were times I couldn’t understand why they were imposed upon me, which in my mind were mostly to spoil my fun. At times I did things because I was pretty sure I wouldn’t get caught. But, generally, I had a healthy fear of their authority and, when I did break the rules, punishment was justified and fair. I knew they loved me and always wanted the best for me, and I tried my best not to displease them. As I grew up, I came to a place of realizing that they had earned and deserved my respect.
In 2 Timothy 1:7 we read that “God has not given us a spirit of fear…” But we are also instructed in Proverbs 24:21 to “fear the Lord.” What exactly does it mean to “fear the Lord?” Sadly, it’s a phrase we don’t hear much anymore. Maybe that’s because many folks have a lack of understanding of what it means.
Let’s address first what it doesn’t mean—it doesn’t mean we cower in fear for what God might do to us as a mean, vindictive task-master. Rather, what “fear” does mean in this sense is respect, reverence, awe, or honor. Another definition of fearing God is “a wholesome dread of displeasing Him,” that would result in our suffering the consequences of our sins. Proverbs 8:13 says, “To fear the Lord is to hate evil.” Out of respect and reverence for the Lord, we hate the things God hates, and behave in a way that honors Him and love the things that He loves.
These days we don’t hear phrases like “He is a God-fearing man (or woman).” Churches rarely preach on God’s judgment or warnings about Hell. These subjects may have gone out of style but they have not been erased from God’s Word. We hear more about love, social justice, and feeling better about ourselves than we do about repentance. Many do what is right in their own eyes, getting away with sinful actions without fear of getting caught or suffering the consequences. It is my opinion that a reminder that we are to “fear the Lord” should be heard from the pulpits more often. A healthy understanding of God’s view of sin—that He hates it and takes it very seriously—is what we also need to hear. It really goes hand in hand with what Jesus taught, “If you love me, you will obey my commands.” (John 14:15) Just as it was with my parents, because I loved them, I learned to obey the rules they laid down.
Romans 14:11 says, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’” We must fear God for His righteous judgment that is to come when each one of us will have to give an account of ourselves to God. What must we do now? Fear God. Repent. And pray.
Holy God, You who deserve all respect, reverence, and honor, we praise You for your patience with us. We acknowledge that You are our righteous God and all glory is due Your Holy name. But, we continue to grieve you. We push the limits, we ignore the warnings, we sin and we even condone the sin of others and turn a blind eye to the evil around us. Reveal those sinful actions and attitudes in our hearts that we have brushed under the rug. Because we have chosen not to look at them, we presume that You can’t see them. Oh, how foolish we are! We no longer fear You. Forgive us, Father of mercy, grace, and hope. We plead in the precious name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.
~ painting by Alan Giana
