The Fear of the Lord is a Good Thing
On multiple occasions, the Bible talks about “the fear of the LORD,” identifying it as one of mankind’s key responsibilities (Deuteronomy 10:12, Ecclesiastes 12:13, Psalm 33:8). The Bible indicates that the fear of the Lord is a precursor to knowledge and wisdom (Proverbs 1:7, 9:10; Psalm 111:10). The fear of the Lord promotes our healing, health, and longevity (Proverbs 3:7-8, 10:27, 19:23). Psalm 34:9 tells us that, “…those who fear the Lord will have no lack.”
But what is “the fear of the Lord?” What does it mean to fear God?
Defining Terms
In order to answer this question, it’s helpful to recognize that every time the word “fear” shows up in the Bible, it doesn’t mean exactly the same thing every time. Words are often used in different ways depending on the context.
As an example, consider the word “jump.” I can say that a man jumped over a fence, meaning that he leapt into the air, up and over the fence. But I can also use the word jump differently, saying “I startled the man and he jumped.” By this, I’m not claiming that the startled man leapt into the air. Rather, I’m using the word jump to refer to the sudden way his body jerked when he was startled. And beyond this, I can also say that I “jumped a car battery.” Again, in this case I wouldn’t be saying that I leapt over something, but this would be another way to use this word jump – to refer to a discharge of energy into the car battery.
So when we consider the word fear, we need to recognize that the Bible uses it differently in different contexts. If we’re going to understand “the fear of the LORD,” much of what we need to understand in this statement is what is meant by the word fear.
Should I Be Terrified of God?
In American English, the word fear is most often thought of in conjunction with words like fright and terror. If we were to read this meaning into the expression, “the fear of the Lord,” it would seem like the Bible is instructing us to live in constant terror of God.
But this isn’t what the Bible teaches. Other passages of Scripture indicate that dread and terror are not appropriate feelings for someone to have in relation to their God (cf. Joshua 1:9; Psalm 118:6; Isaiah 41:13; Romans 8:15; 1 John 4:18). Though the Bible does sometimes use the word fear to refer to terror, “the fear of the Lord” is referring to a different kind of attitude toward God.
The Fear of the Lord, the High King
Specifically, the word “fear” describes how the citizen of a kingdom would have revered her king (Proverbs 24:21-22) or how a servant would have revered his master (Malachi 1:6). Thus, we should understand the fear of the Lord on similar terms. (The main difference to keep in mind, of course, is that God is much greater than any earthly king or master!)
So to fear the Lord means that we have a VERY high view of God’s supreme authority and greatness and that we submit ourselves fully to his priorities. When we have a God-centered view of reality – where we admit that we aren’t on the throne, but God is – that’s the beginning of wisdom. An earnest regard for God and his kingdom is the path that will ultimately lead us to abundance, health, and longevity – because it’s the path that will lead us to God himself.
This Almighty God isn’t someone we should recoil from in horror. Rather, he reveals himself in the Bible as the rightful, righteous King of the universe, who is to be honored, loved, and obeyed. This is what it means to fear the Lord, and it truly is the best way to live.
