The Fear of God

Do you think you really have it?

by

Anthony Valasek

Fear is a word or state of being that we often try to avoid. Many of us fear different things, some fear snakes, others fear spiders or bugs. People fear others when that person has the means to take their lives.

What is fear? We experience fear when we dread something, are terrified by its presence, or are truly afraid. Fear sends a healthy dose of adrenaline through your body and gives you strength to fight or speed to flee. A person in a state of fear will often be in astonishment or awe of the thing or person that caused the fear. Fear can also cause a person to reverence, honor, obey, or respect someone or something. Fear can be the embellishment of all these things and maybe it should be.

A serious student of the Bible can not help wonder about the many verses in the Bible that talk about the fear of God. Many wonder how a loving, forgiving, long-suffering God can cause us to fear him. Should we fear God? What will happen if we do not fear God? What outcomes occur if you do fear God? Can an emotion such as fear, especially the fear of God, be taught to those who do not fear God? How do I know if I really fear God the way those in ancient Egypt, or Sodom did on their day of judgment? Did our perfect example in the flesh, Christ, fear God the Father?

In this study, we will attempt to answer these questions and gain some valuable insight into the will of God. If you have ever had these questions, I hope that this study will satisfy your inquiries and help us walk the straight path that leads to the understanding of the will of God.

I guess the first question that comes to mind is; Are we commanded by God to fear him? Yes, the answer is found in Ecclesiastes 12:13, from this verse we can see that it is our duty to fear God.

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.

Now that we know that we are supposed to fear God, the next question should probably be; What is this fear that we are supposed to have? In the following verses, (Job 28:28, Psalms 19:9 and 111:10, Proverbs 1:7, 9:10, 14:27, and 15:33, and Isaiah 33:6) we find that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, clean, eduring for ever, the beginning of knowledge, a fountain of life, and a treasure for those who have it. Now who would not want to have something that can give us all of these things? I know I certainly would, to have just a couple of these would very helpful.

Job 28:28
And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

Psalms 19:9
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

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

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

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

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

Isaiah 33:6
And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.

I hope by now, most of you are saying "Yeah, I want some of that stuff," but many of you may be asking "How do I know if I have this fear, as the Bible puts it, already?" The Bible tells us you can tell the kind of tree by what fruit it produces, the same goes for fear. If you already have this great fear of God, certain characteristics should show in the manner by which you live. The traits of a person who truly, without any doubt, fears God are these:

1. You do not sin. (Exodus 20:20)

Exodus 20:20
And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.

2. You fear your mother and your father, and keep God's sabbaths. (Lev. 19:3)

Leviticus 19:3
Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.

3. You do not curse the deaf or lay stumbling blocks before the blind. I think this goes for the spiritually deaf and blind also. (Lev. 19:14)

Leviticus 19:14
Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD.

4. You should not oppress others. (Lev. 25:17)

Leviticus 25:17
ye shall not therefore oppress one another; but thou shalt fear thy God: for I am the LORD your God.

5. You should not take increase from thy brothers. We are all brothers in Christ. (Lev. 25:36)

Leviticus 25:36
Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee.

6. You should not be a harsh, unyielding ruler. (Lev. 25:43)

Leviticus 25:43
Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour; but shalt fear thy God.

7. You should keep ALL of God's commandments. (Deut. 5:29, 6:2, 8:6, 17:9)

Deuteronomy 5:29
O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!

Deuteronomy 6:2
That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.

Deuteronomy 8:6
Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.

Deuteronomy 17:19
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 statues, to do them:

8. You should love and serve God with all of your heart and soul. (Deut. 10:12, 10:20, 1 Sam. 12:24, 2 Chron. 6:31)

Deuteronomy 10:12
And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

Deuteronomy 10:20
Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.

1 Samuel 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.

2 Chronicles 6:31
That they may fear thee, to walk in thy ways, so long as they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.

9. You should do no wickedness. (Deut. 13:11, Proverbs 3:7, 16:6)

Deuteronomy 13:11
And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you.

Proverbs 3:7
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil

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

10. You should have hope in God's mercy. (Psalms 33:18)

Psalms 33:18
Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

11. You should not want or desire. (Psalms 34:9)

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

12. You should trust God. (Psalms 40:3)

Psalms 40:3
And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

13. You should tremble with fear of God and be afraid of his judgments. (Psalms 119:120)

Psalms 119:120
My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.

14. You should hate pride, arrogancy, and the froward mouth. (Proverbs 8:13)

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.

15. You should not envy sinners. Which is everybody. (Proverbs 23:17)

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

16. You should cleanse yourself of all filthiness both physically and spiritually. (2 Corinth. 7:1)

2 Corinthians 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.

17. You should submit to one another. (Ephesians 5:21)

Ephesians 5:21
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

18. You should be loyal and obedient to your worldly masters. (Ephesians 6:5, 1 Pet. 2:18)

Ephesians 6:5
Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

1 Peter 2:18
Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

19. You should publicly rebuke sin. (1 Tim. 5:20)

1 Timothy 5:20
Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

Well, how did you fare against this standard? If you are like me, you blew it on the first one! This simply means that we all need to try a lot harder. This also means that we do not really, I mean really, fear God as much as we might like to think. If you do not have a big lead sinker in the bottom of your stomach right now, maybe you should read the list again. For those of us who continue along this path, there are some warnings as to what could happen if we refuse to repent and fear God. Getting a little nervous? You should be, I do every time I compare the way I am supposed to live with the way I am living. That nervousness is simply called the "fear of God."

If you choose not to fear God, and it is a choice, the punishment can be quite severe. To understand what could happen as the result of this "lack of fear," just take a look at these verses, (Proverbs 1:24-29, Nehemiah 5:9, and Rev. 11:18). In Proverbs 1:25, we can see that God will give us a chance before his judgment, but we can also see what happens if we continue to refuse his calling. Ultimately, we can see what happens to those who refuse to fear God just prior to his return in Revelation, utter and complete destruction.

Proverbs 1:24-29
Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

Nehemiah 5:9
Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?

Revelation 11:18
And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

I hope by now, you can see that we all need to fear God. Some of you are probably asking "Since fear is an emotion, can I learn to fear God and if so, how do I learn? Yes, the Bible makes it crystal clear that this trait can be learned and also tells us how to learn it. (Deut. 17:19, 2 Kings 17:28, Psalms 34:11, 86:11, and Proverbs 2:1-5).

2 Kings 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.

Psalms 34:11
Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Psalms 86:11
Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

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.

You can see from the above verses, that this is not the easiest of paths to follow, I do not think it was meant to be easy. Why, do you say? Because we will now see what one can expect if they have the "fear of God," in its fullest meaning. We did see earlier what this fear is, but now we can see the benefits of obtaining it. Up to this point, I have established that we should fear God, we need to fear God, we should want to fear God, we should be afraid not to fear God, and that we can indeed learn to fear God. Some of the verses that describe to us these blessings are; Genesis 31:42, Deut. 5:29, 6:2, 6:24, 2 Kings 17:39, Psalms 23:4, 25:14, 33:18, 34:7, 34:9, 103:11, 103:13, 103:17, 115:11, 115:13, 145:19, 147:11, Proverbs 10:27, 14:26, 14:27, 15:33, 19:23, Eccles. 8:12, Jeremiah 32:39, Malachi 2:5, Luke 1:50, Rev. 11:18, and Rev. 19:5. To sum it up, to fear God gives us a life of inner peace and happiness with no needs or desires. Who would not want a life like that? I know that I am trying to achieve this fear every day. To fear God is to rejoice, in a paradoxical way (Psalms 2:11).

Genesis 31:42
Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.

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.

2 Kings 17:39
But the LORD your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.

Psalms 23:4
yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Psalms 25:14
The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

Psalms 34:7
The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

Palms 103:11
For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

Psalms 103:13
Like a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

Psalms 103:17
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

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.

Psalms 145:19
He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

Psalms 147:11
The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

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 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.

Ecclesiastes 8:12
Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:

Jeremiah 32:39
And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:

Malachi 2:5
My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.

Luke 1:50
And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

Revelation 19:5
And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.

Psalms 2:11
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

A final question that needs to be answered to complete our understanding of how important this achievement of fear is, Did our perfect example, Jesus Christ fear God? The answer can be found in Isaiah 11:1-4. The answer is an astounding YES! If Christ feared God, who are we not to? Anything that Christ feared, should terrify us who are sinful.

Isaiah 11:1-4
And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breadth of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

For God in the flesh, Jesus Christ, to fulfill the law to the utmost degree, he would have had to have feared God the Father. The Bible makes it clear that to have wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, we must fear God. Christ most certainly understood the fear of God, should you?

One last point I would like to make, this by no means is telling you that if you do not fear God, you will receive eternal damnation. We all lack the complete faith and fear of God that he desires. Your salvation is not based on works, but on faith that Jesus Christ came to this Earth to die for remission of your sins if we repent of them. I wrote this in the hopes, that we can all understand that God wants us to always seek his will and strive for the perfection that Christ has shown us. Many times, people think that Christ's sacrifice is a free ticket to do whatever we want, and to follow no rules. I hope that you have learned that all sin is but a lack of faith and reverence towards God. If God came down right now and stood before you and told you that if you break his rules you will be punished, would you listen? Well, the Bible is the word of God, and we should treat its commandments as if they were being spoken directly to us. I guess we all need to have a little more respect, faith, and fear toward God, if only for the reason that he loves us and we should not use that for continuing in sin. Just as our fathers will punish us, we now know that our heavenly father will punish us if we continue to willfully stray from his will. I hope this makes it a little easier to depart from sin and give us a reminder of God's holiness.