The Fear of God

We are taught over and over again in Scripture that because God is uniquely and awesomely holy—pure, separated, and shining in His moral majesty—we are to draw near to Him with godly reverence and fear. The fear of the Lord, as we know, is the beginning of wisdom. Contemplation of His character, particularly His holiness, will lead to a reverential fear that prepares the soul (as it did for Isaiah) for more profitable service and activity.

But what does it mean to “fear” God? There are times in the Bible when we are told to fear and times when we are told not to fear. There is a fear that helps and a fear that hinders. How do we know the difference?

The fear that helps is the fear that expresses itself in reverence, veneration, awe, a sense of the grandeur and majesty of God. The fear that hinders is described for us in 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.”

The Greek word deilia, which is translated “fearfulness” or “timidity” in this verse, comes from a root that means “wretched, sorry, miserable” and implies someone lacking in courage. God is not to blame for attitudes of cowardice or timidity; they come from within our own hearts. Timid people are frightened people, and if you want to explore this thought still further, ask yourself: what kinds of things frighten me that are not related to the fear of God? If we fear them more than we fear God, then we are being ruled by the wrong kind of fear.

Further Study

Dt 10:1-12; Jos 24:14; Eccl 12:13

What did the Lord require of Israel?

What did Joshua admonish Israel to do?