Bible Question:
What is the fear of God? When should we love and when should we fear the Lord?
Bible Answer:
Have you ever wondered if the fear of the Lord and the fear of God just means that we are suppose to be afraid of God? A review of all the phrases “the fear of the Lord” and “the fear of God” in the Old Testament reveals that two Hebrew words are translated as fear in these statements.
The first Hebrew word used for “fear” in these two phrases occurs in both 2 Chronicles 19:7 and Psalm 36:1. The Hebrew word is pahad. It has the meaning of trembling, dread, or terror. Here is 2 Chronicles 19:7
Now then let the fear of the LORD be upon you; be very careful what you do, for the LORD our God will have no part in unrighteousness, or partiality, or the taking of a bribe. 2 Chronicles 19:7 (NASB)
This was a warning given by Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah. In Psalm 36:1 pahad clearly reveals that the ungodly are not afraid of God. So, they are rebellious and sin without fear.
Transgression speaks to the ungodly within his heart;
There is no fear of God before his eyes.
Psalm 36:1 (NASB)
The next three verses reveal that the ungodly clearly enjoys his or her wickedness.
For it flatters him in his own eyes
Concerning the discovery of his iniquity and the hatred of it.
The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit;
He has ceased to be wise and to do good.
He plans wickedness upon his bed;
He sets himself on a path that is not good;
He does not despise evil.
Psalm 36:2-4 (NASB)
The message is that the ungodly does not fear God. He or she does not feel guilt, despise evil, and seek to do good. For the wicked enjoy their evil without fearing God’s punishment and eventual judgment that will send them to hell.
The second Hebrew word that is used in the phrase “fear” of the Lord and the “fear” of God is yira. It has a range of meanings. In Ezekiel 30:13 it has the idea to be fearful. In Ezekiel 1:18, it is translated by the NASB as “awesome,” but has the sense of terror. A third meaning is reverence in many different places. This is the most common meaning of this word. Yet, yira includes a sense of fear, terror, and reverence all wrapped together. For we are to reverence God because He is holy (Isaiah 6:3). Since He is holy, we respond in fear of being punished for committing wickedness. When punishment comes, we may be terribly afraid of what will happen. So, yira includes a sense of all three concepts.
Proverbs 1:29 expresses yira positively. This is where every person who seeks after God starts. Jeremiah 29:13-14 promises that He will help us find Him if we seek for Him with all our heart. In sharp contrast Proverbs 1:28-29 warns about those who do not who seek to know God and, consequently do not fear the God, except in time of need.
Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD.
Proverbs 1:28-29 (NASB)
Now we need to add Proverbs 8:13 because it defines the “fear of the Lord” as hating evil, pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverted or deceitful mouth.
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverted mouth, I hate.
Proverbs 8:13 (NASB)
This helps us understand the meaning of Proverbs 1:28-29. Those who do not know God do. not hate evil.
Sadly, they do not have the wisdom of understanding (Psalm 111:10) because they are fools who “despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7). Therefore, they do not keep away from evil (Proverbs 16:6).
But a faithful believer seeks to live a righteous life because he or she wants to please God. Now that is the fear of the Lord. The blessings of the fear of the Lord are given in several passages in the book of Proverbs.
The fear of the LORD prolongs life,
But the years of the wicked will be shortened.
Proverbs 10:27 (NASB)In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence,
And his children will have refuge.
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
That one may avoid the snares of death.
Proverbs 14:26-27 (NASB)The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD
Are riches, honor and life.
Proverbs 22:4 (NASB)
Therefore, the “fear of the Lord” includes getting wisdom and knowledge. There is only one place to get this – from the Word of Truth – the Bible. It leads a person to God and the discovery that God is holy and hates sin. The response is repentance for wickedness and His forgiveness for our sins. A fuller meaning of “fear of the Lord” includes the idea of loving God, wanting to know Him and please Him.
Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1 (NASB)
Conclusion:
The desire of our Jesus Christ while He walked on this planet was a strong desire to please God the Father. That is the message of the prophet Isaiah.
And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. And He will delight in the fear of the LORD . . . Isaiah 11:2-3a (NASB)
Therefore, we should always fear God and we should always love God (Matthew 22:37). The fear of the Lord leads us to the love of God. The fear of the Lord is where we all start. It brought us to Him and then like a flower it blooms into love, honor, and a deeper desire to know Him.