The Fear of the Lord - Elaborated
The idea of “the fear of the Lord” is a really important concept in the Bible, but it’s something people often get wrong these days. It’s not about being scared stiff or terrified, like one might be of a mean boss. Instead, it means having a deep respect, a sense of wonder, and a willingness to obey God because of who He is—His holy nature and His supreme power. It’s about recognizing just how great and awesome and perfectly good He is, and understanding that we’re His creation, completely dependent on Him. This kind of “fear” actually comes from a place of love and trust, not from terror.
The Foundation of Knowledge
As the opening part of Proverbs 1:7 clearly says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” This isn’t just a fancy idea or a saying; it’s a basic truth that means real understanding and smarts come from being in the right with our Creator. If we don’t have this basic respect for God, our search for knowledge can go off track, be incomplete, or even cause harm. Nevertheless, when we start with the fear of the Lord, our efforts to learn are shaped by the understanding that there’s an ultimate truth, a divine order, and a moral standard that God Himself has set. This way of thinking stops our knowledge from making us arrogant or self serving. Instead, it points us toward goals that honor God and help people. So, true wisdom isn’t just about collecting facts; it’s about figuring out how to live in harmony with God’s plan for the world and for our lives.
Blessings from Fearing the Lord
Besides getting smart, there are lots of good things that come from fearing the Lord, affecting every part of our lives. Proverbs 10:27 tells us that “The fear of the Lord prolongs days.” This isn’t some trick for living forever, but it really shows all the good stuff that comes from living God’s way. Someone who fears the Lord is more likely to make smart choices about their health, their relationships, and how they act morally. They steer clear of destructive paths like addiction, violence, and reckless living that often cut lives short or make them miserable. A life like that, full of peace, honesty, and spiritual strength, tends to be more stable, more fulfilling, and yes, often lasts longer and does well in every way. It just proves that sticking with God’s plan brings His favor, protection, and a spiritually richer, more meaningful life, both now and forever.
Fearing the Lord Means Hating Evil
A clear and important definition of this fear of the Lord is given in Proverbs 8:13: “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.” This definition is really helpful because it tells us that fearing the Lord isn’t passive; it’s actively turning away from anything that goes against who the Lord is—His perfect goodness and fairness. To fear the Lord means one naturally pulls back from unfairness, lies, cruelty, oppression, and all kinds of sin, recognizing that these things are an insult and abomination to a holy and fair God. This hate for evil doesn’t come from thinking we’re better than others, but from a deep understanding of God’s holiness and a strong desire to make our actions and attitudes match His perfect way. It’s like having a moral compass, set right by God’s truth, that guides us away from paths of destruction and toward what’s right, pure, and honest. This active hatred of evil is how we can truly respect and revere the Lord.
Abraham: An Example of obedience
Further, we can understand what fearing the Lord means in real life by looking at the story of Abraham, the man of faith, in Genesis 22. God told Abraham to offer his beloved son, Isaac, as a burnt offering—a tough test of his faith and willingness to obey. Isaac wasn’t just any son; he was the son God had promised, through whom a great nation would rise. Sacrificing him seemed to make no sense and go against everything God had promised. Yet, Abraham, despite the huge personal conflict and how it seemed to go against everything, got up early the next morning and proceeded to do what God said, without a second thought. Just as he raised the knife, ready to follow God’s command, an angel of the Lord stepped in, declaring in Genesis 22:12: “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
This powerful statement isn’t just God recognizing Abraham’s obedience; it’s a divine thumbs-up for his “fear of God.” So, what did this fear look like in action? It was Abraham’s willingness to give up his most cherished possession, his hope for a family line, and even his own understanding of how God’s promises would come true, all by just doing what God said, even though it seemed impossible to understand. It was a complete surrender to God’s instructions, even when they didn’t make sense to him. Abraham’s fear wasn’t shown by trembling, but by trust; not by doubt, but by taking decisive action. It shows that fearing the Lord means having a huge trust in God’s control and a promise to obey Him completely, even when things are hard or confusing. It’s realizing that God’s ways are higher than ours, and His wisdom is beyond what we can understand. Abraham’s fear was his absolute obedience and devotion to the Lord, proving that he valued God’s command above all else.
Jesus: The Ultimate Example of Godly Fear
The writer of the book of Hebrews makes this idea of godly fear more clearer through the example of Jesus Christ Himself. Hebrews 5:7-8 gives us a deep look into Jesus’ life on Earth: “who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” This passage might seem a bit strange at first. How could Jesus, who was God in human form, “fear God” or “learn obedience”?
Here, “godly fear” shown by Christ doesn’t mean He was afraid of punishment, because He was perfectly good and never sinned. Instead, it refers to His absolute obedience, perfect respect, son-like submission to doing what the Father wanted. His “strong cries and tears” in Gethsemane show how much He gave in to God’s plan, even as He faced unimaginable suffering on the cross and the separation from the Father. He “learned obedience” not because He was ever disobedient, but because His perfect obedience was shown and completed through the tough times of suffering. His entire life on Earth was marked by a chase after the Father’s will, ending with Him willingly letting Himself die on the cross to save us. Jesus’ perfect obedience, even to death, stands as the best example of real godly fear—a total surrender to God’s will, motivated by perfect love and trust. His fear of the Father translated into the perfect obedience shown on the cross.
Answered Prayers: A Blessed Outcome
This deep understanding of the fear of the Lord brings another amazing blessing: the promise that God hears the prayers of those who fear Him. As the passage in Hebrews hints at how Jesus’ prayers were heard “because of His godly fear,” we living a life that respects and obeys God opens up a way for God to talk to us and answer us. When our hearts are in sync with God’s will, when we really try to honor Him with our lives, when what we want starts to look like what He wants, when we actively hate evil, and when we practice perfect obedience to His commands, then our prayers become signs of a relationship built on trust, humility, and understanding each other.
This doesn’t mean God becomes a big vending machine in the sky, giving us whatever we want or whatever selfish thing we ask for. Rather, it means that when we come to God with a heart that fears Him—a humble, obedient heart that hates evil and wants to bring Him glory—what we want often starts to match His perfect plan. Nevertheless, all our needs are always met in Him. Should it feel like things we need are delayed, then it is a matter of time before the Lord answers and blesses us in His perfect wisdom and love. This is the confidence we have.
Cultivating Godly Fear
So, to wrap it up, the fear of the Lord isn’t some obscure, old, strict religious idea. It’s the foundation of real knowledge and wisdom, guiding our minds and our sense of right and wrong. It shows up as a deep hate for evil and a strong desire to do what’s right. It is also the complete surrender and obedience to the Lord’s will. We see it perfectly in Abraham’s steady obedience, even when things seemed impossible, and in Jesus Christ’s perfect submission to the Father’s will, in spite of suffering. Ultimately, this godly fear brings us into a deeper, closer relationship with God, where we get His guidance, protection, and the promise that our prayers will be answered at the right time. So, let’s work to grow the fear of the Lord in our hearts, trusting that when we obey Him, we’ll truly get all the wonderful blessings He promises. Amen.
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