What Does It Mean to Fear the Lord?

What does it really mean to "fear the Lord"? Does God want us to be afraid of Him, or is there something much deeper behind this often-misunderstood phrase?

In this episode of FaithFuel, Bob Shaw explores the biblical meaning of the fear of the Lord and why it's described as the beginning of wisdom. Discover how reverence, awe, and a right understanding of God's holiness draw us closer to Him rather than push us away.

If you've ever struggled to reconcile God's love with His holiness, this devotional offers biblical encouragement and a clearer picture of who God truly is.

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Transcript

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The Fear of the Lord, one of the most misunderstood phrases in the Bible. I'm Bob Shaw, and this is Faith Fuel. As a young Christian many, many years ago, when I first heard the phrase fear the Lord, I thought it meant being afraid of God, afraid he was watching my every move, you know, waiting for me to mess up, always disappointed in me. Have you thought the same thing? The Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Well, that sounds like something we're supposed to pursue. But then we read in 1 John that perfect love casts out fear. Now, if you think the fear in fear of the Lord means being scared of him, this can be a little confusing. As I grew in my faith and got to know God better through his word, I realized the Bible isn't describing two different kinds of God. It's describing two different kinds of fear. One is the fear of punishment, the other is the kind of awe and reverence that comes from seeing God for who he really is. In fact, Hebrews tells us to worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. Think about standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon. You're drawn to it. You admire it, but you also recognize its power, meaning you don't run carelessly toward the edge. You're not terrified of the canyon, but you understand what you're standing in front of. I think the fear of the Lord is something like that. It's recognizing God's holiness, his power, his authority and goodness, and it's realizing we're not dealing with someone ordinary. He's the creator of the universe. And yet through Jesus Christ, he invites us to come to him. Jesus said in John 14 9, Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. Well that hit me like a ton of bricks. How did I not notice that before? If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus. Watch how he treated people. Listen to what he taught. See the compassion he showed. That's the heart of the Father. Does that sound like someone you should be terrified of? The fear of the Lord isn't about running from God. It's about seeing him for who he really is. The more I get to know God, the more I trust him. Maybe that's why the fear of the Lord really is the beginning of wisdom. Lord, thank you for showing us who you are. Help us never lose our sense of wonder at your holiness, your greatness, and your love. Teach us to walk with reverence, confidence, and gratitude because of what Jesus has done for us. In his name. Amen. The more we know God, the more we discover there's always more to know. If today's devotional encouraged you, I'd love for you to follow Faith Fuel. New episodes are available every weekday, and I'd be honored to have you join me for the next one. I'm Bob Shaw. Peace and joy.