Introduction
Fear of the Lord. A phrase commonly used throughout the Bible. Is it reverence? To be afraid? As you search to know the meaning of the fear of the Lord, let the beauty of fearing God captivate your soul.
The following is a pdf of what is written here: The Fear of the Lord.pdf
Use of the Word Fear in the Bible
The original written language of the old and new Testament are Hebrew and Greek respectively. The following sections examine the Hebrew and Greek words which are translated to fear.
Encountering God
The following are examples of various people who have encountered God in some way. This is not an exhaustive list and focuses on encounters that include more than just God speaking. The following verses should be read sequentially before proceeding to the next section:
Genesis 3:8-10 “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. So the Lord God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.””
Genesis 15:7-17 “He also said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.” But he said, “Lord God, how can I know that I will possess it?” He said to him, “Bring me a three-year-old cow, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” So he brought all these to him, cut them in half, and laid the pieces opposite each other, but he did not cut the birds in half. Birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. As the sun was setting, a deep sleep came over Abram, and suddenly great terror and darkness descended on him. Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know this for certain: Your offspring will be resident aliens for four hundred years in a land that does not belong to them and will be enslaved and oppressed. However, I will judge the nation they serve, and afterward they will go out with many possessions. But you will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.” When the sun had set and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the divided animals.”
Genesis 28:12-17 “And he dreamed: A stairway was set on the ground with its top reaching the sky, and God’s angels were going up and down on it. The Lord was standing there beside him, saying, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your offspring the land on which you are lying. Your offspring will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out toward the west, the east, the north, and the south. All the peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” He was afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! This is none other than the house of God. This is the gate of heaven.””
Exodus 3:2-6 “Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire within a bush. As Moses looked, he saw that the bush was on fire but was not consumed. So Moses thought, “I must go over and look at this remarkable sight. Why isn’t the bush burning up?” When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered. “Do not come closer,” he said. “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he continued, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.”
Exodus 19:16-19 ““On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning, a thick cloud on the mountain, and a very loud blast from a ram’s horn, so that all the people in the camp shuddered. Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke because the Lord came down on it in fire. Its smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently. As the sound of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder.”
1 Kings 19:11-13 “Then he said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.” At that moment, the Lord passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?””
Job 38:1-7, 42:1-6 ““Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind. He said: Who is this who obscures my counsel with ignorant words? Get ready to answer me like a man; when I question you, you will inform me. Where were you when I established the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who fixed its dimensions? Certainly you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? What supports its foundations? Or who laid its cornerstone while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Then Job replied to the Lord: I know that you can do anything and no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, “Who is this who conceals my counsel with ignorance?” Surely I spoke about things I did not understand, things too wondrous for me to know. You said, “Listen now, and I will speak. When I question you, you will inform me.” I had heard reports about you, but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore, I reject my words and am sorry for them; I am dust and ashes.”
Isaiah 6:1-5 “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphim were standing above him; they each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Armies; his glory fills the whole earth. The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke. Then I said: Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips,and because my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Armies.”
Ezekiel 1:26-28, 2:1-2 “Something like a throne with the appearance of lapis lazuli was above the expanse over their heads. On the throne, high above, was someone who looked like a human. From what seemed to be his waist up, I saw a gleam like amber, with what looked like fire enclosing it all around. From what seemed to be his waist down, I also saw what looked like fire. There was a brilliant light all around him. The appearance of the brilliant light all around was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the likeness of the Lord’s glory. When I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking. He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak with you.” As he spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet, and I listened to the one who was speaking to me.”
Mark 9:2-7 “After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain by themselves to be alone. He was transfigured in front of them, and his clothes became dazzling—extremely white as no launderer on earth could whiten them. Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it’s good for us to be here. Let’s set up three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— because he did not know what to say, since they were terrified. A cloud appeared, overshadowing them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my beloved Son; listen to him!””
Acts 2:1-4 “When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them.”
Acts 9:3-7 “As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul said. “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied. “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one.”
Revelation 1:10-18 “ I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard a loud voice behind me like a trumpet saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me. When I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was one like the Son of Man, dressed in a robe and with a golden sash wrapped around his chest. The hair of his head was white as wool—white as snow—and his eyes like a fiery flame. His feet were like fine bronze as it is fired in a furnace, and his voice like the sound of cascading waters. He had seven stars in his right hand; a sharp double-edged sword came from his mouth, and his face was shining like the sun at full strength. When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid. I am the First and the Last, and the Living One. I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
Adam & Eve
Genesis 3:8-10
Eaten from tree of knowledge of good and evil
Now know the holiness of God how terrifyingly awesome that would be
Abraham
Genesis 15:7-17
Experienced the terror of the Lord amongst his promises
Jacob
Genesis 28:12-17
Became afraid after the experience
Moses
Exodus 3:2-6
Afraid to look at God’s face
Israelites
Exodus 19:16-19
Afraid of God's power
Elijah
1 Kings 19:11-13
Experienced the power going out before the Lord
Job
Job 38:1-7, 42:1-6
Saw the Lord in power and rebuke, repented in dust and ashes
Isaiah
Isaiah 6:1-5
Thought he was doomed after encountering God
Ezekiel
Ezekiel 1:26-28, 2:1-2
Fell over from the glory of God, and need to God to help him up
Peter, James, John
Mark 9:2-7
See Jesus in divine form, become afraid
Peter
Acts 2:1-4
Experienced the power and presence of Holy Spirit in fire
Paul
Acts 9:3-7
Paul fell to the ground and people around are in shock
John
Revelation 1:10-18
John becomes “paralyzed” by fear
The Acts of God
Adam and Eve
Genesis 3:16-21
Experience God's discipline
Likely would have observed the first death in creation to create their clothes, what a shock and horrific event to see!
Abraham
Genesis 19:24-29
Witnessing the aftermath of the wrath of God, what a fearsome sight to behold!
Jacob
Genesis 32:24-30
The Lord chose to hurt him
Recognized the significance of encountering God and not dying
Moses
Exodus 12:29-32
Experienced the Lord killing every single firstborn and horrifying wailing of those who lost a child
Israelites
Exodus 20:18-22
Moved away from God even when barriers were there to protect them
Elijah
2 Kings 1:9-13
Saw the wrath of God on those who do not approach Him (or His representative) without fear
Job
Job 42:7-8
Saw the wrath of God lead people to change
Isaiah
Isaiah 37:33-37
Was aware of the destructive power of a single angel
Ezekiel
Ezekiel 9:5-9
Saw the wrath of God on His own people
Peter, James, John
Mark 11:15-21
See Jesus get angry with people
See Jesus curse something for not producing fruit
Peter
Acts 5:1-11
Experienced God's judgement on those who lie to God
Paul
Acts 9:9-16
Personally blinded for a time
John
Revelation 20:11-15
Had a vision of God's final judgement and all those who do not follow Jesus thrown into the lake of fire
The Results of Experiencing God
Adam and Eve
Genesis 3:22-24
Different in the sense that the lack of fearing God resulted in separation from Him
Heard the first foreshadowing of Jesus
Abraham
Genesis 22:9-14
Experienced God's provision
Got approved by God that he now fears God
Became a foreshadowing of God sacrificing His Son Jesus
Jacob
Genesis 35:9-18
Experienced God creating a nation through Him
Become a foreshadowing of Jesus coming through the nation of Israel (Benjamin = son of my right hand, Jesus son of God at the right hand)
Moses
Exodus 33:17-34:9
Known by God by name
Desired to know God more
Experienced the most fullness of God that a human not in the Spirit can handle
Foreshadowing of a man of God (Jesus) interceding on behalf of God’s people
Israelites
Exodus 32:25-30
Did not fear God, sinned and got killed
A foreshadowing of Jesus coming with His holy ones to kill those who did not follow Him
Elijah
2 Kings 2:11
Went to see God face to face without experiencing death
A foreshadowing of a man of God (Jesus) departing from earth and a great annointing (Holy Spirit) being passed onto His successors (Christians)
Job
Job 42:9-11
Experienced the blessings of God
A foreshadowing of a suffering righteous man and his prayers (Jesus), and sacrifice to atone for sin and satisfy the wrath of God
Isaiah
Isaiah 53:3-7
Prophesied about the suffering and death of Jesus
Ezekiel
Ezekiel 37:24-28
Prophecy about Jesus being the good shepherd
Peter, James, John
Mark 15:34-37
Was on earth during the time that propitiation for sins was completed by Jesus
Peter
Acts 10:44-48
Saw the promise of the nations being blessed with the Holy Spirit
Paul
Acts 19:11-17
Became a blessing and light to the gentiles as the Jewish people were called to be
John
Revelation 22:1-5
Saw the day where all who follow Jesus will see His face
Verses on the Fear of the Lord
Fearing God
The following are some verses that describe the Fear of the Lord and those who fear Him:
They have no want (Psalm 34:9)
Blessed and experience God's goodness (Psalm 31:19, 112:1, 115:13, 128:1-4)
Tremble before God (Psalm 2:11, 119:120)
Forgiveness is with God so He may be feared (Psalm 130:4)
Abstain from evil, live uprightly (Job 1:1, Proverbs 3:7, 14:2,16, 16:6)
The works of God last forever so people might fear Him (Ecclesiastes 3:14)
God will teach and reveal secrets to those who fear Him (Psalm 25:12-14)
Angel of the Lord encampment around those who fear Him (Psalm 34:7)
Know and experience God's mercy and compassion (Psalm 103:11-17, 118:4)
God will save those who fear Him (Psalm 115:11, 145:19)
The fear of the Lord yields wisdom and the knowledge of God (Job 28:28, Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 1:7, 2:5, 9:10, 15:33)
The fear of the Lord is clean (Psalm 19:19)
To hate evil (Proverbs 8:13)
Strong confidence (Proverbs 14:26)
A source of life (Proverbs 14:27, 19:23, 22:4)
Our Response
Instruction to Fear God
The following is a list of some verses instructing us to fear God from the New Testament:
Matthew 10:28
2 Corinthians 7:1
Colossians 3:22
Philippians 2:12
Hebrews 4:1
1 Peter 1:17
1 Peter 2:17
Revelation 14:7
Our Disposition
We should delight in, treasure and walk in the Fear of the Lord.
Isaiah 30:21, 33:6
Acts 2:43, 9:31
The Warnings
The following are serious warnings. They should drive us to know the Lord intimately and pursue living a holy life.
Cut off body parts that cause you to sin, rather than whole body going to hell (Matthew 5:29-30)
Stay on narrow path otherwise could be thrown in fire and Jesus saying I never knew you (Matthew 7:15-23)
Deny Jesus and be denied by Him (Matthew 10:33)
Love anyone more than Jesus or be unwilling to die for Him, is to be unworthy of Him (Matthew 10:37-38)
If not stewarding what God gave wisely, when He returns, be cut in two and sent to hell (Matthew 24:44-51)
Cannot be a disciple of Jesus unless willing to give up everything (Luke 14:33)
Lying to God can result in immediate death (Acts 5:1-5)
Denying Christ after following Him results in getting burned up (Hebrews 6:4-8)
Continuing to sin willfully results in no more sacrifice to atone for sins and be under the judgement and wrath of God (Hebrews 10:26-31)
To strive against sin is go to the point of shedding blood (Hebrews 10:4)
Being a friend of the world means to be an enemy of God (James 4:5)
God opposes the proud (James 4:6)
Be in a worse off condition if have escaped the pollution of the world and become entangled again (2 Peter 20-22)
Whoever practices sin has not seen and does not know God (1 John 3:6)
Do not leave first love of Jesus or be removed (Revelation 2:4-5)
Do not hold to false teaching or Jesus will come with the sword (Revelation 2:15-16)
Do not follow the sexually immoral, those who entice people into it or will result in being put into anguish and killed (Revelation 2:20-23)
Do not be a sleepy follower or Jesus will come like a thief in the night (Revelation 3:3)
Do not be spiritually useless or Jesus will vomit you out of His mouth (Revelation 3:15-16)
Do not receive the mark of the beast or God's wrath will be against you (Revelation 14:9-11)
Being godless, sorcerer, immoral, murderer, idolater, or unloving and practicing lying results in being separated from God forever (Revelation 22:15)
Encouragement
In all of this God is working in you so that you will fear Him. Abraham, the legend of faith, had a journey of around 40 years with God before it was said to him “Now I know that you fear God” (Genesis 22:12). Submit to God in the process of developing the fear of the Lord. He is patient with you, He will not give up on you…... Will you give up?