What does it mean to "fear the LORD"?
13-May-09
Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD. – Ps 34.11
Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name. – Ps 86.11
The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor. – Pr 15.33
I will teach you the fear of the LORD. – Ps 34.11
Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name. – Ps 86.11
The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor. – Pr 15.33
General Meaning of fear: to respect, honor, have awe of, be afraid of – in a combined sense.
General Objects of fear: The LORD – Dt 31.12-13, His Word (commands, decrees) – Dt 5.29, Ex 9.20, Ezra 10.3, His wrath - Ps 90.11, Lk 12.5.
To fear the LORD has such a deeper meaning. To stop at a topical understanding doesn’t do it justice. To bring the idea of fearing the LORD into focus, we can look at the words & contexts in Scripture that are coupled with it in various passages:
Trust – Ps 115.11
Power – Isa 11.2
Learned – Ps 34.11
Serve – Josh 24.14, 1 Sam 12.24, Phil 2.12
Continual, Always, Enduring – Ps 19.9
Wholehearted, Faithful – 2 Chr 19.9
Rejoice – Ps 2.11, 119.74
Pure, Integrity, Righteousness – Ps 103.17, Ps 19.9, Neh 7.2
Praise – Ps 135.20, Rev 14.7
Eminent – Ps 64.9, 67.7
Heritage – Ps 61.5
Truth – Ps 86.11
Obedience – Ex 9.20, 30
Respect (for other people) – Lev 19.14, 25.17
Friendship – Ps 119.63
Delight – Ps 112.1
Benefits:
Long life, Prosperity, Blessing – Dt 6.1-3, 24, Ps 115.13, 128.1
Content, Not Lacking – Ps 34.9, 111.5
Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding – Ps 111.10, Pr 1.7, 2.1-6, Isa 11.2
God's Protection – Ps 33.18, Ex 20.20
His Delight – Ps 147.11
His Mercy – Lk 1.50
Perhaps some analogies can help us relate in some way. If you have ever operated a powerful machine, you know that you must approach it carefully because it can do wonderful things while eminently being extremely dangerous. Similarly, I imagine that helicopter pilots have a healthy fear of their helicopters & carefully stick to their flight manual for their own benefit & that of others. If you have ever entered a stadium or historic area, you have reverence for what has happened in the presence there. Maybe you have been drawn to the edge of a cliff with the intrigue of taking in an awesome & breath-taking view, but only drawing near with utmost caution, never hap-hazardly.
Or if you meet a soldier who knows how to fight, protect & serve through the experience of rigorous training & deadly battles, you can only respect him, never want to offend his honor & certainly wish to avoid irritating him. Perhaps you know someone who is highly esteemed & honored by all for their charity, compassion & mercy when it is in their power & at their discretion to do otherwise. Would you approach them casually?
I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most men do. - Neh 7.2 (Though not much else is said about this guy, Hananiah, I am really impressed with how the Word of God describes him.)
Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you;
your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. - Isa 26.8
General Objects of fear: The LORD – Dt 31.12-13, His Word (commands, decrees) – Dt 5.29, Ex 9.20, Ezra 10.3, His wrath - Ps 90.11, Lk 12.5.
To fear the LORD has such a deeper meaning. To stop at a topical understanding doesn’t do it justice. To bring the idea of fearing the LORD into focus, we can look at the words & contexts in Scripture that are coupled with it in various passages:
Trust – Ps 115.11
Power – Isa 11.2
Learned – Ps 34.11
Serve – Josh 24.14, 1 Sam 12.24, Phil 2.12
Continual, Always, Enduring – Ps 19.9
Wholehearted, Faithful – 2 Chr 19.9
Rejoice – Ps 2.11, 119.74
Pure, Integrity, Righteousness – Ps 103.17, Ps 19.9, Neh 7.2
Praise – Ps 135.20, Rev 14.7
Eminent – Ps 64.9, 67.7
Heritage – Ps 61.5
Truth – Ps 86.11
Obedience – Ex 9.20, 30
Respect (for other people) – Lev 19.14, 25.17
Friendship – Ps 119.63
Delight – Ps 112.1
Benefits:
Long life, Prosperity, Blessing – Dt 6.1-3, 24, Ps 115.13, 128.1
Content, Not Lacking – Ps 34.9, 111.5
Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding – Ps 111.10, Pr 1.7, 2.1-6, Isa 11.2
God's Protection – Ps 33.18, Ex 20.20
His Delight – Ps 147.11
His Mercy – Lk 1.50
Perhaps some analogies can help us relate in some way. If you have ever operated a powerful machine, you know that you must approach it carefully because it can do wonderful things while eminently being extremely dangerous. Similarly, I imagine that helicopter pilots have a healthy fear of their helicopters & carefully stick to their flight manual for their own benefit & that of others. If you have ever entered a stadium or historic area, you have reverence for what has happened in the presence there. Maybe you have been drawn to the edge of a cliff with the intrigue of taking in an awesome & breath-taking view, but only drawing near with utmost caution, never hap-hazardly.
Or if you meet a soldier who knows how to fight, protect & serve through the experience of rigorous training & deadly battles, you can only respect him, never want to offend his honor & certainly wish to avoid irritating him. Perhaps you know someone who is highly esteemed & honored by all for their charity, compassion & mercy when it is in their power & at their discretion to do otherwise. Would you approach them casually?
I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most men do. - Neh 7.2 (Though not much else is said about this guy, Hananiah, I am really impressed with how the Word of God describes him.)
Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you;
your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. - Isa 26.8
Psalm 34
1 I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips. 2 My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 3 Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. 6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. 8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. 9 Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. 10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. 11 Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 12 Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 13 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. 14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry; 16 the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. 18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. 19 A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; 20 he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. 21 Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. 22 The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him. |
Evidences of fearing the LORD... Testimony of benefits from fearing the LORD... Entreaties to fear the LORD... Instruction on fearing the LORD... More benefits from fearing the LORD... Prophecy about Christ who perfectly modeled what it was to fear the LORD... |