"Fear of the Lord" Is a Beautiful Thing (2024)

FAQs

What does Proverbs mean by fear of the Lord? ›

Proverbs says that the fear of the Lord is the “beginning” of wisdom — that is, it is the most essential component. If you do not fear God, you do not have wisdom. And what does it mean to fear God? It doesn't mean running away whenever you hear His name. To fear God is to know Him as He is and respond accordingly.

Fearing the Lord means to be in reverent awe of His holiness, to give Him complete reverence and to honor Him as the God of great glory, majesty, purity and power.

The term "fear of the Lord," occurs more than a dozen times in the book of Proverbs. This is not "just" respect, but it does not imply terror or panic. The idea is one of humility, deep reverence, and submission. The basis for fearing God in this way is belief that He is holy and hates and punishes sin.

When the Bible refers to the “fear of the Lord,” it means having a deep respect, reverence and awe for God's power and authority. Rather than causing someone to be afraid of God, a proper “fear of the Lord” leads one to love Him.

What is Theophobia? Theophobia is the Fear of God or Religion in general and will be largely determined by whether or not you have had a religious up-bringing in which people are frequently taught to 'fear god' as a way of moderating their behaviours.

The fear of God creates a deep desire to obey and please Him above all things, not wanting to disappoint Him and also taking into consideration having to give an account of ourselves before Him. So godly fear is more than mere respect for God. It goes far deeper, acknowledging there is a reckoning that will take place.

There are two types of fear. Fear of the Lord ( awe) and the Spirit of Fear. Proverbs 9:10 says Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom knowledge of the Holy one is sight.

As we draw close to God, we will worship, obey, and adore Him. In doing so, we walk in fear of the Lord. When we cultivate awe and delight for the Lord, we won't be as quick to allow things of this world to make us afraid. Marveling over and delighting in the greatness of God keeps our eyes fixed upon Him.

Ultimately, fear helps us survive, protects us when needed, and, at times, helps us to learn and focus on what is most important. It keeps us alive; and at the same time it encircles us in a blanket of protection that limits our capacity for life and love.

Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 10:27, “The fear of the Lord prolongs days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.”

Why is the fear of the Lord the beginning of knowledge? ›

The “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” relates more to respect and reverence for God than actual fear in its modern definition. Fearing God is knowing God, and this is where true wisdom lies. Proverbs also teaches us that people must submit to God's will. By doing so, we acquire wisdom.

ESV The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm. NIV The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble. NASB The fear of the Lord leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.

It is cultivated through prayer and worship. It is cultivated by being with other believers who take God seriously. It is cultivated by time in the Word and under the Word, and even by hearing a sermon like Jonathan Edwards' Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.

1) The “fear of the LORD” means giving God your Undivided Attention. Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. Psalm 86:11 (NIV) According to the Psalmist, an undivided heart leads to the fear of the Lord.

And John the Baptist is the perfect example of Fear of the Lord. “God will not be mocked,” he says, in so many ways. “He will save the just but the unjust will burn in unquenchable fire (Mt 3:12).” That's Fear of the Lord.

“Fear the LORD,” the second command, is the key concept of Proverbs – introduced in chapter 1 and similar to “trust in the LORD with all your heart” (also :5). Fearing the LORD is seeing God as He really is. He does have all the answers…and the power to bring all of it to pass.

The necessity of wisdom (and the foundation of the book) is found in verse 7: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; fools despise wisdom and instruction." The assumption is that all lack wisdom by nature (due to sin) and only those who acquire a fear of the Lord can obtain wisdom.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And then, what verse five in Proverbs 2 says, is that when you seek wisdom, you will understand the fear of the Lord and you'll find the knowledge of God.

Reverencing the Lord builds confidence. Neither difficult personal circ*mstances nor alarming world events can shake the believer's assurance that God is in control.