French Proverbs–The doctor is often more to be feared than the disease.
Traditional Proverb– He, who fears to suffer, suffers from fear.
English Proverbs— He who kills the lion when absent fears a mouse when present
Russian Proverb– The naked don’t fear robbery. (the Russians would know)
Romanian Proverbs– When men take wives they stop fearing hell.
Indonesian Proverbs– The firm tree does not fear the storm.
Similar: Indian Proverb– The man who has mounted an elephant will not fear the bark of a dog.
Italian Proverbs– Short is the road that leads from fear to hatred.
Hasidic Proverb– Fear only two: God, and the man who has no fear of God.
Proverbs 1:7 CSB – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 CSB – When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity.
Hebrews 12:28 CSB – Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.
Romans 3:17 CSB – The path of peace they have not known.
There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Luke 23:40-43 CSB – But the other answered…: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment?
41 We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Godly Fear Defined
Proverbs 1:7 CSB – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
Proverbs 1:29 CSB – Because they hated knowledge, didn’t choose to fear the Lord,
Proverbs 2:5 CSB – …you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God.
Godly is NOT Paralyzing Fear
James 2:19 CSB – You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder.
John Bunyan, Treatise on The Fear of the Lord,
Do you have fears that make you question whether there was ever a work of grace in your soul?
Do these fears make you question whether you have indeed had any comfort from the Word and Spirit of God?
Do you have fears that weaken your heart in prayer?
Do you have fears that keep you away from laying hold of the promise of salvation by Jesus Christ?
Do these fears tend to harden your heart and make you desperate?
Do these fears sometimes make you think it is vain to wait upon the Lord any longer?
Bunyan’s reply to any who answer “yes” is…
Well, poor Christian, I’m glad you’ve answered so plainly.
But, I pray you, Look back now on your answer.
How much of the Spirit of God do you think is in your answer? …
It cannot be that these reactions are the natural effects of the working of the Spirit of God. These are not His doings.
Do you not see in those fears the very paw of the devil?
Proverbs 29:25 CSB – The fear of mankind is a snare, but the one who trusts in the Lord is protected.
Psalm 103:8-13 CSB – The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
The Fear of the Lord Is Appropriate Regard for God
Proverbs 1:7 CSB – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
Proverbs 8:13 CSB – To fear the Lord is to hate evil. I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
Isaiah 6:5 CSB – 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.
Isaiah 6:6ff CSB – Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7 He touched my mouth with it and said:
Now that this has touched your lips,
your iniquity is removed
and your sin is atoned for.
Then I heard the voice of the Lord asking:
Who will I send?
Who will go for us?
I said:
Here I am. Send me.
John Bunyan, Treatise on The Fear of the Lord,
No faith. No fear of God.
Devil’s faith. Devil’s fear.
Saint’s faith. Saint’s fear.
Godly fear flows from a sense of the love and kindness of God to the soul.
Where there is no sense of hope of the kindness and mercy of God by Jesus Christ there can be none of this fear, but rather a wrath and despair which produces a fear which is devilish.
But, Godly fear flows from a sense of hope of mercy of God by Jesus Christ. Indeed Nothing can lay a stronger obligation upon the heart to fear God than a sense of– or hope– in mercy.
This hope of mercy begets true tenderness of heart, true Godly softness of spirit.
This Truly endears the affections towards God, and in this true tenderness, softness, endearedness of affection towards God… In this lies the very essence of this fear of the Lord.
Knowing The Fear of the LORD Means a Life of Integrity
Proverbs 14:11 CSB – Whoever lives with integrity fears the Lord, but the one who is devious in his ways despises him.
Proverbs 16:6 CSB – Iniquity is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness, and one turns from evil by the fearof the Lord.
Proverbs 14:12 CSB – There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death.
John 8:44 CSB – You are of your father the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
Fear of the Lord Keeps You From Being a People Pleaser
Matthew 10:28 CSB – Jesus said, Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
John 10:28 CSB – For they loved human praise more than praise from God.
Romans 3:11bff CSB –
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away;
all alike have become worthless.
There is no one who does what is good,
not even one.
13 Their throat is an open grave;
they deceive with their tongues….
14 Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and wretchedness are in their paths,
17 and the path of peace they have not known.
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes
The fear of the Lord means…To see evil & turn away.
Proverbs 3:7 CSB – Don’t be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
- Integrity & peace
Proverbs 19:23 CSB – The fear of the Lord leads to life; one will sleep at night without danger.
- Discovering your best life possible
Proverbs 15:33 CSB – The fear of the Lord is what wisdom teaches
Proverbs 10:27 CSB – The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.
Proverbs 14:27 CSB – The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning people away from the snares of death.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 CSB – When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
The Fear of the Lord means
Learning to Practice the Presence of God Daily
Exodus 33:3 CSB – Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go up with you because you are a stiff-necked people; otherwise, I might destroy you on the way.”
Exodus 33:15 CSB – “If your presence does not go,” Moses responded to him, “don’t make us go up from here.
Proverbs 22:4 CSB – “By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honor, and life.
Where do I start?
Fear living outside His presence.
Humbly Accept the Bible’s Instruction
Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor. Proverbs 15:33
To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. Proverbs 8:13
Humbly Accept God’s Discipline
Hebrews 12:6, for the Lord disciplines the one he loves
and punishes every son he receives
Walk Closely with those who walk in the fear of God.
Proverbs 13:20, The one who walks with the wise will become wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm.
- Serve Him With an Undivided Heart
Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. Psalm 86:11
Colossians 3:23-24 CBS – Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, 24 knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.
Live For Upper Story/Eternity, Not the “Here and Now”
Colossians 3:1-6 CSB – So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
