Fearing God in the Bible does not mean living in terror of Him but holding Him in deep reverence, awe, and respect. It is the recognition of His holiness, power, justice, and mercy that leads to humble obedience and worship. The fear of God is foundational to true wisdom and godly living:
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10)
This fear is not the same as being afraid of harm; rather, it is the awareness of who God is and how we are to walk before Him. It involves submitting to His authority, turning away from sin, and seeking to please Him in all things:
“By the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.” (Proverbs 16:6)
The fear of God is a characteristic of those who truly know Him. It leads to obedience and trust:
“Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments.” (Psalm 112:1)
In the New Testament, the fear of God continues as a mark of faithful believers. The early church walked in it:
“Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.” (Acts 9:31)
Paul reminded believers to serve God with reverence:
“Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1)
Even Jesus, in His humanity, feared God in the sense of reverent submission:
“Who, in the days of His flesh… was heard because of His godly fear.” (Hebrews 5:7)
The fear of the Lord is not opposed to love; they go hand in hand. A proper fear of God leads us to love Him more deeply and walk in obedience out of gratitude:
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
The fear of God guards against sin, cultivates humility, and drives us to live with eternity in view:
“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)
Fearing God means recognizing Him as the ultimate authority and responding with worship, trust, obedience, and holy living.