What Is The Fear of God In The Bible

he fear of the Lord will deliver you from the darkest places in your life, pulsating a life of freedom from the bondage of fear. But what does the bible say specifically regarding the word fear, and how does that impact our relationship with Him? These are a few questions we will unpack in today’s post.  

“The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “The people of Israel shall camp each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers’ houses. They shall camp facing the tent of meeting on every side.” (Numbers 2:1-2)”

In this scripture, God asks for every house, every camp, to arrange their homes facing towards the tent of meeting. What was the tent of the meeting? It was the visitable place where the Shekinah glory of God would fall and remain visible to all people. 

God was trying to teach them that our lives should always face an encounter! Everything in our life should be arranged towards experiencing God, and the fear of the Lord is no different. God doesn’t want you just to know things about fearing Him, he wants you actually to do it.  

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10)

What Is The Fear of God In The Bible?

For many of us, we have spent most of our Christian lives knowing things about God, but not actually knowing Him personally. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of us gaining access to the reality of God’s ways in your life. But, it’s nothing something that can be balanced between the fear of the world. It’s one or the other. If we try to mix in the fear of the Lord in our lives while maintaining a steady dose of the fear of this world, we will never try to face our life towards an encounter with Him.  

One of my favorite verses on the fear of the Lord is found in Isaiah 8. 

“Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. 13 But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.” (Isaiah 8:11-13)

There were many things to be afraid of during the time of Isaiah’s prophetic ministry. For starters, the nation of Israel, which had been split into two kingdoms after the time of Solomon, was now experiencing a season of war from the Assyrian nation, who was looking to expand its power. 

The king of Judah, Uzziah, who had brought the kingdom peace for 50 years, was dead, and a new rule was underway that was not built on the fear of God. This brought the nation into a period of trepidation under the new rule of Jeroboam II. A change in the guard is never easy on anyone, any people, and yet, in the aftermath, God changes our focus. He changes our fears.

God tells Isaiah, “do not fear what they fear, not be in dread. Let the Lord of host be your fear.” When the fear of God is in your heart, there is nothing else you will be afraid of in your life. Said differently, you will never be afraid of anything in your life when you truly fear God.  

When the fear of God is in your heart, there is nothing else you will be afraid of in your life.

If you are constantly living in the wrong kind of fear, the fear of God is not in a preeminent place in your heart.  

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (1 Timothy 1:7)

The fear of God produces a sound mind. If your mind is producing a different state than one of power and peace, then it is possible you are living in the wrong kind of fear.  

“Let all the earth fear the Lord.” (Psalms 33:8)

Just as God wanted His people to pattern their lives towards the tent of meeting, so does God want us to pattern our lives towards an encounter with the fear of Him. 

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul..” (Deuteronomy 10:12)

The Fear of God Releases Victory

This scripture reveals God’s heart for us in our fear relationship with Him. When we fear God, we won’t be afraid of anything else in our life. However, when we fill out minds with things that are outside of His peace and power, then we set ourselves up for the wrong encounter.  

When speaking on the subject of fear, I always love to remind myself of the story of Joshua. Joshua was the succeeder of Moses and was missioned to bring the people of God into the promise-land. However, this task was not as simple as it may sound. At that time, the promise-land was filled with seven nations that were enemies to Israel, and this is what God has to say to him for encouragement. 

“And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.” (Joshua 1:8)

Did you notice the fear thing God told Joshua? Do not fear them! Why was this the first thing He told him? Because God knows if Joshua fears them, he will never fear Him! The same is true for us today. For God’s people, there is no victory in the realm of fear.  

There can promises…

There can be a promise land…

But there can be no victory if there is fear. 

The very place where it looked the most fearful for Joshua was the very place God was calling him to step into. God was wanting Himself to become the greatest fear in Joshua’s life. To make this happen, Joshua needed to exercise his fear in the middle of a natural fearful place. This unlocks an amazing truth for us today. When we step out into the places we fear the most in the fear of God, this opens the wisdom and the knowledge of God in our situation.  

The very place where it looked the most fearful for Joshua was the very place God was calling him to step into.

When we stand in agreement with fear, we forfeit the resources we have in God to defeat the enemies in our own personal promised lands. When we step out onto the battlefield with our love relationship with God as our primary weapon, fear is no longer able to stand against us, and this is good news!

The Fear of God Unlocks Promises

One of the reason’s I believe God want’s the fear of Him to be preeminent in our lives is because of the promises attached to it when we do. Take a look at the scriptures below and promises that God has ready for us!

“But perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18) 

“The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.” (14:27)

“The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.” (Psalms 25:14)

“In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.” (Proverbs 14:26)

“The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.” (Proverbs 19:23)

“The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.” (Proverbs 22:4)

“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!” (Palms 34:7-9)

“The fear of the Lord prolongs life…” (Proverbs 10:27)

Closing Thoughts

What a great God we serve! As I re-read the promises God has over those who fear Him, my heart gets’ excited. When you begin to walk in the fear of God, you will never be afraid of anything again. 

“In God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Psalms 56:11

References:

https://www.amazon.com/Fear-Lord-John-Bevere/dp/1591859921

https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/how-we-gain-wisdom-through-the-fear-of-the-lord.html

https://joycemeyer.org/everydayanswers/ea-teachings/do-it-afraid

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