The Fear of the Lord
INTRODUCTION
In our generation, many speak about the love of God. Few speak about the fear of the Lord.
Yet Scripture declares:
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” — Proverbs 9:10
That means if the fear of the Lord is missing, wisdom is missing.
If the fear of the Lord is absent, foundation is absent.
The fear of the Lord is a holy reverence, a deep awareness of who God is that produces obedience, humility, and purity.
We are not talking about being afraid of God. We are talking about taking God seriously.
REVERENCE FOR GOD’S HOLINESS
Psalm 19:9 says:
“The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.”
When Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up, he cried:
“Woe is me, for I am undone!” — Isaiah 6:5
Isaiah was overwhelmed by holiness.
That is the fear of the Lord.
ABRAHAM: OBEDIENCE
Consider Abraham.
In Genesis 22, God told Abraham to offer Isaac.
- It made no logical sense.
- It contradicted the promise.
- It pierced his heart.
Yet Abraham obeyed.
And when the angel stopped him, God said:
“Now I know that you fear God.” — Genesis 22:12
Note: God equated fear with obedience.
Abraham’s fear of the Lord meant:
He trusted God’s authority above his own understanding.
Fear of the Lord shows up when obedience costs you something.
JOSEPH: FEAR THAT RESISTED SIN
Look at Joseph.
When tempted by Potiphar’s wife, Joseph said:
“How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
— Genesis 39:9
Joseph understood something powerful:
Sin was not just against people; it was against God.
The fear of the Lord is doing the will of God even when it is not convenient; looks impossible and the alternative looks like an easy way out.
But Joseph feared the Lord.
Fear of the Lord is integrity in secret places.
DAVID
David was a man after God’s own heart. He loved the Lord deeply and walked with a genuine fear of the Lord. When we compare the lives of David and his son Solomon, there is a cleardistinction: David both loved God and feared Him, while Solomon clearly loved the Lord, yet lacked the sustaining fear of the Lord. Because David feared God, whenever he sinned even after grave failure his heart led him back to repentance and restoration. Solomon, however, though he loved God, drifted away because the fear of the Lord was not firmly rooted in him, and he did not fully return to God as David did.
David demonstrated the fear of the Lord not merely through worship, but through restraint and obedience. Although he had been anointed king, David was pursued unjustly by Saul and was given two clear opportunities to kill him. Yet David refused both times because he feared the Lord more than he desired the throne.
In the cave at En Gedi, when Saul unknowingly entered where David was hiding, David’s men urged him to strike. But David said:
“The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.”
— 1 Samuel 24:6
Later, when David again spared Saul’s life in the wilderness, he declared:
“Who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?”
— 1 Samuel 26:9
David understood something profound: even though Saul was wrong, God’s authority and timing were greater than David’s opportunity. The fear of the Lord restrained him from taking what God had promised before God’s appointed time.
David chose reverence over revenge, obedience over opportunity, and trust over self-promotion. His fear of the Lord kept his heart clean and preserved his destiny.
JOB: FEAR THAT REMAINS IN SUFFERING
The Bible describes Job this way:
“That man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.” — Job 1:1
When everything was taken children, wealth, health Job said:
“Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” — Job 13:15
Fear of the Lord does not disappear when life collapses.
It remains when explanations are absent.
FEAR THAT TREMBLES AT GOD’S PRESENCE
When Moses encountered God in the burning bush:
“Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.” — Exodus 3:6
Later at Mount Sinai, the people trembled at God’s voice.
Moses told them:
“God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.” — Exodus 20:20
Fear was meant to protect them from rebellion.
The fear of the Lord keeps people within boundaries.
ESTHER: FEAR THAT RISKS POSITION
Consider Esther.
A decree was issued to destroy her people.
Approaching the king without invitation meant death.
Yet she said:
“If I perish, I perish.” — Esther 4:16
She feared God more than she feared man.
The fear of the Lord gives courage in the face of earthly fear.
THE FEAR THAT PRODUCES POWER
After Ananias and Sapphira fell under judgment, Scripture says:
“Great fear came upon all the church.” — Acts 5:11
And what followed?
“The Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” — Acts 2:47
The early church walked:
“In the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.” — Acts 9:31
Note both words:
Fear and comfort.
The fear of the Lord does not cancel intimacy, it deepens it.
WHAT THE FEAR OF THE LORD PRODUCES
According to Scripture, the fear of the Lord produces:
- Wisdom (Proverbs 9:10)
- Hatred of evil (Proverbs 8:13)
- Confidence (Proverbs 14:26)
- Long life (Proverbs 10:27)
- Protection (Psalm 34:7)
It stabilizes the soul.
It anchors the heart.
It guards the life.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN FEAR OF THE LORD IS LOST
When fear of the Lord disappears:
- Sin becomes casual
- Worship becomes performance
- Truth becomes negotiable
- Holiness becomes optional
Romans 3:18 describes a fallen world:
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
That is the mark of spiritual decay.
CONCLUSION
The fear of the Lord is not emotional panic.
It is living every day aware that:
- God sees.
- God knows.
- God is holy.
- God is worthy.
It is loving Him deeply enough to refuse to dishonor Him.