{"id":4361,"date":"2015-07-22T21:50:36","date_gmt":"2015-07-22T21:50:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.allwillstand.org\/?p=4361"},"modified":"2026-01-26T21:58:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T21:58:17","slug":"the-fear-of-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.allwillstand.org\/index.php\/2015\/07\/22\/the-fear-of-god\/","title":{"rendered":"The Fear of God"},"content":{"rendered":"

“The fear of Jehovah is<\/em> the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy One is<\/em> understanding.”\u00a0 Proverbs 9:10<\/h3>\n

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What is the fear of God?<\/h3>\n

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In order to try and fully comprehend the ‘fear of the Lord’, let’s begin by looking at some definitions of fear.<\/h3>\n

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A.) A painful emotion or passion excited by an expectation of evil, or the apprehension of impending danger.\u00a0 It expresses less apprehension than dread, and is accompanied with a desire to avoid or ward off the expected evil.<\/h3>\n

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B.) Anxiety; solicitude; also, the cause or object which excites apprehension.<\/h3>\n

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C.) In Scripture, reverence for God and his laws, which springs from a just view and love of the divine character.\u00a0 (Jer. 32:40)<\/h3>\n

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    Reverence; respect; due regard for rightful authority.<\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    (All of this in the ‘n.’ context; Webster’s University Dictionary, 1943)<\/h3>\n

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    Everyone understands the fear of the dark, something that is often learned as a child.\u00a0 When I was young I had watched scary television shows and became afraid of the ‘unknown’ in the dark of the night.\u00a0 What about the fear of \u00a0God, certainly we don’t have a fear of Him as we would have regarding the supposed evil lurking in the night.\u00a0 In order to get the best understanding of the fear of God, we are going to turn to God’s Word and see what the Holy Scriptures says about fear, in respect to God.<\/h3>\n

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    ” And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will kill me on account of my wife.”\u00a0 Genesis 20:11<\/h3>\n

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    In regards to this verse, fear is being used in the aspect of lawlessness, a city (society) where it was presumed people would do what they want because they would not fear the consequences of a just God.<\/h3>\n

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    “And Joseph said to them the third day, Do this and live, for I fear God:”\u00a0 Genesis 42:18<\/h3>\n

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    Here fear is used in the context to verify the word which Joseph is speaking as certain and true, as he then makes a deal with his brothers who are as of yet unbeknown to them.\u00a0 The fear of God is why Joseph would not go back from the deal that he has made.<\/h3>\n

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    “Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, who fear God, men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place these over them as rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.”\u00a0 Exodus 18:21<\/h3>\n

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    When Moses father-in-law is counseling him regarding being overburdened with judging between so many people, he ascertains the characteristics of the people who will judge in the smaller matters.\u00a0 Not only are these people to be honest, not able to be bribed, but they have the fear of God.\u00a0 Would not the fear of God in them help to assure that they do what is right, not simply trying to hide any wrong works from man, but knowing that God would see and know what they are doing, even if man did not figure it out.<\/h3>\n

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    “Oh, that this heart of theirs would be fully<\/em> yielded, to fear Me and to keep all My commandments at all times, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!”\u00a0 Deuteronomy 5:29<\/h3>\n

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    What is this biblical fear of God that He desires mankind to hold to?\u00a0 In order to fully understand the definition, a Webster’s dictionary will not suffice, nor any dictionary, but we will turn to the Holy Scriptures for the definition.<\/h3>\n

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    “You shall fear Jehovah your God and serve Him…”\u00a0 Deuteronomy 6:13a<\/h3>\n

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    “Therefore you shall keep the commandments of Jehovah your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.”\u00a0 Deuteronomy 8:6<\/h3>\n

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    “Now therefore, fear Jehovah, serve Him in sincerity and in truth…”\u00a0 Joshua 24:14a<\/h3>\n

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    “Then Jehovah said to Satan, Have you set your heart on My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a perfect and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil?\u00a0 So Satan answered Jehovah and said, Does Job fear God for nothing?”\u00a0 Job 1:8-9<\/h3>\n

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    “And to man He said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.”\u00a0 Job 28:28<\/h3>\n

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    The last verse from Job sums it up well.\u00a0 This type of fear is a fear that makes one wise and with that wisdom this fear also produces obedience and obedience to God is following His commandments.\u00a0 In order for a man to get a renewed mind and become a new creature, one must accept God’s Son, Jesus the Messiah as their Lord and Savior.\u00a0 This free gift of God allows an individual who often times comes to understand the fear of the Lord through a repentant heart.\u00a0 When an individual realizes that they are guilty before their Creator and desires to no longer do those things which are displeasing to Him, after accepting Christ, does not a portion of their being have the fear of the Lord?<\/h3>\n

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    “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”\u00a0 Romans 12:2<\/h3>\n

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    “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”\u00a0 2nd Corinthians 5:17<\/h3>\n

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    People speeding on the freeway have the fear of the police.\u00a0 If they are just going over a few miles per hour, they might not fear, if they are in a crowd of vehicles also speeding, likewise they might feel safe with the masses on the road.\u00a0 Regardless they are guilty and the faster they go on the freeway and the more lone vehicle there are, unless they are truly in the middle of nowhere or on some sort of mind altering chemical or drug, they have the fear of the police.\u00a0 If you ever watch traffic cruising along, when a police officer is seen on the side of the road the whole group of cars slows down immediately.\u00a0 What if one of those in the group still decided to disregard that officer on the side of the road?\u00a0 Likely that officer would burnout, drifting onto the road and quickly come upon the guilty one.\u00a0 That driver, whether or not they chose to accept it, would learn the respect of the law and be given a fine for speeding, they would be in submission to the police officer or the officer would arrest them and take them to jail.\u00a0 How much more righteous fear should an individual have when they walk upon this earth, knowing that the Most High also has rules and laws and He is the Judge of the whole earth.\u00a0 Yet in all of this, how much more should one’s heart, with all joy, be in subjection to Jesus, as through Him is the free gift that our Father in Heaven gave to us!<\/h3>\n

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    “There is one Lawgiver, who has the power to save and to destroy.”\u00a0 Jacob 4:12a<\/h3>\n

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    “But God is the Judge; He puts down one and exalts another.”\u00a0 Psalms 75:7<\/h3>\n

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    “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone believing into Him should not perish but have eternal life.”\u00a0 John 3:16<\/h3>\n

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    We are both in subjection to our Creator and Christ, not just out of the fear of the Lord, but also from His indescribable gift that He gave to us, sinners who were not worthy to obtain a Heavenly calling.<\/h3>\n

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    “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”\u00a0 Romans 15:13<\/h3>\n

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    If you do not yet fear the Lord, you ought to learn to fear Him who created you and learn quickly.\u00a0 You must realize that indeed God is in control and His plans for the world will not be stopped by your will for your life to be able to be lived with no accountability.\u00a0 Do not look at what your friends and family do, do not justify your sin just because the world embraces it through culture, television, internet, radio and nearly every other venue.\u00a0 For individually, without Christ, you are just as guilty as they.\u00a0 When you stand before the Judge you will be condemned to Hell eternally.\u00a0 Why, why should you die?\u00a0 For what will you give your life?<\/h3>\n

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    “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
    \n37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”\u00a0 Mark 8:36-37<\/h3>\n

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    Do you not see that we live in such a late hour, do you not see the dread of Him who created you beginning to show up on the horizon?<\/h3>\n

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    People buy lottery tickets hoping to escape the impoverishment of living.\u00a0 They don’t like the paycheck to paycheck, they wish for a bigger house, a better car, fancier clothing and numerous other things that will all rust and rot away, things that we all know will not be able to be taken with us after we die.\u00a0 Yet there is One who gives a ticket to what the soul should be searching for.\u00a0 One who gives a free gift of Salvation, eternal peace and comfort of being with and serving Him who created us.\u00a0 As the clouds darken on the horizon, as things are nearly complete, the time is at hand for those who dwell on this earth to make a final decision, will you accept Jesus as your Savior, will you realize your sin, accept godly repentance, having a truly repentant heart and believe into Christ?\u00a0 God is giving you a one-way first class ticket to escape the judgment that is due to you and the world.\u00a0 Whether you die prior to His judgment on the world or you die during His judgment on the world, you will be eternally judged AS AN INDIVIDUAL (Yes YOU!!!) and the judgment that He casts against you will be just.\u00a0 After all Jesus stands there ready to accept even you, as He did to all of us who have accepted Him as our Savior.\u00a0 If you are still reading this, it is not too late.<\/h3>\n

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    “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.”\u00a0 2nd Corinthians 9:15<\/h3>\n

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    “Jehovah is my strength and my shield; my heart has trusted in Him, and I have been helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.”\u00a0 Psalms 28:7<\/h3>\n

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    “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under Heaven given among men that is required for us to be saved.”\u00a0 Acts 4:12<\/h3>\n

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    …” testifying both to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” \u00a0Acts 20:21<\/h3>\n

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    “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”\u00a0 Revelation 3:20<\/h3>\n

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    “Seek Jehovah while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.”\u00a0 Isaiah 55:6<\/h3>\n

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    “The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness, but is longsuffering toward us, not purposing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”\u00a0 2nd Peter 3:9<\/h3>\n

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    “Do I delight with pleasure in the death of the wicked? says the Lord Jehovah, and not that he should turn back<\/em> from his ways and live?”\u00a0 Ezekiel 18:23<\/h3>\n

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    …” who desires all men to be saved and to come to a full<\/em> true knowledge of the truth.”\u00a0 1st Timothy 2:4<\/h3>\n

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    “He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.\u00a0 And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to what his work shall be.\u00a0 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, the First and the Last.\u00a0 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the Tree of Life, and may enter through the gates into the city.\u00a0 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and prostitutes and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and produces a lie.\u00a0 I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify these things to you, to the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him who hears say, Come. And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take of the Water of Life freely.”\u00a0 Revelation of Jesus Christ 22:11-17<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    “The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”\u00a0 Proverbs 9:10   What is the fear of God?   In order to try and fully comprehend the ‘fear of the Lord’, let’s begin by looking at some definitions of fear.   A.) A painful emotion or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[175,488,1258,14,16],"class_list":["post-4361","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles","tag-all-will-stand","tag-allwillstand-org","tag-article","tag-fear","tag-god"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allwillstand.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4361","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allwillstand.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allwillstand.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allwillstand.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allwillstand.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4361"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.allwillstand.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4361\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4363,"href":"https:\/\/www.allwillstand.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4361\/revisions\/4363"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allwillstand.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4361"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allwillstand.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4361"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allwillstand.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4361"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}