The 5 Minute Discipleship Podcast

#1,160: What is the Fear of the Lord?

• Loren Hicks

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The fear of the Lord is deep respect, awe, and reverence for God.  We give God the glory, honor, reverence, gratitude, and praise, he deserves.  God holds this preeminent position in our hearts and lives.  We regard his desires over and above our own.


Main Points:

1. The Bible repeatedly tells us not to fear. It’s been said that the Bible gives us this command 365 times, one for each day of the year. This instruction refers to destructive fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 - “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” But there is another kind of fear that is good for us. In fact, it’s mentioned over 200 times in the Bible. It’s the fear of the Lord. What does it mean to fear the Lord?

2. Fearing the Lord is about deep reverence and respect. We should fear or respect the Lord as one who has authority over us. It is a recognition that we are accountable to Him.

3. Wisdom begins and ends with the fear of the Lord. It isn’t a fear of being struck by lightning or fear of being struck dead but it’s a deep, abiding, holy reverence and respect for the Lord and for His Word. 


Today’s Scripture Verses:

Listen to what Proverbs says about the fear of the Lord…

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

“He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge” (14:26)

“The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death” (14:27)

“Better a little with the fear of the Lord, than great wealth with turmoil” (15:16).

“Through the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil” (16:6b).

“Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth, honor and life” (22:4).


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