Bible Study “THE FEAR OF THE LORD”
Just what does it mean “The fear of the Lord?” The King James Study Bible 1988 says, the “reverential awe.”
“The fear of the Lord means submission to the Lord and His revelation.”
In the King James Bible there are 30 scriptures that have the “fear of the Lord.” We will begin with Ps 19:9-11,
“The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.”
The Nelson’s Bible Dictionary description says: FEAR:
A feeling of reverence, awe, and respect, or an unpleasant emotion caused by a sense of danger. Fear may be
directed toward God or man, and it may be either healthy or harmful.
A healthy fear is reverence or respect. The Bible teaches that children are to respect their parents (Lev 19:3),
wives are to respect their husbands (Eph 5:33), and slaves are to respect their masters (Eph 6:5). The Scriptures
also declare that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge" (Prov 1:7) as well as "the beginning of
wisdom" (Prov 16:16).
A harmful fear is a sense of terror or dread. Believers are instructed not to fear human beings (Matt 10:28; Phil
1:28), because they cannot ultimately harm us. Wicked men, however, are constantly fearing other people,
especially the righteous (Prov 28:1; Matt 14:5; Rom 13:3-4). Such fear causes them to act deceitfully in an
attempt to hide their sins (2 Sam 11; Matt 28:4-15).
On the other hand, the unbeliever has every reason to be panic-stricken at thoughts of God, for he stands
condemned before Him (Matt 10:28; John 3:18). And yet, this kind of fear of God does not often lead to
repentance. It normally leads to a feeble attempt to hide from God (Gen 3:8; Rev 6:15-17) or worse, to a denial
of God's existence and His claim on a person's life (Ps 14:1; Rom 1:18-28). (from Nelson's Illustrated Bible
Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers).
We will be looking at the “Fear of the Lord.” in this short article we cannot look at all 30 scriptures!
In God’s Word we are told in Ps 111:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good
understanding have all they that do His commandments: His praise endureth for ever.”
For a second witness we see the following in the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs 1:7, ‘The fear of the LORD is the beginning of Knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
And in Prov. 2: 5-7, “ Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the
LORD giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He lays up sound wisdom for
the righteous: He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.”
Every verse that talks about the fear of the Lord, give a reason for the scripture. In Prov.1:7, it says it’s the
beginning of wisdom for the believer in Jesus Christ and God, the Father. In Prov. 2: 5-7, it says, we shall
understand the fear of the Lord and find knowledge!
Prov 3:5-9, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways
acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from
evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with
the firstfruits of all thine increase.”
Prov 8:13, “ The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth,
do I hate.”
Prov 9:10-11, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is
understanding. For by Me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
Prov 10:27-28, “The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. The hope
of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.”
Prov 14:26-27, “In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge.
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.”
Prov 15:33, “The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.”
Prov 19:23, “ The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited
with evil.”
Prov 23:17-19, “Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. For surely
there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off. Hear thou, My son, and be wise, and guide thine heart
in the way.”
Prov 24:21, “My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change.”
Acts 9:31, “Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and
walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, were multiplied.”
It is amazing that in every verse we find a way to live a life following God’s word and we will inherit a sonship
in His kingdom! This is truly a way of life worth living! ☜
Cogit