What Does it Mean to Fear God?
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” – Proverbs 9:10
Fear is not always a negative feeling despite how Merriam-Webster defines it. It defines fear as “an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger.” The Bible defines fear differently especially when fear is associated with God. Proverbs 9:10 states that “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." This means that true wisdom starts with a profound sense of awe, reverence, and a deep respect for God (Psalm 33:8).
It is similar to when we fear our earthly parents. For me, I respected my parents and tried to do whatever they told me to do. I did not fear them like how a scary movie or having a panic attack made me feel fear. The fear I felt about my parents was the feeling of not wanting to disappoint them. I wanted to make my parents proud of me instead. I wanted to make them happy too, so I tried to do everything they asked me to do. I cared about what they thought about me and if I made them proud, it motivated me to fear them even more. I recognized they had rules for my good, and when I listened to them out of fear, my circumstances did not turn out so badly.
We want to do the same when we fear God. When we fear Him, we have the desire to do what He says because we respect Him. This kind of fear leads us to obey His rules and commands (Deuteronomy 10:12). The fear from obedience helps us to make the right choices and make good decisions because we will do what He wants instead of what the world says. It pleases God when we fear Him in this way (Psalm 147:11). It shows that we have a deep reverence, respect, and are in awe of Him. As a result, it will lead us to a life full of wisdom, obedience, and a life set free from sin (Romans 6:18, Proverbs 14:27).
Prayer for the day:
Dear heavenly Father,
We want to fear You. Fearing You is similar to fearing our earthly parents. When we fear You and them, it shows that we respect both. You know what is best for us; therefore, please provide us with the wisdom that we need to fear You in a holy way. A way that shows that we are in awe of Your holiness and greatness. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!
