The Fear of God
The Fear of God
I confess, that for a long time I do not think I could understand what the Bible (mostly) meant, by the phrase, "The Fear of God," or, "The Fear of the Lord." . . . I knew that it was not a carnal, fleshly, slavish "fear" of a deity that would squash myself and other sinners if we did not obey; and who was always angry and perturbed. I also knew that it had to be more than "respect" or "reverence"--though, clearly, those things are important, too. . . .
So, I have come to believe that "The Fear of God" is the realization that the one, true, holy, sovereign, powerful, and loving Triune Deity is so inscrutably wonderful--in both "positive" and "negative" ways, that my only reasonable response to Him, is fear.
Think about it this way: should we not fear a God who could create the universe that we behold all around us? More than this, should we not fear the Sovereign Deity who creates and then casts into hell for eternity beings crafted in His own image--who, of their own volition, choose (very willingly) to hate, despise, reject, scorn, and rebel against Him and His holy law? Should we not fear the one true God who allows everything that has transpired in the entirety of creation's history (up to this point), to have happened--including all the horrifically terrible things? Should this God not be feared?
. . . But, much more than this, by far, should we not fear a God who would send to His sin-fallen and -cursed Earth His one and Only-Begotten Son, the Son of His eternal love, to die for wretched sinners who despise and loathe Him? Should this God not be feared?
God is to be feared because of what He can do/what He has done/and what He will (yet) do. He is to be feared, because we simply cannot know what His sovereign will shall turn out to be--even for each one of us individually--while we are in this world. Will He fill us with good things? Will He cause us to suffer grievous things? Will He save our loved ones? Will He not save our loved ones? Will He ask us to suffer hardships beyond our imagination? Will He shower us with graces and gifts that surpass our asking or understanding?
The God to be feared is simply unpredictable--with regard to the particular aspects and/or events of life. . . . But, on the other hand, the God to be feared has also made great and precious promises--and all of them are in Jesus (as per 2 Cor. 1:18-22); and these promises, all centered on Christ, give us cause for a holy and joyful fear of Him.
Even those areas of which we cannot know or understand, still give us cause to joyfully and in a holy way fear the Lord. We can trust our good and gracious Heavenly Father. He has never let us down; He has never failed in any of His promises to us; and He has proven His immeasurable love for His church, by sending His beloved Son here to die for us.
Yes, indeed, "The Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom," (Prov. 9:10a). Why is this? Because it causes us to cast ourselves unreservedly on Him, in and through Jesus Christ.
Those who refuse to bow the knee to King Jesus will also "fear" the Lord--but it will be a fear of torment. Let the children of grace fear their good God; and let us not come short in recognizing how fearful and marvelous He truly is.
Also, remember: for the regenerate children of God, who make up Christ's church, fear is not opposed to love. We love God; AND we fear Him. But our "fear" is familial, childlike, and trust-filled.
Rev. Mark J. Henninger
Treatise #87
30 March 2026
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