Several years ago, I went to the doctor for a checkup. I’d been feeling poorly for a while—tired, blue, and lethargic. I knew I needed to lose weight and return to exercising. However, sitting in that sterile medical room, across from a serious-looking doctor, my predicament finally sank in. My cholesterol was high, and my weight was out of control. I needed to change . . . or else. The dire possibilities scared me. Thankfully, I changed directions. But it took fear over my lifestyle’s consequences for me to find the courage to make the hard choices.
The prophet Isaiah had to confront Israel’s idolatry. The people, however, chose not to listen. They had too many competing concerns. They were concerned for their economic welfare and social status. They were fretful about their political enemies and fortunes. Israel abandoned God because fear gobbled up all their energy. To this, God simply said, “Don’t live in dread of what frightens them” (Isaiah 8:12). Rather, God suggested, “[The Lord] is the one you should fear” (Isaiah 8:13).
Our fears can’t dissipate on their own; something greater must overwhelm them. Scripture offers at least two things that overwhelm fear: God’s love for us (1 John 4:18) and our fear of God (Isaiah 8:13). Of course, fearing God is entirely different from every other fear we know. To fear God is not cowering in the corner like a petrified child hiding from an abusive parent. God isn’t abusive.
To fear God is to tremble at the truth that God is entirely holy and all-powerful and that everything (fears included) bow before this Mighty One. There’s freedom in knowing that when we fear (bow before, reverence, honor) God, we need not fear anything else. The God who is strong enough to make us quake is the one who tenderly comforts us with His love.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Ezekiel 37:1-14
More:
Tour through Proverbs 9. What does it show you about fearing God? How do you think the wisdom writer would define the fear of God? Where does ignoring the fear of God lead?
Next:
How could you misinterpret the idea of fearing God? In what other areas of life has fear helped you?
eppistle on May 27, 2011 at 5:33 am
From CS Lewis’ “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”:
“Ooh!” said Susan. “I’d thought he was a man. Is he — quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”
“That you will, dearie, and no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver, “if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”
“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.
“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
“I’m longing to see him,” said Peter, “even if I do feel frightened when it comes to the point.”
winn collier on May 27, 2011 at 6:17 am
I’ve always loved this scene.
eppistle on May 27, 2011 at 5:34 am
Do we truly long to see God? If not, it could be because we have tried to tame Him into a mild God who is no longer worthy of our fear. Or it could be that we have forgotten that He is a good God and so our fear becomes that of “a petrified child cowering in the corner.”
But to truly long for God means that we will both love Him and fear Him. And that is what He asks of us: “And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?” (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)
daisymarygoldr on May 27, 2011 at 5:40 am
Thanks for this timely post that teaches me to have a healthy fear of God! Fear of God is similar to fear of authority. If I don’t do any wrong, then I need not fear (Rom 13:3).
Initially, fear of the red light camera forced me to not violate traffic rules. But after a certain point, it is the fear of hurting or even killing others on the road that compels me to obey the law. While in school, having experienced the pain of failure, the fear of failing motivated me to study hard and do well in my tests.
As a child I did fear my father’s discipline whenever I had disobeyed him. The fear of discipline helped me not to make mistakes. But when I grew up, my obedience was not because of fear of the discipline but out of love and respect for my father. The same applies to my relationship with our heavenly Father.
I am not frightened of God. Through Jesus Christ, I am able to approach Him boldly. God is love and there is no fear in love. My fear of God is an expression of my love for Him. If I really loved God I will not flirt with others for fear of provoking Him to jealousy (Ps 79:5).
The fear of the Lord makes me sensitive to sin. I don’t want to sin and dishonor, displease and grieve Him. It hurts God when the consequence of my sin hurts me and others. And so, when I sin, I don’t hide like Adam and Eve did. Instead, I humbly confess and turn away from my sins to continue my love relationship with Him.
“…Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey His commands, for this is everyone’s duty.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
winn collier on May 27, 2011 at 6:17 am
yes, there is a difference between fear/reverence for God and “being frightened” of God. In fact, being frightened will actually keep us from the kind of reverence God invites us, reverence that draws us near.
alegria on May 27, 2011 at 6:51 am
Excellent thoughts! When we learn to reverently fear God, we are set free from having to be “people pleasers.” It also sets us free to be the people He has called us to be – the ransomed children of the Most High God.
winn collier on May 27, 2011 at 4:47 pm
yes, the fear of God as freedom from the fear of others. I think I need to remember that where I am right now.