Why Must We Fear God?
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Some people view God as an angry moralist, ready to mete out punishment at a moment’s notice. This engenders a certain amount of terror.
The misconception exists for a couple of different reasons. First, many outspoken Christian groups talk about hell, trying to motivate people to accept Jesus to escape such a fate. While real, speakers can go too far on this theme.
Second, we have a spiritual enemy, the one who steals the seed of the gospel from the hearts of humanity (Luke 8:11-12). Even when the gospel is properly and lovingly expressed, Satan twists truth into lies, especially about God’s character. He revealed this from the beginning in the Garden of Eden. These misunderstandings lead some to reject God and others to become legalists.
Individuals might point to the many verses that tell us to “fear” God, an apparent contradiction when considering his love. But when we explore the Scripture, we realize how fear and love work together.
What Is the Biblical Meaning of Fear?
Biblically, the idea of fear goes beyond simple dread or terror. In Hebrew, the word yirah is commonly translated as fear, which includes awe and reverence. It comes from the verb yare, which means to fear, revere, and stand in awe.
The word doesn’t always point to being afraid in a negative way. It often expresses the position of deep respect and submission before God’s revealed majesty. For example, when Proverbs says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 1:7), this refers to a reverential awe that leads to true knowledge, not being terrified.
The New Testament uses the Greek word phobos, where we get the word “phobia.” Similar to the Hebrew yirah, phobos can mean to be terrified, but it can also mean reverence and awe, especially when dealing with God.
The early church “walked in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 9:31). This verse shows us how fearing God means walking with him in obedience and reverence. Being afraid would paralyze people, where godly fear motivates believers to walk set apart from God. In addition, Acts 9:31 connects godly awe with the comfort and intimacy of the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 12:28 uses a different word, eulabeia, which is often translated as “reverence” or “godly fear,” meaning worship of a transcendent, all-powerful God.
Today’s culture overuses (or misuses) the word “awesome.” We use it with a good hamburger or getting extra fries from the restaurant. But the best use of “awesome” happens when we have a vision of the God greater than the universe, the combination of his love, power, knowledge, and more. We are humbled and inspired by him in godly fear.
Therefore, when the Bible commands us to fear God, it doesn’t mean we should cower before him like a tyrant. Instead, Scripture encourages us to live under the revelation of his awesomeness, taking him and his authority seriously.
What Verses Tell Us to Fear God?
To have godly fear is to recognize the truth of God’s overwhelming majesty, the awesomeness of the Creator revealing himself to the creature out of love. Living in truth and rejecting the lie means to fear and revere God to get his love and benefits. The Bible continuously calls us to fear him.
Ecclesiastes is a book of wisdom and poetry written by King Solomon that explores what really matters in this life. The whole book concludes with, “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). The wisest man shares the way to live a holistic life, one that satisfies us: to fear and obey God.
Solomon repeats what Moses shared from the law of God. Speaking as a prophet, Moses commands the whole nation of Israel in Deuteronomy 10:12, “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require 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.”
God delivered Israel from Egyptian slavery. The law maintained the relationship and right worship of God, so Israel could continue to thrive in the Promised Land. Also, Moses connects the fear of God with love, living right, and serving the Lord with everything they had.
In the New Testament, Jesus says in Matthew 10:28, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Christ reminds his disciples how we often cower under the wrong authority. The world has its own powerful people, and individuals fear what they can do. Yet there is an authority greater than the world’s. The Lord reigns over all, and he is the only authority. Any worldly authority only borrows from him for a short time.
Ultimately, an earthly government might kill the body, but rebelling against God has eternal consequences. Christ’s disciples should have this eternal perspective. Without it, we improperly follow others instead of God.
How Is Godly Fear the Beginning of Wisdom?
Biblical wisdom is the God-given ability to apply knowledge and truth with eternal understanding in a way that brings goodness and benefit. It’s not only academic ability but extends to the moral, practical, and spiritual life. Wisdom is living in this world according to heaven’s standards.
As Creator, God ordered and designed all creation, including the physical, emotional, and spiritual. When we fear God, revering him as Creator, we acknowledge him as the Designer in whatever topic we study. We also recognize our limits and submit to his authority and goodness. These principles properly humble us and aim our studies in the proper moral and loving direction. We no longer seek knowledge for our own glory but for his.
Without godly fear, human learning becomes arrogance and relying upon our own understanding, which by nature is incredibly limited by time and ability. Apart from God, academic or personal pursuits exalt the mind of humanity above God’s wisdom. But there’s nothing close to God’s transcendent wisdom. History shows us how pride twists knowledge for evil and destructive ends. But when the fear of God directs our studies, it aligns us with God’s love and desire to love all according to his image. The fear of God reminds us that wisdom isn’t knowing more facts but living rightly with the Father.
Wisdom begins when we admit we can’t define or know truth apart from God. His Word provides the standard and guide to every area of learning, not just the religious. Being in awe of God, we understand knowledge as a gift for us to use for his purposes, which are for the good and love of all creation.
How Does Godly Fear Work with His Love?
As Jesus stated, God has the power to do more than kill our bodies; he can annihilate our very souls. Other verses tell us how we’ve all sinned and deserve God’s wrath. And yet he chooses instead to provide a way to redeem us and bring us into his eternal family.
Proper reverence and awe for God’s majesty shows us how small we are compared to his greatness. With this revelation, we realize how undeserving we are of his mercy. That reveals to us his great love. The God who commands the universe and could justly condemn us sent his only Son to save us and give us eternal life with the Father. Godly fear shows the Father’s love as astonishing and abundant, overwhelming.
Psalm 103:11 says, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear him.” God’s love is more than emotional; he acts from his power and compassion to save. The love of God shines brightest when we see his holiness and justice. Godly fear reveals how God needs nothing from us. We need him. Understanding him as the righteous Judge, we comprehend the depth of his grace in choosing to love and forgive us.
And so, we love him in return. Awe of his majesty tears away our pride and selfishness, which distorts human love. It places God at the center, where he belongs, and then we rightly love him. 1 John 4:19 tells us, “We love because He first loved us.” Our love flows freely in trust and peace when we acknowledge his greatness and submit to his authority and will. Fear keeps us from only treating God casually. Instead, he is worthy of our whole lives.
Fear without love leads to distance, rejection, terror, and more. Godly fear humbles us so we can receive his love with thankfulness, and his love drives out other fears that would destroy us.
Why Must We Fear God?
Fearing God forms the foundation for wisdom, which shapes every other area of life. When we rightly revere God, we acknowledge him as Creator, Judge, and Savior. Our humble posture aligns us with truth and keeps us from chasing after lies that destroy us. Here are a few examples of how the fear of God undergirds other aspects of our faith.
Godly fear establishes peace. It reminds us he rules over all things, and his love and promises will come to pass. Instead of fearing men, situations, or what might happen in the future, we find peace in the eternal sovereignty and power of God. “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3). A reverent heart finds security and peace in God, trusting him through storms and hard times, because he is more than able to save. He proves superior over all other powers and circumstances.
The fear of God gives us hope. The all-powerful God, the one who never lies, has given us great promises. And he will keep his promises. God’s omnipotence means he can turn all things to good for those who love him and walk in his purposes (Romans 8:28). He promises to hear us when we cry, to save us, to empower us to endure, and then to give us an eternal inheritance in a new heaven and earth. This produces an unshakable hope.
Finally, godly fear produces justice. Godly justice rests in his ability and plan to set everything right again, through redemption if we believe. This idea of justice infuses how we treat one another, knowing God will hold each person accountable. A culture without reverence for God invents its own standards and rules, twisting truth for earthly power. When people fear God, however, they live with integrity. Micah 6:8 connects living justly with walking humbly with God, the result of reverence and awe.
Biblically fearing God isn’t an option. Experiencing his awesomeness is the basis of a moral, hopeful, faithful, peaceful, and loving life, both here on earth and in the eternal future.
Peace.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Christin Lola
