Fear of God

[Natural1]

What are everyone's thoughts on oft repeated concept of fearing God? It's almost as common as people saying they believe in God, ie. "I'm a God-fearing individual". As a new Christian I'm having a bit of trouble wrapping my mind around it.
I certainly love God, and am humbled by his awesome presence in my life & the world around me. Yet this fear...is it more of an Old Testement concept? Because Jesus teaches us God is love....how can we love & fear at the same time?

 

[arielette]

I have been told that "fear" would be better translated as "respect" -- but I have not checked that out for myself --

 

[JEBofChristTheLord]

I cannot give a very detailed answer. I can say this: Before I began to know the Lord I was utterly incapable of loving someone and fearing him or her at the same time. It was only years after He made His presence in the world known to me, after He had been working on cleansing me for a very long perceptive time, that I began to be able to both love and fear Him.

J.E.B.

 

[tturt]

Actually you've brought up an extremely interesting topic.

I offer this to you - that the fear of Yahweh isn't where we're afraid of Him - you know that He'll strike us dead but rather that we hold Him in such high regard or reverential awe that it is the deciding factor - it determines what we do and think. Instead of following what man thinks or wants, we go with what Yahweh thinks and wants (paraphased definition based on some articles by Nancy Missler).

One Biblical example is King Saul who failed in Yahweh's sight because he based his decisions on what the people wanted instead of what Yahweh wanted. Two examples - the first one is from[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] 1 Sam. 13:7-14; particulary v 10 and 11 - "...And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, ..." Example 2: 15:10-29), from v 24 - "... because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice."

We do the same thing. An example that's been given here on the forums. I remember this because since this was posted, it really captured my attention and seems to be key. Someone was having martial problems and instead of praying that Yahweh change their spouse, etc. they prayed to Yahweh - Please reveal to me whatever YOU want concerning this matter. It didn't happen immediately but He showed them what mistakes they had made, what they needed to do, etc. She was desperate & abandoned what she thought, felt, etc. Certainly not an easy task.

Scripture says in several places "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:.." (Psa 111:10) and [/FONT] Pro 1:7 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Seven of the spirits of Yahweh are in several places in the Bible such as Rev 4:5 and Isa 11:2 "And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;"

I believe that the fear of the Lord is pivotal because unless we have it, would we accept His wisdom, understanding, counsel and knowledge?

We can pray for wisdom and revelation in Him such as Eph 1:16-17 "Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17 - "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him" Jam 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

Having the fear of the Lord means setting aside what others think or want - ESPECIALLY OUR own thoughts and feelings - and following what Yahweh wants. It sounds so easy yet can be difficult to carry out in our daily lives BUT through His strength (the spirit of might) all things are possible. Life application: ask Yahweh, what do You want me to do or think about every situation?

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[Natural1]

I appreciate the responses. What I'm gathering is the concept of fear when relating to God is respect and not the human instinct of fear to what we experience here on Earth. That makes sense, because up until now I figured it was similar to the fear-mongering tactic used by some Christians to convert others...which would force people to believe in God out of personal fear rather than discovering his love through their own soul-searching.

 

[Radiata]

I appreciate the responses. What I'm gathering is the concept of fear when relating to God is respect and not the human instinct of fear to what we experience here on Earth. That makes sense, because up until now I figured it was similar to the fear-mongering tactic used by some Christians to convert others...which would force people to believe in God out of personal fear rather than discovering his love through their own soul-searching.

Actually, I would give you a different perspective. I also had a hard time embracing the idea that we should fear God. But something that I realized after a while is that this is a healthy fear. Just like the fear that you would have of your parents when you were a toddler. Your parents could punish you when you misbehaved. But you still loved them for all that they did for you right? How much more should you fear the One who created the world and everything in it? It's a mystery to me. God, the one who holds black holes in His hands, who could erase my entire existence without even trying, still cares for the little people. I think that Steven Curtis Chapman says it well is his song: "His eyes"

"Sometimes I look above me, and stars are shining and I feel so small. How could the God of heaven and all creation know I'm here at all?

And then in the silence He whispers, "My child, I created you too. And you're my most precious creation. I even gave my son for you.""

This fear of God is overwhelmed with awe of His power and awe of His mercy. But without fear, one would go about life proud and without remorse. For as long as there is even the slightest idea that you can go about life on your own without God's help and without fear, you still render yourself as one who has not despaired in the sight of God. For only with the understanding that it is God who has done entirely all the work of saving do you realize that you are living completely under His mercy and grace. Without a fear of God, you become subject to thinking that you don't need it anymore.

 

[F3llowS3rvant]

Good topic knowing that, "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom". We know that God is a very zealous God(for his name & the only God) and a very jealous God(for his people). We understand that we cannot comprehend the power of God but only know his righteousness and his amazing works of love and mercy. However, saying these things, one of the only things God wants is reverence toward his name, respect for who he is(our creator) and thanks for what he has done for us.

When we go away from the laws and grace of Jesus(i.e. the early Jewish nation) he gets very angry. Not necessarily because he doesnt love us but because we don't understand that to be with him is to have everything that is good. To steer away from God is to reject all of the blessings that come from God. Not only this but it is said, "Rebuke God and he will reject you forever". Those are not necessarily light things considering...

Therefore we rejoice with fear and trembling knowing that the Lord is very very Good but that he is a jealous God and wont hesitate to chastise us if we wander. The closer you are to God the more you revere him for who he is. We stumble and are chastised but know that we are the nation of God and should act accordingly. I hope that helped

 

[LilLamb219]

Think about Adam and Eve and how they hid from the Lord when He walked in the garden to find them after they ate of the forbidden fruit and saw that they were naked. Why were they afraid? It was because God's Law was accusing them of their sin.

It's the same with us, God's Law will always accuse us of our sins and so, we cannot help but fear the Lord knowing who we are. His Law does not bring us comfort...but the Gospel does. We find joy in the good news that we are reconciled to God, our sins are forgiven and He will come again to judge; we will have eternal life!

 

[Natural1]

I get it now. I understand the parent analogy also...the one who made you is the one who can take you out.
Watching the endless lightning in the sky tonight, I definitely felt the fear & awesomeness of God!

 

[paperneck]

fear of god to me is an old testiment concept, and based on the convenant it made sense, but jesus is the new convenant, one we ought not let fear rise from.

it's as when he appeared on the water before the deciples and proclaimed that they should not fear him, fore it was him.

we can understand god is capable of all things both amazing and dreadful, but one of god's greatest gifts unto the world was the harmony throughout it, so much of what we may fear from god should truly be cherished.

lord may take my life, but only to bring me closer.

 

[JPPT1974]

God convicts us all of our
Sins and need to repent
Of our sins in order to wipe
Away our slate as well as
To become more focused to Him!

 

[arielette]

I came across this on sermonaudio.com this morning:

"There are some things that should scare the people of God."

Things That Scare Me

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=101203194741

 

[Natural1]

Thanks arielette, I will check it out...

 

[chuff]

In most Christian circles, I've been told that fear is reverence mixed with dread.

Dread of course from the thought of not having Him, reverence due to holy God.