What other scriptures highlight the importance of fearing God? Setting the Scene: Deuteronomy 5:25 “But now, why should we die? For this great fire will consume us, and we will die if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any longer.” Israel’s raw response at Sinai captures the holy dread that comes when sinful people glimpse God’s blazing majesty. Scripture returns to this theme again and again, underscoring that “the fear of the LORD” is not a relic of the Old Covenant but a timeless posture of the heart. Key Old Testament Voices • Deuteronomy 10:12 – “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.” • Job 28:28 – “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.” • Psalm 111:10 – “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who practice His precepts gain good understanding. His praise endures forever!” • Psalm 34:7 – “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them.” • Psalm 128:1 – “Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in His ways!” • Proverbs 1:7 – “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” • Proverbs 14:27 – “The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.” • Ecclesiastes 12:13 – “When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.” • Jeremiah 32:40 – “I will make an everlasting covenant with them... and I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will never turn away from Me.” Snapshots from Israel’s History • 2 Chronicles 19:7 – Jehoshaphat warns judges: “May the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice or partiality or bribery with the LORD our God.” • Malachi 3:16 – In a time of spiritual drift, “those who feared the LORD spoke with one another, and the LORD listened and heard.” New Testament Continuity • Matthew 10:28 – “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” • Acts 9:31 – The early church “grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.” • 2 Corinthians 7:1 – “Let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” • Philippians 2:12 – “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” • Hebrews 12:28-29 – “Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire.’” • 1 Peter 2:17 – “Treat everyone with high regard: love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.” • Revelation 14:7 – A final global summons: “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come.” Blessings Tied to the Fear of God • Protection – Psalm 34:7; Proverbs 19:23. • Wisdom and understanding – Job 28:28; Psalm 111:10. • Deep satisfaction – Proverbs 19:23, “The fear of the LORD leads to life, that one may rest content, without visitation from harm.” • Generational impact – Psalm 103:17, “But from everlasting to everlasting the loving devotion of the LORD extends to those who fear Him, and His righteousness to their children’s children.” Consequences of Losing the Fear of God • Romans 3:18 – “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Paul cites this as the root of human rebellion. • Proverbs 10:27 – “The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be cut short.” Turning from holy awe short-circuits God’s intended blessing. • Isaiah 29:13 – Mere lip service replaces genuine reverence: “This people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.” Living in Holy Awe Today Scripture’s consistent witness, from Sinai’s fire to the final trumpet, calls every generation to embrace a reverent, obedient, whole-hearted fear of the Lord—a posture that both humbles and secures us. Walking in that fear realigns priorities, deepens worship, and opens the door to God’s richest promises. |
    |