In the biblical narrative, kings hold a significant position of authority and power, often depicted as figures who should be feared and respected. This fear is not merely a matter of personal intimidation but is rooted in the divine ordination of their authority and the consequences of disobedience to their rule.

Divine Ordination of Kingship

The concept of kingship in the Bible is closely tied to the idea of divine appointment. In 1 Samuel 8:7, God tells Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me as their king." This passage highlights that while earthly kings are established, their authority is ultimately derived from God. The fear of the king, therefore, is an extension of the fear of God, as the king serves as God's representative on earth.

The Role of Kings in Enforcing Justice

Kings are often depicted as enforcers of justice and righteousness, wielding the power to reward and punish. Proverbs 20:2 states, "The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life." This proverb underscores the king's role as a figure of authority whose wrath can have severe consequences. The fear of the king is thus a deterrent against wrongdoing and a means of maintaining order within the kingdom.

Examples of Feared Kings in Scripture

Several kings in the Bible exemplify the fear they instilled in their subjects. King Solomon, known for his wisdom, was also a figure of great authority. In 1 Kings 3:28, it is written, "When all Israel heard of the judgment the king had rendered, they stood in awe of the king, because they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice." Solomon's ability to discern and judge rightly commanded respect and fear among the people.

King David, a man after God's own heart, was also a king who was feared by his enemies and respected by his people. In 2 Samuel 8:6, it is noted, "The LORD gave David victory wherever he went." David's military successes and his role as a just ruler contributed to the fear and reverence he commanded.

The Consequences of Disobedience

The Bible also provides accounts of the dire consequences faced by those who defied the king's authority. In the book of Esther, Haman's plot against the Jews and his subsequent downfall illustrate the peril of opposing the king's favor. Esther 7:10 recounts, "So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided." This narrative demonstrates the king's power to execute judgment and the fear that such power engenders.

The Balance of Fear and Righteousness

While kings are to be feared, the Bible also emphasizes the importance of righteousness in their rule. Proverbs 16:12 states, "Wicked behavior is detestable to kings, for a throne is established through righteousness." The fear of the king is balanced by the expectation that he will rule justly and in accordance with God's laws. A righteous king, therefore, commands fear not only through power but through the moral authority of his rule.

In summary, the biblical portrayal of kings as figures to be feared is deeply intertwined with their divine appointment, their role in enforcing justice, and the consequences of defying their authority. This fear is not arbitrary but is rooted in the recognition of their God-given role and the moral order they are expected to uphold.Proverbs 24:21
My son, fear you the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

They Feared the Lord, and Served their Own Gods. 2 Kings 17:33.
... 2 Kings 17:33 ... You have feared the Lord, and served your own gods ... What should we think
of a missionary going to the heathen, who had never said a word to sinners ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/they feared the lord and.htm

That the Ruler Should Be, through Humility, a Companion of Good ...
... For indeed our ancient fathers are said to have been not kings of men, but ... not to
other men; and therefore it is said to him that he should be feared by the ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter vi that the ruler.htm

Whether we Should Believe what Some Think, That, as the Ten ...
... under the instrument of torture, until the emperor feared lest he should succumb
under ... through the whole world, may suffer persecution from kings in some ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 52 whether we should believe.htm

Whether it was Becoming that the Magi Should Come to Adore Christ ...
... the Jews," it seems unbecoming that they should come to ... a sermon on the Epiphany
(cc.): "Though many kings of the ... King who was to come, the Magi feared not the ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether it was becoming that.htm

How, Upon the Death of Solomon the People Forsook his Son Rehoboam ...
... it being most agreeable to subjects that their kings should be almost ... stones with
which they had killed his servant, and feared lest he should undergo the ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 how upon the.htm

Epistle cxvi. To Theoderic and Theodebert, Kings of the Franks.
... It is the chief good in kings to cultivate justice ... his requiring it, another has
not feared to be ... it being exceedingly intolerable that one should be oppressed ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle cxvi to theoderic and.htm

Of the Weight of Government; and that all Manner of Adversity is ...
... all manner of adversity is to be despised, and prosperity feared. ... is unequal to sacred
offices of government should dare to ... than he was puffed up (1 Kings 10:22 ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter iii of the weight.htm

Matt. xi. 1
... The kings of the earth stand up, and the rulers are gathered together ... For they will
say, "If thou hadst threatened hell, we should have feared more, and ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xxxvi matt xi 1.htm

Nothing Has Greater Effect in Gaining Good-Will than Giving Advice ...
... should not take away another's, but that the real mother should have her ... of the judgment
which the king had judged, and they feared the king ... 450] 1[[3] Kings iii ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter viii nothing has greater.htm

Argument: Although the Heathens Acknowledge their Kings to be ...
... the Mauritanians, Juba is a god; and other kings are divine ... 1796] they could not
perish: we should have more ... he would blush that he had feared matter, treated ...
/.../the octavius of minucius felix/chapter xxiii argument although the heathens.htm

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