Topical Bible: Unholy Fear: Seizes the Wicked

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Unholy fear, as depicted in the Bible, is a pervasive and paralyzing dread that grips those who live in opposition to God's commandments. This fear is distinct from the reverential fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). Instead, unholy fear is characterized by anxiety, terror, and a sense of impending doom that seizes the wicked due to their rebellion against God.

Biblical Instances and Descriptions

1. Fear as a Consequence of Sin: The Bible frequently associates unholy fear with the consequences of sin. In the book of Genesis, after Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they experienced fear for the first time. Genesis 3:10 records Adam saying, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself." This fear was a direct result of their disobedience and the subsequent separation from God.

2. Fear of Judgment: The wicked often live in fear of divine judgment. Proverbs 28:1 states, "The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion." This verse highlights the irrational fear that plagues the wicked, causing them to flee even when there is no immediate threat. Their guilty conscience and awareness of their sinfulness lead to a constant state of fear.

3. Fear in the Face of God's Power: The power and majesty of God can also instill fear in those who oppose Him. In Exodus 14:25 , during the crossing of the Red Sea, the Egyptians exclaimed, "Let us flee from the Israelites, for the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt." Here, the Egyptians' fear was a recognition of God's might and their own impending defeat.

4. Fear as a Tool of Divine Retribution: God sometimes uses fear as a means of retribution against the wicked. In Deuteronomy 28:65-67 , God warns Israel of the curses that will befall them if they disobey His commandments, including a life of constant fear: "Among those nations you will find no repose, not even a resting place for the sole of your foot. There the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and a despairing soul. Your life will hang in doubt before you, and you will be afraid night and day, never certain of survival."

5. Fear Leading to Destruction: Unholy fear can lead to the ultimate destruction of the wicked. In Revelation 6:15-17 , during the opening of the sixth seal, the kings of the earth, the mighty, and all people hide in caves and among the rocks, calling to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?" This passage illustrates the terror that grips those who have rejected God when faced with His righteous judgment.

Theological Implications

Unholy fear serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of living in rebellion against God. It underscores the reality of divine justice and the inherent instability of a life built on sin. The Bible consistently portrays unholy fear as a natural outcome of a life that rejects God's authority and moral order. This fear is not only a psychological state but also a spiritual condition that reflects the separation from God's peace and protection.

Contrast with Holy Fear

In contrast to unholy fear, holy fear is a reverent awe and respect for God that leads to obedience and trust. While unholy fear is rooted in guilt and the anticipation of judgment, holy fear is grounded in love and the desire to honor God. The righteous, who live in accordance with God's will, experience boldness and confidence, free from the paralyzing grip of unholy fear.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Job 15:24
Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid; they shall prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Job 18:11
Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Letter Xciii. (AD 408. )
... themselves held; and that others, through fear, had yielded ... of His name even those
who are wicked, and who ... known; but this effort of an unholy boldness, which ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter xciii a d 408.htm

A Plea Regarding Christians by Athenagoras, the Athenian
... with father Zeus, and a wild rage seizes her;" [889 ... They imagine, moreover, that
by fear they will either draw ... because he made Zeus even more unholy and wicked ...
/.../richardson/early christian fathers/a plea regarding christians by.htm

The First Apology of Justin, the Martyr
... 675] but are in fact evil and unholy demons, whose ... Let all the earth fear before
him, and be set ... the same in this dispensation"if boredom seizes those who ...
/.../richardson/early christian fathers/the first apology of justin.htm

St. Gregory the Great.
... lie in wait for a flock huddled together in fear. ... arm of flesh, would presume to
lay unholy hands upon ... If, then, anyone seizes upon that name for himself, as ...
/.../allies/the formation of christendom volume vi/chapter v st gregory the.htm

The Greatness of the Soul,
... count the blood that hath bought it an unholy thing, that ... the body, when the soul
is under a fear of the ... state; but in the next world, the wicked shall partake ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the greatness of the soul.htm