Unpacking the Biblical Fear of God
Understanding the fear of God is a theme that pervades both the Old and New Testaments. Often, people equate fear with a feeling of dread, anxiety, or terror. However, the Biblical context presents it in a rather nuanced light - intertwining respect, awe, obedience, and love for God, alongside a certain sense of apprehensive reverence. One of the initial instances of the fear of God appears in the book of Genesis, where the fear of God is spoken by Abraham to emphasize his faith in God's judgement (Genesis 20:11). Here, the fear of God appears to function as a protective shield and deterrent from sinning. This expression of fear thus sets a trend, resonating throughout the rest of the Old Testament as synonymous with moral rectitude and devout faith. The fear of God as described in Proverbs encapsulates the essence of true wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). It urges a person to fully acknowledge the supremacy of God's laws over human ones. According to Proverbs, fear of God is not about ...