What is the Fear of the Lord?
We all know that the "fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Prov. 9.10).
But what does it mean to "fear the Lord"?
I think the answer is provided by Deuteronomy 10:
Deuteronomy 10:12-13 - "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, and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?"
Deuteronomy 10:20 - "Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name."
Israel was redeemed to worship God, and to worship God meant serving the Lord with unreserved and unqualified devotion. An expression of faith and reverence that constitutes a type of “fear,” fear of failing as much as fear of offending.
The person who loves God will serve God and observe his holy laws, for no one can claim to love God while neglecting God’s own law. As J.A. Thompson explains:
Worship and life are inseparable. The further point is made that God’s law is not a burden to be borne, but God’s gracious provision for Israel’s good. To live well means to obey God’s law, and to obey presupposes a reverent love for him who gave the law
In sum, the fear of the Lord is to follow, love, obey, and serve the Lord with all one’s heart, mind, and soul!
The fear of YH: is the holy, covenant love of God in all that God is, and reflected in his people. It is the heart of godliness in his people, as resplendent in the Spirit of the Messiah our representative, our true manhood & image of God in the flesh ( Isa11.2). It is the mature, glorious nature of Christ that we are to be transformed into (Eph3; 2Cor3). God is truly terrible & wonderful in his transcendent, holy and glorious majesty. By his grace, mercy, forgiveness, and sovereign love, we no longer need fear condemnation, but knowing the Fear of LORD we persuade others of the righteous and holy judgment to come. Our God is a consuming fire.
The English phrase "fear of the lord" prompted for me the related question: what if anything does God fear?