The fear of the Lord is a Biblical concept in short supply today. Let us think about this neglected doctrine together here. We will begin with a contrast. Solomon wrote, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Prov. 9:10 CSB). We must know God in order to fear Him. Further, wisdom, or skillful living, is one of our greatest needs. On the other hand, “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe” (29:25 ESV). These verses make the issue clear as to whom we should fear.

The wise man contrasts a prevailing way of life with the fear of God as its foundation with the daily temptation to fear mortal man. Wisdom and understanding, as we walk the narrow road, are contrasted with the traps all around us that would lure and entangle us away from the path of righteousness. Jesus crystalized the contrast above: “I say to you, my friends, don’t fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. But I will show you the one to fear: Fear him who has the authority to throw people into hell after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the one to fear!” (Luke 12:4-5 CSB). Jesus is too kind to beat around the bush.   

I believe that a healthy dose of the fear of the Lord will not only fortify us to stand firm against the call of this world, but will also give us confidence and joy in how we live with our families and our neighbors and even our enemies.

Having been told by the angel she would give birth to the Son of God, Mary composed a prayer. In it she said, “His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear him” (Luke 1:50). As a faithful young lady she knew that the prevailing piety, or spiritual characteristic, of God’s faithful people is a reverence for him.

The Apostle loved to rehearse the Old Testament promises. After doing so in one letter he concluded: “So then, dear friends, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1). The capstone of our sanctification—our growth in God’s grace—is our fear of the Lord.

In one of his remarkable summary statements concerning the early church, Luke wrote, “So the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers” (Acts 9:31). You see, fear of the Lord is here seen as one side of a coin. On one side is the constant sense that we serve a holy and righteous God who will not be trifled with. On the other side, it is the very Spirit of the living God dwelling within the believer walking alongside us as our Comforter and Keeper.

Finally, Isaiah told us about our Savior who would come from the line of David. He described the Messiah’s character in detail: “The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him – a Spirit of wisdom and understanding, a Spirit of counsel and strength, A Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. His delight will be in the fear of the LORD” (Isa. 11:2-3a). John Murray commented here—it is wordy, read it slowly—on why the fear of the Lord is so important in our relationship with Christ. “If he who was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners was endued with the Spirit of the fear of the Lord, how can thought or feeling that is not conditioned by God’s fear have any kinship with him who is the captain of our salvation and who has given us an example that we should follow in his steps?”

As God’s people, we have been given the Spirit of Christ. And the Spirit of Christ is the Spirit of the fear of the Lord. So like the church in Acts, let us walk together in that glorious fear.