DO YOU "FEAR" THE LORD CORRECTLY?

My Dear Friends,

There are many verses in Scripture that tell people to “FEAR THE LORD” yet often men try to make it seem that these words intend for people to “BE AFRAID OF” God.

This idea of “FEAR = Terror” is a completely and totally an incorrect view that too often drives men away from God rather than allowing them to honor and be drawn toward the LOVE that makes up the very basis of God’s nature.

First, here are a few verses concerning references regarding “fear” which at first might bring one to think they are to be terrified of God:

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Moses replied (to Pharaoh), "When I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands in prayer to the LORD. The thunder will stop and there will be no more hail, so you may know that the earth is the LORD's. But I know that you and your officials still do not fear the Lord God." Exodus 9:30
But select capable men from all the people -- men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain -- and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens...Ex.18:21
Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you , so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning. Ex. 20:20
Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord. Lev. 19:14
Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere (fear) your God. I am the LORD. Lev. 19:32
Do not take advantage of each other but fear your God. I am the LORD your God. Lev. 25:17
Do not rule over them ruthlessly, but fear your God. Lev. 25:43
Remember the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when He said to me, "Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere (fear) me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children." Deut. 4:10
Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always , so that it might go well with them and their children forever! Deut 5:29
These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me (Moses) to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all His decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Deut. 6:1-2
Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only and take your oaths in His name. Deut. 6:13
The LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the LORD our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive... Deut 6:24
Observe the commands of the LORD your God, walking in His ways and revering (fearing) Him. Deut 8:6
And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk-in 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? Deut 10:12
It is the LORD your God you must follow, and Him you must revere (fear). Deut. 13:4
It (the Law) is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere (fear) the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees. Deut 17:19
Assemble the people -- men, women and children, and the aliens living in your towns -- so they can listen and learn to fear the LORD your God and follow carefully all the words of this law. Their children, who do not know this law, must hear it and learn to fear the LORD your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess. Deut. 31:12-13
He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God. Joshua 4:24
Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped beyond the river and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. Joshua 24:14
If you fear the LORD and serve and obey Him and do not rebel against His commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the LORD your God -- good! But if you do not obey the LORD, and if you rebel against His commands, His hand will be against you, as it was against your fathers. I Samuel 12:14-15
So one of the priests who had been exiled from Samaria came to live in Bethel and taught them how to worship (fear) the LORD. 2 Kings 17:28
The fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah so that they did not make war with Jehoshaphat. 2 Chronicles 17:10
O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering (fearing) your name. ... Nehemiah 1:11
And he said to man, "the fear of the Lord -- that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding." Job 28:28
The fear of the lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. Psalm 19:9
The LORD confides in those who fear Him; He makes His covenant known to them. Psalm 25:14
How great is Your (GOD) goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you. Psalm 31:19
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him and He delivers them. Ps. 34:7
An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked; There is no fear of God before his eyes. Psalm 36:1
Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. Psalm 86:11
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him.. Psalm 103:11
The fear if the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have good understanding. To Him belongs eternal praise. Psalm 111:10
But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts; they have turned aside and gone away. They do not say to themselves, "Let us fear the LORD our God, ... " Jeremiah 5:23-24
I (God) will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them. Jeremiah 32:39
His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation. Luke 1:50
They were filled with great awe (fear) and praised God. ... Luke 7:16
I (Jesus) tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear; Fear Him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him. Luke 12:4-5
Brothers, children of Abraham, and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. Acts 13:26
Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence (fear) for God. 2 Cor 7:1
Submit to one another out of reverence (fear) for Christ. Ephesians 5:21
Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. I Peter 2:17
Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name. For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed. Rev. 15:4
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Are you freaking out yet???..

…Running in dread and seeking to hide?

IF SO, Then you likely just don’t get what the word FEAR means here, because it was never intended to scare anyone nor to make one AFRAID. It is actually asking for people to show “RESPECT & REVERENCE” which are what any friend would desire.

Like “Love”, the word “Fear” has many meanings and yet the translators often only wrote it as one single word and hence there has come a confusion . Indeed, there are times when Fear is intended to be read as “terror”, but more often it simply means “REVERENCE/RESPECT”.
In The Old Testament, the Hebrew words most frequently used for FEAR were Strong's numbers 3372 YARE (a verb), 3373 YARE (adjective), and 3374 YIRAH (a noun).

Obviously these three words are closely related as you can tell by their number sequences and the actual words. The definitions of these 3 related words are, therefore, obviously similar.
According to the Nelson's Expository Dictionary of the Old Testament, YARE (3372) means "to be afraid, stand in awe, fear." This word, and it's 'relatives', YARE and YIRAH, when speaking of the psychological reaction of fear can mean being afraid of someone or something. When these words are used to refer to a person of exalted position (such as God), these words connote "standing in awe". This "awe is not simple fear, but reverence, whereby an individual recognizes the power and position of the individual revered and renders him proper respect. ... It may (also) imply submission to a proper ethical relationship to God"

Several other Hebrew words for "Fear" are also used in the Bible including ARATS (6206), GUWR (1481), and PACHAD (6242, 6243). These also have generally the same two types of meanings we just mentioned concerning YARE and YIRAH, so I won't give you those meanings. But, if you want to look them up, you may.

The GREEK words most frequently used for FEAR were the noun PHOBOS (5401) and the verb PHOBEO (5399). Again, since these words are obviously related, their definitions are similar so I will only give you one.

The definition of PHOBOS, the noun, according to the Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words by W.E. Vines is: "Phobos (5401) first had the meaning of 'flight', that which is caused by being scared; then, 'that which may cause flight;..." . It can also mean "reverential fear of God, as a controlling motive of the life, in matters spiritual and moral, not a mere 'fear' of His power and righteous retribution, but a wholesome dread of displeasing Him, a 'fear' which banishes the terror that shrinks from His presence...and which influences the disposition and attitude of one whose circumstances are guided by trust in God, ... the reverential 'fear' of God will inspire a constant carefulness in dealing with others in His fear...."

I assume that you now correctly understand what it means to "Fear the Lord" …This usually means that we are to Worship God and to revere and honor Him and to treat Him with respect, obedience, and awe. Why? Because He is God! And, as God, He is Creator of all, over all, controls all, and is worthy of all respect and praise and worship.

BE LOVE & BE LOVED!