What is the Fear of the Lord?

If I were to simply ask, “What is fear?” most of us would not have an issue answering that question. Fear is that emotion I feel when I’m scared of danger, or a problem bearing down on me. It could be a real danger: perhaps a snake has slithered across my foot; or it could be a perceived danger: perhaps the snake is a harmless black racer and is very unlikely to even bite me. So, a swamp filled with mosquitoes biting me is a fear of real danger. A sign telling me there are a lot of mosquitoes who may bite me is a perceived danger (thanks Congaree National Forest for the warning!).

Further, if I were to ask who is the Lord, few Christians would stumble to find the answer. The Lord is God, the One and Only. The Lord is the Almighty Creator, the incarnate Savior, the Comforting Spirit: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in One Godhead. He is the Lord.

But, if we put both fear and the Lord into a phrase and ask its definition, many do stumble. What is the fear of the Lord? As I have briefly researched, the modern consensus seems to be a brief or prolonged journey that arrives at similar conclusions. Fear of the Lord is not fear, but something like awe, respect, worship, and love. Now, because of Jesus, praise the Lord, I do think we worship God with reverence and awe, and I do think we love God because He first loved us in Jesus Christ. But, if “the fear of the Lord” should be translated “the awe of the Lord” or “the love of the Lord,” then Bible translators have done a consistently lousy job translating the words into fear.

On the basis of linguistics, biblical theology, and logic, I’m going to argue that the fear of the Lord means fearing the Lord as in a settled emotional trembling at His Person and Presence. This fear, because of Jesus, need not remain the only emotion we habitually experience. Instead, when we come to God by faith in Jesus, and are adopted into God’s family, we combine fear and love. We fear-love God. It’s what Augustine will call a filial fear. We do not graduate from or leave fear behind, discarding any fear we experience in God’s holy presence, but we couple that fear with hope and love in Jesus. The by-product of this fear-love is habitual right-walking with God, right-worship of God, and enduring happiness.

A Question of Authority

How should Christians respond to evil generally and specifically? Jesus encountered evil men intent on publicly shaming him. What did He do? How did Jesus navigate that conversation? Today, Christians can learn a lot from Christ how to deal with real evil. And this is a necessary subject because evil persists until Christ returns. Whether considering the happenings in the United States or from countries around the world, Christians must first acknowledge Jesus as the second Person of the Trinity; and second, Christians must learn from Jesus how to navigate conversations with evil people.

For the full sermon, "A Question on Authority" from Mark 11:27-33, click HERE.

Pilgrim Songs: A Family Devotion on Worship from the Psalms of Ascent

The Psalms of Ascent (120-134) contain rich imagery and powerful notes as we are led to praise God through a variety of life situations. What does it look like to trust God with our anger? How can a life be truly blessed and built to last? When is a family happy? Where does God treasure most of all places on this earth? How can we worship as we go through life's journey?

These songs explore these questions and many more. Like the pilgrims journeying to Jerusalem, this devotion series helps parents take their children through what it means to worship God in various aspects of life. The series can be accessed HERE.

The Boy-King Grows Up (and Down)

 How often do we see a good leader listen to bad advice and make foolish decisions? Sadly, companies and empires have collapsed when good leaders make bad choices. Praise God He has decided that in His eternal kingdom, He will directly reign over His people. King Jesus never listens to bad advice, as He showed by conquering the devil's temptations.

When Good Becomes Bad

Does God want you to be happy? How you answer this question will show a lot about your worldview - what you believe about reality and your place in this world. If you say, “Of course not” or “that doesn’t matter” then you will embrace a practically materialistic worldview in which you work to be the master of your own fate. This sounds liberating, but in fact it is crushing. Your shoulders were not meant to carry the weight of creating your own soul-satisfying purpose in this world. Any design we concoct cannot measure up to the deep yearning of our hearts for happiness.