The word “fear” has several meanings and can be either a noun or a verb. For “born again” christians, we have “reverential fear” of God is reverence in recognition of who He is. Christians believe that God is sovereign, holy, just, and righteous and that He speaks to us through His Word, the Bible and we speak to Him through our prayers. King David prayed, “Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name” (Psalm 86:11).
In writing on raw subject of “man’s reasoning,” King Solomon concluded his book of Ecclesiastes with this statement, “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Indeed, “fear God” is God’s message to us today, which means, to submit to Him in reverence, worship, and obedience.
The Bible states that “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7). Knowledge begins with the fear of the Lord. Understanding who God is and establishing reverential fear of Him is the “prerequisite” to obtain God-given wisdom. “If a man wants to be wise, the place to begin is in reverencing God and trusting and obeying Him. What is more reasonable than that the creature should trust his Creator,” says William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary. Also, Solomon wrote, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10). Notice the difference in both statements based on the fear of the Lord. Solomon is saying, this is the starting point. It is unwise to be living in this world without God.
Since our body is a “temple of the Holy Spirit,” the Apostle Paul emphatically declares, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price, so glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). This profound statement sums up our allegiance to God and our response to fear Him.
There is a fitting expression of gratitude and praise to God in Psalm 34. David cries out, “Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him have no lack.” [because God provides]. And then, David instructs God’s children of what constitutes a genuine “fear of the LORD” by saying, “Come, O children, listen to me; and I will teach you the fear of the LORD, which is a controlled tongue that has neither evil nor deceit, turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and His ears toward their cry” (Psalm 34:9 & 11, 13-15). David is describing the fear of the Lord, which is actually doing what is right and in unconditional obedience to God. God is holy and expects his children to be holy, that is, “set apart” for Him. Then we will fully appreciate what it means to fear God.