(Psalm 76:6-8)…..At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse were cast into a dead sleep. 7 You, Yourself, are to be feared; and who may stand in Your presence when once You are angry? 8 You caused judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared and was still, when God arose to judgment, to deliver all the oppressed of the earth. Selah
What does it mean to fear the Lord? The word for fear in this passage is the word “yare (yaw-ray), and it means to revere, to affright, to cause to frighten, to dread. God requires fear to please Him and avoid His anger. To fear God is to love, to honor, to respect and obey God. The very thing that God says is not in the life of a sinner, seen in (Romans 3:9-18). Yet what is the duty of man? It is to fear God and keep His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Fear God because of His judgment (Revelation 14:7). The discipline of God should lead all to fear Him (Deuteronomy 8:2-6). It is the fear of God keeps us from evil (Proverbs 16:6) (Proverbs 8:13).
Where does the fear of God come from? Is the fear of the Lord something that all men/women have? Can you work it up? No! No man naturally fears God, it is outside His/Her ability (Psalm 36:1). Man knows God exists by God’s natural creation, but he rebels against obeying Him (Romans 1:18-23). Fear of God is placed in man’s heart by the regenerating grace and mercy of God (Jeremiah 32:39-40). It’s the role of the Christian to fear God. We are to fear God, not man (Matthew 10:28). The early church walked in the fear of the Lord (Acts 9:31), and we to are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). How is that going for you saint?