The command is heavily signposted in high-traffic areas. The first proverb in Proverbs is,
The fear the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,and it ends with,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline (1:7)
a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised (31:30)
Ecclesiastes is a quest for wisdom (1:13) and the search concludes in 12:13-14,
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
The first lot of instructions in the Psalms is in 2:11
Now there, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear
and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
If for the rulers, how much more for us peasants? And it’s not just the wisdom books. At the giving of the law, God reveals himself to the Israel as a nation for the first time (?). And they are literally scared to death of him. (Deut 5:24-8) Completely freaked out. Amazingly, God commends this!
O that there was a such a heart in them that they would fear me always and keep all my commandments that it might be well with them and with their children forever. (Deut 5:29)
Fear of God means you’ll live in a way that pleases him and stay faithful. I think "Fear of God" is the key to understanding the book of Job. He's the exemplar, "a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil" (Job 1:1, 1:8, 2:3... it's interesting to trace Job's fear of God through the book).
And it's not just "an Old Testament thing". Jesus tells his own 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 hear: 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)
Yes, you Christians. Yes, fear. Not a “'reverential fear' whatever that means”, says Broughton Knox, who calls this the most neglected command of Jesus.
The two thieves on the cross both say something about Jesus that’s true (Luke 23:39-43). One says “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” He’s got a good point. Jesus is the Christ. He’s doing the job of saving. But the other thief rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God...?”
Who gets it right?
Jesus commends the second thief “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise”. Your attitude to God counts, not just whether you understand who he is.
Anyone who didn't shudder when they read about Jesus in Revelation didn't read it properly.
Perhaps we don’t fear God enough? And why do Christians keep presenting God as a tame lion?
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