The Fear of the LORD is…

I have never quite understood the over rationalization of The Fear of the LORD “topic,” or the various explanations of what it really means.

People have even written books about what it means and usually the phrases “respect” and “awe” are offered as reasonable substitutes.

But none of that has ever made sense to me when reading verses like…

“The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. (Proverbs 14:27)”

…which (according to my finite mind) implies that the fear of the LORD is what it says it is. Fear.

Most people act differently when around a judge, an armed soldier or a police officer because those individuals have the power to physically destroy your life over the slightest infractions.

Whether you love or hate them is irrelevant; you are for better or worse at their mercy and therefore avoid drugs, threatening the government or jay walking in their presence.

When people fear God, they tend to avoid engaging in certain behaviors such as lying, lusting and holding grudges (among other offenses) lest they offend the Almighty.

Fortunately God doesn’t want us to just fear him, but to love him as well.

“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (Deuteronomy 6:5)”

Selah…