FEAR
The word takes on a number of connotations, but there are two related definitions of this word that we ought to consider.
1. An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.
2. Regard with reverence and awe.
The first definition is generally what we associate with the word fear. Psalm 23 and 1 John 4 are good examples of this kind of fear. Whereas Proverbs 9 is a good example of the latter definition.
At first blush, I wanted to ignore the first definition and only explore the second. The second is relatively straight forward in terms of "fearing the Lord." Yet the first is equally important. For, after all, when we speak of God we are speaking of an Almighty Being.
This understanding of fear is often lost in translation to the American church. I have often heard God described as a big, fluffy teddy bear. While God is certainly a comforter, the comforter, He is certainly capable of wrath and anger--as is seen from the accounts of the Israelites--that ought to cause fear in anyone that takes Him seriously.
Some quotes worth pondering concerning this word:
"I have gained this by philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law." -- Aristotle
"It is not the rich man you should properly call happy, but him who knows how to use with wisdom the blessings of the gods, to endure hard poverty, and who fears dishonor worse than death, and is not afraid to die for cherished friends or fatherland." -- Horace
"Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
It seems to me most strange that men should fear;
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come."
-- William Shakespeare in Julius Caesar
"To fear love is to fear life, and those who fear life are already three parts dead." -- Bertrand Russell
"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made" Psalm 139: 14
Soli Deo Gloria
The word takes on a number of connotations, but there are two related definitions of this word that we ought to consider.
1. An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.
2. Regard with reverence and awe.
The first definition is generally what we associate with the word fear. Psalm 23 and 1 John 4 are good examples of this kind of fear. Whereas Proverbs 9 is a good example of the latter definition.
At first blush, I wanted to ignore the first definition and only explore the second. The second is relatively straight forward in terms of "fearing the Lord." Yet the first is equally important. For, after all, when we speak of God we are speaking of an Almighty Being.
This understanding of fear is often lost in translation to the American church. I have often heard God described as a big, fluffy teddy bear. While God is certainly a comforter, the comforter, He is certainly capable of wrath and anger--as is seen from the accounts of the Israelites--that ought to cause fear in anyone that takes Him seriously.
Some quotes worth pondering concerning this word:
"I have gained this by philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law." -- Aristotle
"It is not the rich man you should properly call happy, but him who knows how to use with wisdom the blessings of the gods, to endure hard poverty, and who fears dishonor worse than death, and is not afraid to die for cherished friends or fatherland." -- Horace
"Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
It seems to me most strange that men should fear;
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come."
-- William Shakespeare in Julius Caesar
"To fear love is to fear life, and those who fear life are already three parts dead." -- Bertrand Russell
"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made" Psalm 139: 14
Soli Deo Gloria
2 comments:
Very good points. We should think harder about a healthy "fear" of the Lord. Perhaps a healthy fear of the Lord (definition #2) will lead to less of the worldly "fear" (#1) that plagues and inhibits so many of us.
Fear, Doubt, Anxiety, and Worry -- four persistent acquaintances of so many of us. Thank God that we can renew our minds with the Word of God, and God can work in our hearts and minds to remove our fears.
Some favorite passages are Isaiah 41:10,13; John 14:27; Hebrews 13:5-6; Joshua 1:9; Psalm 27:1; Romans 8:15.
Thanks for addressing fear: the good and the bad.
Thanks for sharing some passages.
Good thoughts on the "four persistent acquaintances." These can be particularly troublesome and can have terrible consequences.
"Anonymous", I read Psalm 106: 1-3 and thought of you.
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