Now and then we may like a good scare, but most of the time
fear is a most unpleasant sensation.
The idea of fear has two senses in both Old and New
Testaments – The Hebrew yare’ and the greek phobos both carry positive and
negative connotations for fear.
In the negative sense, fear is a sensation of panic, fright
or alarm. Whether it is fear of people
or coming events it is this fear that God commands us not to have…and the
second sense in which “fear” is used in the Bible is why. Fear can also mean a reverent respect for someone or
something. When we look at the Grand
Canyon, when we an accomplished person, or when we listen to great music we may
experience this kind of “fear.” When we
understand who God is and all that He has done for us this kind of fear is the
result.
Putting these two usages of the word “fear” together we can
see how Fear of the Lord gives wisdom and drives away the fear of people, the
fear of circumstances, the fear of pain and even the fear of things that go
bump in the night.
The one who truly fears God will never fear anything
else.
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