The Fear of the Lord - 2Cor. 5

“Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.” (2 Cor. 5:11)

Behind Paul’s statement about the fear of the Lord lays a multitude of passages in God’s word! The concept of such fear encompasses both reverential awe for God and plain old-fashion fear. IT is said to be the beginning of true wisdom: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7)  (cp. Prov. 15:33; Psalm 111:10).

Coupled with reverence, such fear is the basis of departing from EVIL: First, by such one learns to hate the evil that the Lord hates: "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverted mouth, I hate. Proverbs 8:13). Second, we are told that “by the fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil.” (Prov. 16:6) (see also Job 28:28; Prov. 23:17; 2Cor. 7:1; Heb. 4:1.)

Possession of such fear leads to TRUE life before God and hope of eternity with Him. The fear of the lord is the fountain of life (Prov. 14:27), leads to life (Prov. 19:23); prolongs life (Prov. 10:27). The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor, and life (Prov. 22:4) (see also Psa. 19:9; Phil. 2:12; Eph. 6:5; Col. 3:22).

Lack of such fear leads to RUIN.  Proverbs 1:27-29 speaks of calamity, dread, distress, and anguish coming upon some “Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord.” (See also Prov. 1:27-29; 15:16; Psa. 14:1-3; 36:1-3; Rom. 3:18).

Such is the Fear of the LORD. It appears as a two-edged sword. In one sense it leans toward the idea of reverence, awe, respect. In such fear, we have a clearer picture of the holiness and righteousness of God. By it we can serve God in love, honor, and hope. Hence we read comments like: “Fear refers to a religious consciousness, a reverential awe of God, that directs the way one lives” (David Garland, New Amer. Comm. : 2Cor., on 5:11).

On the other hand, it is an acknowledgment of the wrath of God against ALL sin. To see God judgments against sinners in the past (Sodom, Noah’s world, Korah and Dathan, etc.), and to know what eternal judgment awaits unrepentant sinners in the future, is to realize that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of God who is angry. Read again the warning of the Hebrew writer:

²⁶ For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. ²⁸ Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge His people." ³¹ It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:26-31)

How does the fear of the Lord show itself in your life?  

Hugh DeLong