Proverbs 9:10 — “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
Psalm 111:10 — “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have good understanding.”
Hebrews 12:28–29 — “Let us worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”
1 John 4:18 — “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.”
Romans 8:15 — “You did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption.”
Genesis 39:9 — “How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”
The fear of God is not dread, panic, or anxiety. It is not the fear of a criminal before a judge, but the reverence of a child before a holy Father. It is awe at His majesty, humility before His holiness, and trust in His goodness. This fear does not drive us away—it draws us near. It produces wisdom because it dethrones self and enthrones God. It leads to obedience not out of terror, but out of love and respect. When we fear God rightly, we are freed from lesser fears: fear of man, fear of failure, fear of the future. We walk humbly, hate evil, and find refuge in Him. The greatest irony? The fear of God doesn’t shrink your life—it sets it free.
lyrics from Zeb of Virginia Beach Church
from his song “All Shook Up””
I was all shook up when I saw Your face
I was all shook up by Your Amazing Grace
I was all shook up all over the place
I was All shook up
I was standing like a mountain but pretending inside
i was the king of the country based on empty pride
I was the main attraction people came from all around
but then i saw His glory and i fell to the ground
bridge:
i was so sure i knew so well
but it was all part of a demon’s spell
i was quaking inside but you
could never tell but God in your
wisdom you saved me from hell”
Lord, teach me to fear You rightly—not with terror, but with trust. Keep me humble, keep me close, and let my reverence for You be the root of all wisdom. Amen.
