What does it mean to fear God?

All true knowledge, all moral knowledge begins by putting God in His own place. Nothing is right or true without that. For to leave Him out falsifies the position and relationship of all.

Each stone has its own place in the arch, but if the keystone be wanting, none can keep theirs.

The fear of God is the setting aside of will. How much that works in reference to constituted natural authority, or even mutual obligation, is evident.

I cannot think of mind and find it sufficient for itself within itself... I must know God to be at rest, God must have His place. Now putting God in His true place — that is the fear of God — is the true beginning of all knowledge.

Of course, this fear is not a slavish fear, but reverential, simply giving the Lord His rightful place in authority over us. His authority is always kind and gracious, so that one who has this godly fear will remain fully content, without evil intruding into his pathway.

It is well for us to be constantly reminded that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." When this genuine, reverential fear is present, it is indeed a basis for every aspect of wisdom. For this involves "the knowledge of the Holy One," reminding us that holiness is a most prominent characteristic of God, who loves good and hates evil.

Then how necessary to cultivate habitually the fear of God! There is nothing right where this fails. The holy fear of God shuts out every dishonouring fear of man, and all tormenting fear of God. We know His majesty, His holiness, and His righteous character; and we know also that He loves us beyond a father's love, with the perfection of the Son's Father. May we all deepen in our fear of Him!

There is a natural fear of unbelief, which distrusts God and really hates Him. Of this John speaks in his First Epistle, as incompatible with love as with faith and hope, in short with the knowledge of God and His Son.

It may be well, even if hardly needful, to say that the fear enjoined on the believer, during the time of his earthly course, is not only consistent with enjoying our Father's love but its inseparable accompaniment. "There is forgiveness with Thee that Thou mayest be feared," says Psalm 130:4.

This fear is not cowardice; it doth not debase, but elevates the mind; for it drowns all lower fears, and begets true fortitude and courage to encounter all dangers for a good conscience and the obeying of God. "The righteous is bold as a lion" (Prov. 28:1); he dares do anything but offend God; and to dare do that is the greatest folly and baseness and weakness in the world. ... And our Saviour, "Fear not them that kill the body; but fear Him Who, after He hath killed, hath power to cast into hell: yea, I say to you, fear Him!" Fear not, but fear; and therefore fear that ye may not fear.

The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, it is the sense of what God is. He says, "Dost thou not fear God." Then he confesses his sins, he owns he is suffering justly. The light had got into his soul.

The fear of God is commonly referred to in Scripture, and the word mostly used is one having the force of reverence. Here, however, a less common word is used signifying, dread. Sinful men universally have no proper reverence for God, though they may secretly dread Him.

The contrast then is complete. GOD: characterized by faithfulness, by fatness, by the fountain of life. Man: characterized by shutting out the fear of God, by flattery, by the foot of pride, and by a terrible fall at the end.