Fear of God
Psalm 118:1-4 (ESV)
^1 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
^2 Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
^3 Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
^4 Let those who fear the LORD say,“His steadfast love endures forever.”
Some thoughts about the fear of the LORD:
- The fear I have of Him is a God-given fear; which He gave me by grace and kindness toward me. Otherwise, I would be like those described in Romans 3:18 (ESV),18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
- Combined with seeing God as the kind, loving Father who has adopted and saved me; I am aware that He is the omnipotent, implacable enemy of evil and evildoers. The fact that He is overlooking the evil acts and thoughts I have already committed, having graciously transferred those offenses to His beloved Son and having graciously given me credit for all the good that the Son is and has done, causes me to pause in sober reflection -- which is part of my fear of God.