Fear Of The Lord (Psalm 111:10)

 


Friday, 19 December, 2025


Psalms 110; 111

Isaiah 22:15-23:7

Revelation 20:1-10


Fear Of The Lord (Psalm 111:10)


The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
    all those who practice it have a good understanding.
    His praise endures forever!


I recently read a book called “Triumphing Over Sinful Fear” by the English divine John Flavel. What a wonderful title, or at least I think so. I mostly picked up a copy because I feel like (in the circles I move, at least) we have a stunted understanding of what it means to fear the Lord.


It seems like we don’t like to talk about the fear of the Lord because we don’t really like to talk about the alternative: the fear of other humans, or of pain, or of anything else that is not God. But it is a shame, because if we did, we might all come to the sudden realisation that we actually don’t have anything to fear at all! If we fear pain, then read the history of the martyrs, and the miraculous things God did to protect them during what should have been an agonising death. If we fear the loss of goods, then let us remember the promises of Jesus that all our needs will be covered. If we fear other people, then let us take a moment to actually think about it – what, really, can anyone do to the Christian? They have been washed clean in the blood of Christ, named before the foundation of the world as a member of his elect body, the Church. What hope does a creature have in getting in between a Christian and the Creator?


What is your greatest fear right now? How much bigger than that fear is God?


God of glory, creator of all things: graft in our hearts a proper fear of your name, that we may fear nothing else, and live lives that bring you glory and spread the truth of your love in this world.

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