The Fear of the Lord

Several times recently I have been asked to explain my perspective on 'the fear of the Lord', and so I thought I would share it with you, faithful reader.  I've never called you anything before, reader, so faithful may be a stretch.  But, here's to hoping ;).  And here we go.

'Fear' is loaded with negative connotations, and so it is normal for the reader of scripture to resist the phrase.  One of the most frequent commands in all of the Bible is 'do not be afraid'- how can it be that the Fear of the Lord is desirable, good, beautiful?

Here are two usages of the phrase from the ESV.

"they attacked all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the Lord was upon them" 
-2 Chron 14:14

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding."
-Psalm 111:10

In the bold verse from 2 Chronicles, the original Hebrew word translated as fear is 'pahad', which can also be translated 'dread'.  In the italicized verse from Psalm 111, the original Hebrew translated as fear is 'yirat', which is closely related to the word for reverence.  Throughout scripture, these words are used at different times and are directed towards different people- those that are in opposition to the Lord ought to 'pahad' Him, while those who are His saved people ought to 'yirat' Him.*

The analogy of white-water rafting helps us understand this concept.  The rafter intimately acknowledges the power, danger, and unrelenting nature of the water, is thrilled by it, and may even experience an edge of dread.  Yet on the raft, the rafter experiences a seemingly paradoxical safety.  The water is indeed dangerous, and yet because of the raft it does not destroy us.  Those without a raft should experience dread, of course, because a right understanding of the rapids should provoke fear.  The difference in response is primarily a question of the relationship of the person to the river.  Are they swimming, or rafting?

A right knowledge of the Holy One is full of power and righteousness and perfection, unto obliterating glory.  Think of God, telling Moses that He will not show His face, lest Moses die; God is not to be trifled with. Yet, as the rafter is hidden in the raft, and as Moses is hidden in the Rock, you and I are hidden in the Son.  And thus our fear is transformed from dread to exhilarated reverence, and our lives from cowering to worship. 

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*  The one exception I have found lies in 2 Chronicles 19:7, in which 'pahad' is used in relationship to the chosen people.  However, it is used as a stern warning against oppression, and so it's a qualitatively different statement- it is mean to threaten the breaking of relationship with the Lord.  Should you oppress my people, dread.  Meaning, should you oppress my people, you will no longer be one of them, but will be outside of my protection.  Thus, the pattern holds.  2 Chron 19:9 reverts back to the use of 'yirat'.