Biblical Answer

The Bible teaches that the fear of the Lord is a fundamental concept in the Hebrew Bible. The word "fear" in this context means to be overwhelmed with wonder before the greatness of God. It is not about being afraid of God, but rather being in awe of His power and majesty. In fact, the Bible teaches that we should not fear God in the sense of being afraid of Him, but rather we should fear Him in the sense of being overwhelmed with reverence and respect. This is evident in passages such as Deuteronomy 4:4, where Moses tells the Israelites that they should not fear God in the sense of being afraid, but rather they should fear Him in the sense of reverently obeying His commands.

The Bible also teaches that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. In Proverbs 1:7, it is written, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." This means that when we fear God, we are more likely to seek knowledge and understanding of His ways. This is because the fear of the Lord is a response of our entire being, and it is not just an intellectual understanding. When we fear God, we are more likely to be obedient to His commands and to live a life that is pleasing to Him. This is evident in passages such as Psalm 111:10, where it is written, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." The Bible teaches that when we fear God, we will be given wisdom and understanding.

The Bible also teaches that the fear of the Lord is a response to the greatness of God. In Psalm 119:38, it is written, "Turn my eyes away from looking at vanities, and give me life in your way." This means that when we fear God, we will be given life and direction. We will be given the ability to see things from God's perspective and to live a life that is pleasing to Him. This is evident in passages such as Ecclesiastes 12:13, where it is written, "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." The Bible teaches that when we fear God, we will be given the ability to live a life that is pleasing to Him and to fulfill our purpose on earth.