What is Godly fear?

If you can watch Fox or CNN news these days and not get a little anxious about the future you are further along than I am. It is getting really scary out there...but it should not be. With a right understanding of the PROPER place of fear in our lives we can be fearless in this world. This is a longer "reference post" you may want to come back to some time. I simply categorized verses on fear from the Psalms. Before you read it, you might want to pray for the peace and understanding of the Spirit.

Understanding the fear of the Lord according to the Psalms.

In the Psalms we learn that we are to fear the Lord and NOTHING else. All other fear is based on some penalty that a situation or person could do to us that we do not want. Godly fear or the fear of the Lord brings blessings, love, purity and forgiveness. It puts God in his proper place. The fear is not for what God will do, but for what He could stop doing. If a proper attitude towards god is maintained, Nothing of any description can cause us to fear. We typically have it backwards. Fear of God begets blessings and relationship in a proper perspective.

GODLY FEAR COMMANDED
PS 2:11 Serve the LORD with fear
and rejoice with trembling.

GODLY FEAR COMPARED
PS 3:6 I will not fear the tens of thousands
drawn up against me on every side.

GODLY FEAR DESCRIBED/DEFINED CATEGORIZED
PS 19:9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.

GODLY FEAR’S RESPONSE:
PS 22:23 You who fear the LORD, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!

GODLY FEAR CONTROLS
PS 23:4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

GODLY FEAR GETS CONFIDENCE
PS 25:14 The LORD confides in those who fear him;
he makes his covenant known to them.

GODLY FEAR CHALLENGES ALL OTHER FEARS
PS 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation--
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life--
of whom shall I be afraid?

GODLY FEAR’S CONFIDENCE
PS 27:2 When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh,
when my enemies and my foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.

PS 27:3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confident.

GODLY FEAR’S COMPANION
PS 31:19 How great is your goodness,
which you have stored up for those who fear you,
which you bestow in the sight of men
on those who take refuge in you.

GODLY FEAR'S COMPLETION
PS 33:8 Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the people of the world revere him.

GODLY FEARS COMPANIONSHIP
PS 33:18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
PS 33:19 to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine.
PS 33:20 We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.
PS 33:21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.

GODLY FEAR’S CONTRIBUTION:
PS 34:9 Fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
PS 34:10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

GODLY FEAR’S CLASSROOM
PS 34:11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

GODLY FEAR’S CONFLICT
PS 36:1 An oracle is within my heart
concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:
There is no fear of God before his eyes.

GODLY FEAR’S CONCERT
PS 40:3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.
PS 40:4 Blessed is the man
who makes the LORD his trust,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods.

GODLY FEAR’S CONFESSION
PS 46:1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
PS 46:2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
PS 46:3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.

GODLY FEAR’S COMPARISON
PS 49:5 Why should I fear when evil days come,
when wicked deceivers surround me--
PS 49:6 those who trust in their wealth
and boast of their great riches?
PS 52:6 The righteous will see and fear;
they will laugh at him, saying,
PS 52:7 "Here now is the man
who did not make God his stronghold
but trusted in his great wealth
and grew strong by destroying others!"


PS 55:19 God, who is enthroned forever,
will hear them and afflict them--
Selah men who never change their ways
and have no fear of God.

GODLY FEAR’S COMFORT
PS 60:4 But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner
to be unfurled against the bow.

GODLY FEAR’S COMMUNITY
PS 61:5 For you have heard my vows, O God;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

PS 65:8 Those living far away fear your wonders;
where morning dawns and evening fades
you call forth songs of joy.

GODLY FEAR’S CONFESSION
PS 66:16 Come and listen, all you who fear God;
let me tell you what he has done for me.
PS 66:17 I cried out to him with my mouth;
his praise was on my tongue.
PS 66:18 If I had cherished sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened;
PS 66:19 but God has surely listened
and heard my voice in prayer.
PS 66:20 Praise be to God,
who has not rejected my prayer
or withheld his love from me!

GODLY FEAR’S CONCLUSION
PS 67:1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face shine upon us,
PS 67:2 that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.
PS 67:3 May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you.
PS 67:4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you rule the peoples justly
and guide the nations of the earth.
Selah
PS 67:5 May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you.
PS 67:6 Then the land will yield its harvest,
and God, our God, will bless us.
PS 67:7 God will bless us,
and all the ends of the earth will fear him.

GODLY FEAR’S COMING
PS 85:9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.

GODLY FEAR’S CONDITION
PS 86:11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.

PS 90:11 Who knows the power of your anger?
For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.

GODLY FEAR’S CERTAINTY
PS 91:5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
PS 91:6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

GODLY FEAR’S CONTROL
PS 102:15 The nations will fear the name of the LORD,
all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.

GODLY FEAR’S CREED
PS 103:11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
PS 103:12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
PS 103:13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; PS 103:14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
PS 103:15 As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
PS 103:16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more
PS 103:17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children's children—
PS 103:18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
PS 103:13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

GODLY FEAR’S CASCHE
PS 111:5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.

GODLY FEAR’S SHORT CREED
PS 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.

GODLY FEAR’S CIRCUMSTANCES
PS 112:7 He will have no fear of bad news;
his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
PS 112:8 His heart is secure, he will have no fear;
in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.

GODLY FEAR’S CONFIRMATION
PS 115:11 You who fear him, trust in the LORD--
he is their help and shield.
PS 115:12 The LORD remembers us and will bless us:
He will bless the house of Israel,
he will bless the house of Aaron,
PS 115:13 he will bless those who fear the LORD--
small and great alike.

GODLY FEAR’S CONFESSION
PS 118:4 Let those who fear the LORD say:
"His love endures forever."

PS 119:120 My flesh trembles in fear of you;
I stand in awe of your laws. PS 128:1 Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways.

PS 128:2 You will eat the fruit of your labor;
blessings and prosperity will be yours.

GODLY FEAR’S CELEBRATION
PS 135:20 O house of Levi, praise the LORD; you who fear him, praise the LORD. PS 145:19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.

GODLY FEAR’S COMPARISON
PS 145:20 The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. PS 147:11 the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

FEARED


PS 76:7 You alone are to be feared.
Who can stand before you when you are angry?
PS 76:8 From heaven you pronounced judgment,
and the land feared and was quiet--
PS 76:11 Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them;
let all the neighboring lands
bring gifts to the One to be feared.

GODLY FEAR CHAMPIONED
PS 76:12 He breaks the spirit of rulers;
he is feared by the kings of the earth. PS 89:6 For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD?
Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings?

PS 89:7 In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared;
he is more awesome than all who surround him.
PS 89:8 O LORD God Almighty, who is like you?
You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you.

PS 96:4 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods. PS 119:37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
preserve my life according to your word.

PS 119:38 Fulfill your promise to your servant,
so that you may be feared.

GODLY FEAR’S CAUSE
PS 130:4 But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.


FEARS

GODLY FEAR CONFIRMED
PS 128:1 Blessed are all who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways.
PS 128:2 You will eat the fruit of your labor;
blessings and prosperity will be yours.
PS 128:3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your sons will be like olive shoots
around your table.
PS 128:4 Thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
PS 128:5 May the LORD bless you from Zion
all the days of your life;
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem,
PS 128:6 and may you live to see your children's children.

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