The Fear of the Lord
A reverence we've lost.
Holy awe — and why it matters.
The big idea
The fear of the Lord isn't terror. It's appropriate awe at who God actually is.
What does “The Fear of the Lord” walk through?
Beginning of Wisdom
Proverbs 9:10 · KJV
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.
In plain English
Wisdom starts with appropriate awe of God. Without that, you're just clever.
Not Terror
The 'fear of the Lord' isn't being scared. It's recognizing the gap between you and God — and being properly awed by it. We've made God too casual. The fear of the Lord brings him back into right scale.
Let All the Earth Fear
Psalm 33:8 · KJV
Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
In plain English
Everyone in the world should stand in awe of God.
“If you've never been a little undone by God, you might not have actually met him.”
The Right Smallness
When you encounter the real God, you feel small. Not in a crushed way — in a freed way. The pressure of being your own god lifts. He's God. You're not. That's actually good news.
Pray
Lord, restore my awe of you. Don't let me make you small. Help me see you as you actually are.
Write it down
When was the last time something about God genuinely awed you? What stirred it?
You finished: The Fear of the Lord
He's not a vending machine or a buddy. He's God. Stand in that. It changes everything.
Which passages does this journey use?
2 passages, drawn from Proverbs 9:10, Psalm 33:8. Every verse appears here in the King James text with a plain-English line beside it, so you can read it without a commentary open. Allow about 5 minutes for the whole thing, or 6 short sittings.
- Proverbs 9:10
- Psalm 33:8
Read any of these in full on the complete KJV, or look the wording up independently at Blue Letter Bible.
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