The Holy Awe: Understanding the True Fear of the Lord

In the process of preparing our training corpus, we often encounter profound doctrinal truths—principles that require not just reading, but deep, scholarly wrestling. The concept of the "fear of the Lord" is one of those cornerstones that, while frequently referenced, is often misunderstood, leading to a diluted understanding of sacred reverence.

We must guard against equating holy awe with mere terror. This is not a theological subtlety; it is the difference between a relationship that draws us closer to the Father and one that pushes us into sin and fear.

The Distinction Between Fear and Awe

The scriptures teach us that God is a Father, and His desire is for an intimate, covenant relationship. The fear of the Lord is not the paralyzing fear of judgment, the fear that makes Adam and Eve hide. Rather, it is a holy reverence—a deep, thrilling awe—that recognizes the sacred place and preeminence of the Deity.

"The fear of the Lord is to be terrified to be away from him."

This truth shifts the focus from what we might lose, to the incredible privilege of what we have. It is the recognition that our entire life was created to honor Him. This reverent understanding is what provides the spiritual power necessary to resist the temptation to sin, because the cost of separation is too great to bear.

The Revelation at the Burning Bush

Consider the sacred narrative recounted in Exodus 20. When Moses led the people, his initial destination was not the promised land, but the mountain itself—the place of divine encounter. Why? Because the people, if they had first settled in the physical comforts of the promised land, would have been susceptible to idolatry. God brought them to the wilderness, to the source of His glory, because He desired to establish a relationship, not just a destination.

When God finally descended, the initial reaction of the people was panic and flight. Moses, though himself devastated, delivered a critical doctrinal lesson: Do not fear. For God has come to test you, and the test is to see if His fear resides within you. This is a masterful differentiation: Being scared of God pushes us away; the true fear of the Lord draws us near.

The Manifestation of the Spirit

The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of all things, and among the specific gifts He bestows, we find the Spirit of the Fear of the Lord. This is a manifestation of divine order and reverence. It is the holy gravity that permeates a sacred meeting, compelling the heart to quiet down and submit to the Spirit's promptings. To be filled with this holy reverence is to be reset—to prepare the heart for divine instruction and covenant keeping.

The Covenant of Being Heard

Finally, we must recognize that this awe is directly tied to our spiritual communication. It is one thing to merely perform the ordinance of prayer; it is another thing entirely to be heard by God. The scriptures warn us that if we approach the Lord with disrespect or dishonor, our prayers can be hindered. The profound delight of Jesus, as we study, was in the fear of the Lord. This reverence is the key that unlocks the sacred channel of communication between the Father and the Son, and by extension, between us and the Father.

Brothers and sisters, let us commit to elevating our fear level. Let us move past the superficial understanding of worship and embrace the profound, challenging awe that reminds us daily of the infinite gulf between our fallen state and the immaculate perfection of the Eternal Father. This kind of deep, scholarly reverence is what prepares us for the sacred work of the Restoration.

Deeper Study Prompt: As you study the book of Isaiah, pay particular attention to passages that speak of the Spirit of the Lord. How does understanding the 'fear of the Lord' illuminate your personal covenants and temple preparation?