FEAR OF THE LORD

Psalms 112:1
Blessed the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commands.
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We always associate fear with fear of punishment. When we commit a sin, we would hide from our parents to avoid punishment. At that time, a certain fear envelopes us, and we want to escape from that fear and reality. This is defined as “servile fear”.

The fear of the Lord, one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, is a different kind of fear. It is defined as “filial fear”. This gift is described by St. Thomas Aquinas as a fear of separating oneself from God. It is the fear of offending someone whom we love. So, as we grow in our Christian life, our servile fear is continually being replaced by filial fear.

If before, we fear Him because we do not want to be punished, we are being converted to be a person who do not want to commit sin anymore. We fear that committing sin would separate us from Him. Filial sin increases as one loves God more, because it fears sin itself, rather than the consequences of sin. Filial fear sees sin as more “evil” than the punishment that comes from sin. With the gift of fear of the Lord, we are aware of the glory and majesty of God. A person becomes aware that God is the perfection of all we desire: perfect knowledge, perfect goodness, perfect power, and perfect love.

“The Fear of the Lord” is felt because one understands the “fearful expectation of judgment”. Still, this is not a fear that leads one to despair, rather it must be coupled with trust, and most importantly, love. In Psalm 130:3-4, it is said, “If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.”

Do not fear the Lord because we thought He is a punishing God. Let us fear Him because He is a loving God, worthy of our praise and worship and love.

Almighty Father, I approach You today with a full measure of fear and trembling. Not fear in the human sense of the word – but a fear that recognizes You are my God – and helps me to realize I do not have to run and hide. You are love, Oh God and until the day I die I will stand in awe that You willingly came looking for me. Amen +

Blessed the man who fears the Lord.