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Wanted (Or Maybe Not): God Fearing People

It used to be that a “God fearing man or woman” was respected in our nation.  In addition, a God fearing individual was often seen as being needed in a position of leadership or influence.  Not only does that seem to be out of vogue these days, but it seems now there’s a preference for people who hate God and everything about Him.

Is fearing God just some old quaint tradition?  Was it handed down to us by that Judeo-Christian heritage that now seems to be so despised and is being discarded?  Has fearing God become not only unneeded but also undesirable? 

The short answer to those questions is that what we once looked for is something that God has always looked for and continues to look for:

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,” (Deut 10:12)

“Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name.”  (Malachi 3:16)

The longer answers to the questions are, according to the Scriptures, quite compelling:

1.  Those who fear God do so in obedience to God:

“Assemble the people—men, women and children, and the foreigners residing in your towns—so they can listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law.”  (Deut 31:12)

“But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.” (1 Sam 12:24)

“Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him.”  (Ps 33:8)

2.  There are great benefits to those who fear Him:

“Moses said to the people, ‘“Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.’”  (Ex 20:20)

“Then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.” (Prov 2:5)

“The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.”  (Prov 14:27)

“The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.” (Prov 19:23)

“He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.”  (Isa 33:6)

3.  God blesses those who fear Him:

“The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.”  (Ps 25:14)

“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.” (Ps 34:7)

“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;” (Ps 103:13)

“But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children.” (Ps 103:17)

“Praise the Lord. Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands.”  (Ps 112:1)

“The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.”  (Ps 147:11)

4.  When those in positions of authority and influence fear God, it is for the good of all:

“But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.”  (Ex 18:21)

“If you will fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the Lord your God, it will be well.”  (1 Sam 12:14)

“The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: ‘”When one rules over people in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings grass from the earth.’” (2 Sam 23:3-4)

“Now let the fear of the Lord be on you. Judge carefully, for with the Lord our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.”  (2 Chron 19:7)

“Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.”  (Acts 9:31)


The fear of God is not some outdated cliché that once was part of the fabric of a nation founded on a Judeo-Christian heritage.  It is actually something that God looks for and rewards. 

When we no longer esteem that, then we run the risk of sliding into an environment where no one is held accountable to any standard of what is right and wrong.  In that environment, we find ourselves much like the nation of Israel when “everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”  (Judges 21:25) And while that may seem to be so important today in our time of valuing and promoting tolerance, back then it created a state of chaos and confusion and the same can be said for today.

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