“The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him... the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. His delight is in the fear of the Lord...” — Isaiah 11:2–3, Proverbs 9:10, Psalm 147:11, Hebrews 5:7
The fear of the Lord isn’t about dread—it’s about awe. It means recognizing that God is Creator, Owner, and the rightful Ruler of our lives. Jesus walked in this kind of fear, and He delighted in it. He didn’t resist the Father’s will; He trusted it. This Spirit of joyful surrender—the Spirit of the fear of the Lord—rested on Jesus and now lives in us.
Scripture says this fear is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). It’s where understanding starts: not when we have all the answers, but when we humble ourselves before the One who does. In Gethsemane, Jesus offered up prayers with cries and tears—not out of panic, but out of reverent trust (Hebrews 5:7). His fear of the Lord didn’t weaken Him—it revealed His strength.
This kind of fear doesn’t drive us away from God—it draws us closer. Psalm 147:11 says the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy. Reverent hearts are trusting hearts. To fear the Lord is to know He is both holy and merciful, just and loving. It's living with the deep awareness that He holds all authority—and that His will is always good.
In the end, Solomon said it clearly: “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). That’s the conclusion of all our striving, questioning, and searching. To live in awe of God, surrendered to His will, is what we were made for. The Spirit of the fear of the Lord leads us into this kind of life—a life of wisdom, peace, and joyful surrender.
Father, awaken in us a deeper reverence for who You are. Let the Spirit of the fear of the Lord lead us to joyful surrender, just as it did with Jesus. Teach us to delight in Your authority, not resist it. Help us live with hearts that stand in awe—honoring You as our Creator, our King, and our Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
