Reverential awe is the proper response to God's overwhelming majesty, distinguished from the destructive fear of people, which brings a snare. Rightly fearing God removes the need to fear anything else, since He is sovereign and faithful. This fear means giving God the respect due Him in every area of life, expressing itself in hating evil and restraining from sin. It spans a spectrum from mild respect through deep reverence to sheer terror, as experienced by Moses, Israel, and Isaiah. Growing through relationship rather than existing by nature, it matures from self-preserving fright into loving respect. God empowers believers through His Spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. Also see sermons and articles about 'Awe, Reverential'.

Playlist:

playlist Go to the Awe, Reverential (topic) playlist
  • Proverbs 1:7
    The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
    But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
     
  • Ecclesiastes 12:13
    Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
    Fear God and keep His commandments,
    For this is man's all.

     
  • Proverbs 9:10
    " The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
    And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

     
  • Isaiah 6:5
    So I said:
    ' Woe is me, for I am undone!
    Because I am a man of unclean lips,
    And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;
    For my eyes have seen the King,
    The LORD of hosts.'
     
  • Psalm 34:11
    Come, you children, listen to me;
    I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

     
  • Proverbs 8:13
    The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;
    Pride and arrogance and the evil way
    And the perverse mouth I hate.

     
  • Proverbs 15:33
    The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom,
    And before honor is humility.
     
  • Hebrews 12:28-29
    Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.
     
  • Exodus 19:16
    Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.
     
  • Exodus 20:19
    Then they said to Moses, "You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die."
     


Related Scriptures

  • Exodus 5:1-2
    Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’” And Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, nor will I let Israel go.”