Category Archives: Godly Fear

Courageous Through Scripture (Psa 119.161)

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Princes have persecuted me without a cause:
But my heart standeth in awe of thy word (Psa 119.161).

Godly courage is the universal mark of true believers. Once a cowardly sinner has experienced a grace-wrought inner transformation so that he is fundamentally turned from the fear of idols to love of the true and living God, then you may behold a man of radically changed loyalties. “The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits;” though no less a terrifying ruler than Antiochus Epiphanes1 opposes them, yet they are prepared to die for their faith (Dan 11.32).
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On Godly Fear (Psa 119.120)

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My flesh trembleth for fear of thee;
And I am afraid of thy judgments (Psa 119.120).

“No fear” was a popular t-shirt slogan of the last decade, praising the courage of extreme sports competitors who risked severe and even fatal injury.1 We crave fearlessness because fear feels bad and it paralyzes us in the attempt of great things. Or at least, so it seems.

Is there any proper place for fear in the Christian life? When believers get to heaven, will we then finally be done with fear? The Bible’s doctrine of fear is finely nuanced, requiring much study, reflection, and divine illumination to grasp accurately, intellectually, and devotionally. Some verses speak positively about fear, and others condemn it. The ungodly have no fear of God (Rom 3.18), yet they are finally sentenced to the lake of fire for their cowardice (Rev 21.8). The blessed fear always (Prov 28.14), and at the same time they are bold as lions (Prov 28.1). Our text is an important part of the whole witness of God’s Word on this important topic.
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