Mark Altrogge has been senior pastor of Saving Grace Church of Indiana, Pennsylvania, since 1982. For it brings the Lord pleasure when we trust in him for strength and help, not our own wits and resources. Maimonides categorized the fear of God as a positive commandment, as the feeling of human insignificance deriving from contemplation of Gods great and. So let us fear God – stand in awe of him, take refuge in him, and hope in his steadfast love. Obviously, the Lord doesn’t find any pleasure in the wicked. He doesn’t act wisely or do good because he doesn’t view God as holy and just and serious about punishing sin. The wicked person has such a low view of God and such a lack of awe for God that he doesn’t think God can find out his sin or hate it. He sets himself in a way that is not good The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit That his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. But these things don’t impress God because “His delight is not in the strength of the horse (mighty armies, worldly power) nor his pleasure in the legs of a man (human strength).”īy way of contrast, the wicked person doesn’t fear God – he doesn’t stand in awe of God. We tend to be in awe of worldly power, talent, intelligence, and beauty.

To see God in all his glory and then respond to him appropriately. To fear the Lord is to stand in awe of his majesty, power, wisdom, justice and mercy, especially in Christ – in his life, death and resurrection – that is, to have an exalted view of God. To “fear him” means to stand in awe of him: “Let all the earth FEAR the Lord let all the inhabitants of the world STAND IN AWE OF HIM!” (Ps 33.8). So, in what sense are we to fear God? The “fear” that brings God pleasure is not our being afraid of him, but our having a high and exalted, reverential view of him. Los Angeles designer Jerry Lorenzo founded Fear of God in 2013, quickly becoming a streetwear status symbol through his of-the-moment executions of current ready-to-wear, including cult favorite side-zip hoodies, flannel shirts, bomber jackets, and extra-long T-shirts. I want them to love me and enjoy being with me, not to be afraid of me. Why? Does he enjoy us being afraid of him? I know I don’t want my children to be afraid of me. God commands us to fear him and says that he takes pleasure in us when we fear him. Sitting in his chair, trying to keep people from having fun? A cosmic grouch?

Fear of gid