The phrase “the fear of God” has received a bad reputation from those who do not understand its meaning. This fear is a reverence for the Lord, and it’s nothing to shy away from, even when some people want to write it out of the pages of Scripture for fear that it might offend or lead someone astray.

There are elements in a healthy fear of God that we must understand and embrace because, without its influence, we will not experience what God wants for us. The poetic wisdom of Proverbs unpacks the fear of God and our pursuit of its treasure.

“Yes, cry out for comprehension and intercede for insight. For if you keep seeking it like a man would seek for sterling silver, searching in hidden places for hidden places for cherished treasure, then you will discover the fear of God and truly worship Him in the awe and wonder that He deserves” (Proverbs 2 3-5) MSG).

To discover the fear of God, we must press deeper into the Lord, asking Him to give us an understanding of that fear. It is something we must seek. We find it in hidden places within the Spirit where those who search for its treasure will discover it.

That seeking is an act of worship. A healthy fear of God enables us to worship the Lord with a sense of awe and wonder that is not possible in its absence. It is the kind of worship the Lord deserves.