Stand in Awe, Understanding the Truth and Power of Godly Fear

Oct 04, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Building on Holy Fear: Solomon’s Temple and the Foundation of Wisdom

Solomon’s early reign was marked by awe-filled obedience. He built the temple not as a monument to his power but as a dwelling place for God’s presence. His prayer of dedication revealed a heart anchored in reverence, recognizing God’s supremacy over Israel. This holy fear became the foundation for national unity, divine guidance, and wisdom that drew nations to Jerusalem. Yet this season of flourishing began with a simple choice: to prioritize God’s glory over human ambition. The temple’s stones silently testify that true greatness starts with trembling before the One who inhabits eternity. [01:46]

“Then the word of the Lord came to Solomon, saying, ‘Concerning this house that you are building, if you will walk in my statutes and obey my rules and keep all my commandments and walk in them, then I will establish my word with you, which I spoke to David your father. And I will dwell among the children of Israel and will not forsake my people Israel.’”
(1 Kings 6:11–13, ESV)

Reflection: What “temple” are you building in your life right now—a project, relationship, or role—that needs to be anchored in holy fear rather than personal ambition?

Day 2: When Silver Becomes Common: The Cost of Abandoning Reverence

Solomon’s 12,000 horses and silver “as common as rocks” were more than excess—they were rebellion masquerading as success. Each additional wife, each gleaming chariot, became a calculated step away from the fear that once defined him. His story warns that holy fear isn’t lost in dramatic falls but in incremental compromises. When blessings become entitlements, worship shifts from the Giver to the gifts. The man who once sought God’s face now stared at reflections of his own glory in polished metal, proving that abundance without awe breeds emptiness. [03:28]

“Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’ And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.”
(Deuteronomy 17:16–17, ESV)

Reflection: Where might God’s blessings in your life—possessions, relationships, or opportunities—be subtly becoming substitutes for wholehearted reverence?

Day 3: The Grand Canyon Edge: When Fear Saves Instead of Paralyzes

Standing at the Grand Canyon’s edge, holy fear whispers, “Step back”—not to limit joy but to preserve life. Solomon’s later writings reveal a man who lost this protective awe, tumbling into cynicism. Yet the same fear that guards us from cliffs can keep our hearts from spiritual freefalls. This isn’t the fear that clutches control but the reverence that releases it, trusting the Creator’s boundaries over our judgment. Like oven mitts shielding hands from burns, holy fear protects our souls from self-destruction disguised as freedom. [11:37]

“In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.”
(Proverbs 14:26–27, ESV)

Reflection: What current situation in your life feels like a “cliff’s edge” where holy fear—not panic—could guide you toward life-giving boundaries?

Day 4: Jesus’ Delight: The Fear That Draws Us Near

Isaiah’s prophecy reveals a stunning truth—the Spirit of the fear of the Lord rested on Jesus Himself. This wasn’t terror but rapturous awe that fueled His intimacy with the Father. Like a child both secure and speechless before a parent’s majesty, Jesus’ reverence became the gateway to divine counsel and power. His delight demolishes the lie that fear distances us from God. Instead, holy fear becomes the dance floor where love and awe intertwine, transforming duty into desire. [14:15]

“There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse… And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.”
(Isaiah 11:1–3, ESV)

Reflection: How might embracing Jesus’ kind of delighted reverence shift your perception of God from a ruler to demand obedience to a Father worth adoring?

Day 5: Grace and Trembling: Working Out Salvation with Holy Awe

Paul’s charge to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling” isn’t a call to anxious striving but to awestruck cooperation. The early church walked in both the Spirit’s comfort and holy fear, their worship deepening as grace multiplied. Like a child assisting a parent in building a treehouse—hands trembling at the height yet secure in the embrace—we partner with God. Holy fear becomes the scaffolding where divine initiative and human response meet, proving that trembling knees can still dance in grace. [16:14]

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
(Philippians 2:12–13, ESV)

Reflection: Where is God inviting you to actively “work out” what He’s “working in”—not through self-effort but surrendered awe?

Sermon Summary

Solomon’s life gives a vivid picture of what happens when the fear of the Lord is present, and what happens when it is lost. Solomon began as the king who could do no wrong, building the temple, dedicating it to God, and writing Proverbs out of a life ordered by holy fear. Deuteronomy had warned Israel’s kings not to multiply horses, silver and gold, or wives, yet Solomon went to excess in every category. Solomon gathered 12,000 horses, made silver as common as rocks, and took 700 wives and 300 concubines until his heart turned away from God.

Ecclesiastes reveals the emptiness that followed. Solomon, having lost the fear of the Lord, looked at life and called it meaningless. Ecclesiastes, however, ends with a recovery: “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is man’s all.” God brings every work into judgment, including secret things, and holy fear restores life to reality.

Isaiah 33:6 calls God the sure foundation for the times, a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge, and names the fear of the Lord as the key to that treasure. Fear itself is not always harmful. Destructive fear can make a person cling too tightly to a spouse, chase FOMO, or hover over children until fear damages what it claims to protect. Constructive fear, however, causes a person to step back from the Grand Canyon, respect a grizzly bear, and use mitts when handling a hot pan.

The fear of the Lord is not being scared of God and withdrawing from Him. Jesus Himself delighted in the fear of the Lord, showing that holy fear produces intimacy, wonder, obedience, and awe. Grace and godly fear are not opponents. The New Testament joins the comfort of the Holy Spirit with walking in the fear of the Lord, calls believers to holiness through fear, and commands reverence before the consuming fire of God.

The fear of the Lord cannot be reduced to one sentence. Holy fear shapes intentions, thoughts, words, and actions; gives God what belongs to Him; produces authentic humility; and brings the inward life and outward behavior into agreement. God attaches great promises to this fear: friendship with Him, confidence in bad news, wisdom, holiness, protection, fruitfulness, fulfilled desires, and freedom from destructive fears.

Key Takeaways

1. Holy fear is life’s sure foundation. Isaiah presents God as the sure foundation for unstable times, but the key to His treasure is the fear of the Lord. Holy fear does not merely add religious seriousness to life. Holy fear places salvation, wisdom, knowledge, and stability in their right order under God’s rule. [06:50]
2. Excess reveals a heart drifting from God. Solomon did not simply make a few poor choices; his multiplying of horses, silver, and wives openly contradicted God’s command. Sin often takes the form of excess, as though the heart is trying to prove it no longer needs boundaries from God. The fear of the Lord teaches the heart to receive God’s limits as life, not restriction. [02:43]
3. Godly fear drives destructive fears away. Fear of the Lord is “the death of every fear” because God becomes greater than the threats that once ruled the heart. This does not mean danger disappears or hard news never comes. It means confidence grows as the soul learns that God is more weighty, more present, and more worthy of trust than any lesser fear. [12:10]
4. Grace and reverence belong together. Grace does not make reverence unnecessary, and reverence does not compete with the comfort of the Holy Spirit. God works in His people both to will and to do His good pleasure, while holy fear brings conduct into alignment with His holiness. The consuming fire of God is not an excuse for withdrawal but a call to acceptable worship. [15:59]
5. Holy fear opens the way to friendship. The fear of the Lord is not cold distance from God but the starting place for intimacy with Him. God makes His covenant known to those who fear Him, because awe clears away the presumption that treats God casually. Friendship with God deepens where His greatness is treasured and His words are obeyed.

## [22:04]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:14] - Solomon’s Fear of the Lord
[02:43] - Solomon Ignores God’s Warnings
[04:47] - Meaninglessness Without Holy Fear
[06:50] - The Key to God’s Treasure
[07:43] - Destructive and Constructive Fear
[11:57] - Four Truths About Fear
[13:16] - Jesus Delighted in Holy Fear
[14:30] - Grace and Godly Fear
[18:05] - The Everlasting Gospel
[20:02] - What It Means to Fear God
[22:04] - The Benefits of Holy Fear
[25:48] - Wisdom, Holiness, and Fulfilled Desires

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Isaiah 33:6
“And he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is Zion's treasure.” [06:50]

Ecclesiastes 12:13
“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” [06:06]

Deuteronomy 17:16-17
“Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the Lord has said to you, 'You shall never return that way again.' And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.” [02:43]

Observation questions

In Deuteronomy 17:16–17, what three areas were Israel’s kings warned not to multiply, and how did Solomon go to excess in each one? [02:43]
What connection is made between Solomon’s loss of the fear of the Lord and his view that life had become meaningless? [04:44]
According to Ecclesiastes 12:13, what two responses summarize humanity’s whole duty before God, and what reason is given in the next verse? [06:08]
In Isaiah 33:6, what treasures are connected with God being the sure foundation, and what is identified as the key to them? [06:50]

Interpretation questions

Why would God’s commands to Israel’s kings place limits on horses, wealth, and wives? What do those limits reveal about the kinds of security and satisfaction people are tempted to seek apart from God? [04:09]
Ecclesiastes ends by joining the fear of God with keeping His commands. Why is obedience an important part of holy fear rather than merely an outward rule-keeping exercise? [20:05]
Isaiah calls God the sure foundation for unstable times and connects His treasure with the fear of the Lord. How might holy fear bring stability when circumstances, news, or relationships feel uncertain? [22:51]
How can the fear of the Lord lead to closeness with God rather than avoidance of Him? What does Jesus delighting in the fear of the Lord help clarify about this kind of fear? [13:12]

Application questions

Solomon’s drift showed up in excess. Is there an area of life—money, comfort, possessions, entertainment, work, relationships, control, or approval—where “enough” has become hard to recognize? What would it look like to receive God’s boundaries as life-giving? [04:20]
Destructive fear can lead someone to cling too tightly to a spouse, chase every new experience, or control children. Which lesser fear most often pressures your decisions, and what effect has it had on your relationships or peace? [08:15]
Holy fear does not mean being scared of God and pulling away from Him; it produces awe and intimacy. What practices could help you approach God this week with both confidence in His grace and deeper reverence for His holiness? [13:12]
The fear of the Lord shapes intentions, thoughts, words, and actions. Where is there a gap between your outward behavior and your inward motives, thoughts, or words? What honest step could help bring those areas into agreement? [20:16]
Godly fear drives out destructive fears because God becomes greater than the threats that trouble us. What specific bad news, uncertainty, or outcome are you tempted to fear right now? How can the group help you place that concern under God’s care? [23:12]
The fear of the Lord is connected with wisdom, holiness, confidence, and friendship with God. Which of these do you most long to see grow in your life, and what is one simple act of obedience you can take this week? [21:23]

Sermon Clips

51s

#SolomonsWarning

“Not just a lot of horses, but 12,000 horses. Not just a lot of silver, but so much silver that silver was like rocks. not just a lot of wives, dozens of wives would have been enough, but 700 of them. And afterwards, Solomon, without the fear of the Lord, to him, life became meaningless. He who wrote the book of Proverbs early on, now wrote the book of Ecclesiastes. And in it, he wrote that everything in life is meaningless.”

69s

#FearWithWisdom

“The Bible tells us 365 times to fear And this leads many Christians to conclude that God doesn't want any kind of fear. But these verses all refer to destructive fear. if I'm at the edge of this step and I have half of my feet over the edge and I wear a size fourteen and seven of them are over the edge. If at this point, I get afraid, that's not good. That is weird. But if I'm standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon, then that kind of fear causes me to step back be saved.”

40s

#FearOfTheLord

“And as pastor Nate said, let's don't confuse the spirit of fear from the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is not being scared of God and thus withdrawing from him for how can we enjoy intimacy with someone that we are afraid of? Instead, this fear of the Lord enhances our relationship with God, and we know that because Jesus himself delighted in the fear of the Lord. That's right.”

51s

#FourTruthsAboutFear

“There are four truths about fear. We are human, and we will fear something or someone. And we are suggesting that the fear of God is what we should be fearing. fear of God is the beginning of everything good. The fear of God swallows up all destructive fears. And we're going to discover during this spiritual growth campaign that the fear of God is way deeper, more beautiful, and intimate than we can possibly imagine.”

45s

#FreedomThroughFaith

“The biblical picture is just beautiful. The person who properly fears the Lord is increasingly free from fearing anything else in life. The fear of the Lord is how we mature in our salvation and are conformed to the image of Christ. And I've already mentioned some of these scriptures when I read through the ones in the New Testament. Philippians two says, work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you.”

52s

#HealthyFear

“For years, people have tried to eradicate all fear and through their efforts have overlooked and deemphasized this one key to the treasures of God. And you've heard them, voices across all platforms would shout that we need to find a way to get rid of all fear. And there are thousands of self help books that are designed to do exactly that. But the truth is that not all fear bad for you.”

48s

#BlessedAndFruitful

“The fear of the Lord also makes us productive and empowers us to multiply. And if you would like to have that benefit in your life over the spiritual growth campaign, put a check mark next to it. Psalm 120 eight:one and four says, the person who fears the Lord is blessed in his work, household, and family. In Psalm 112, it says, blessing accompanies the one who fears God. And in Proverbs 14, holy fear brings security and life.”

50s

#GuardYourHeart

“The third thing that the king was told to do was not to have many wives because they would ultimately turn his heart away from God. And so, Solomon did not take this command seriously. He had over 700 wives and 300 concubines. And alas, they did turn his heart away from God. It was almost as if he was trying to prove that he didn't fear the Lord anymore by going to all of these excesses.”

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