Reverence for God results from considering his nature and all that he has done.
Believers should revere God and meditate upon his deeds
1 Samuel 12:24 See also Joshua 24:14; Job 25:2, Job 37:23–24; Jeremiah 32:40–41; Malachi 2:5
Above all, fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.
Reverence is to be reserved exclusively for God
Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only, and take your oaths in His name. Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you.
Reverence for God's creative activity
Deuteronomy 10:20–21 See also 1 Samuel 12:18; 1 Chronicles 16:25; Psalm 33:8–9; Ecclesiastes 3:14; Jeremiah 5:22–24; Habakkuk 3:2
You are to fear the LORD your God and serve Him. Hold fast to Him and take your oaths in His name. He is your praise and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome wonders that your eyes have seen.
Reverence for God's eternal existence
1 Timothy 1:17 See also 1 Timothy 6:16
Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Reverence for God's name
Malachi 4:2 See also Isaiah 59:19; Malachi 1:14; Revelation 11:18
“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall.
Reverence for God's holiness
Isaiah 8:13 See also Psalm 96:4; Isaiah 29:23; Jeremiah 10:7; Revelation 15:4
The LORD of Hosts is the One you shall regard as holy. Only He should be feared; only He should be dreaded.
Reverence for God's word
Isaiah 66:2 See also Deuteronomy 4:10–11; Ezra 9:4, Ezra 10:3
Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.
Reverence for God's works
Ecclesiastes 3:14 See also Exodus 14:31; Psalm 64:9
I know that everything God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God does it so that they should fear Him.
Reverence for God's mercy and compassion
Psalm 5:7, Psalm 22:23, Psalm 130:4
Reverence for God's intervention in healing
Matthew 9:8 parallels Mark 2:12, Luke 5:26
Reverence for God's judgment
Exodus 14:31; Amos 3:8; Jonah 1:16; Revelation 14:7
Reverence for God's anger
Deuteronomy 6:14–15; Psalm 2:11–12, Psalm 76:7
Gentile nations will also revere and fear God
Psalm 67:7 See also Joshua 4:24; 1 Kings 8:43 parallel 2 Chronicles 6:33; 2 Chronicles 20:29; Psalm 76:11–12, Psalm 102:15; Isaiah 59:19; Jeremiah 33:9
God blesses us, that all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.
Reverent fear of God is not mere terror but includes trust
Exodus 20:20 See also Genesis 28:16–17 Jacob feels reverent awe in the presence of the God who has just promised to bless him; Psalm 2:11; Acts 9:31
“Do not be afraid,” Moses replied. “For God has come to test you, so that the fear of Him may be before you, to keep you from sinning.”
Reverent fear of God is a remedy against other fears
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.