Noah Webster defines fear as, a painful emotion or passion excited by an expectation of evil, or the apprehension of impending danger.
Fear is a complex quality of bad and some good. In such case, the fear of the Lord isn’t evil, rather, a reverence toward God in turn of respect.
Fear, however, primarily does not represent a pleasantry, rather a debilitating effect upon its subject.
Excluding the fear of the Lord as aforementioned, fear cannot be fully explained or address without the acknowledging of evil. However, we live in a modern world wherewith evil is repudiated as intangible. For where evil is acknowledged, modern men in their pride, will in part acknowledge the teaching of the Word of God, but for their resentment of God and the idea of an inclusive society, some have rejected the impression of evil. For where there is evil, there is the opposite of evil, which is good and good is an attribute of God, but they rather not acknowledge God. Therefore, the contrast of good and evil, is that of a blurry distinction.
Nevertheless, the fear of anticipating the worst is more prevalent now, than ever before.
From the youngest among us, to the aged, there are millions across the world living with the uneasiness of the emotion of fear as aroused by the Intellectual anticipation of what might happen. This anticipation expresses itself through worrying or anxiety.
The first five mentioned of fear in the Bible, presents itself through the categories of:
Lawlessness, and its effect
Uncertainty
Mistrust
Hopelessness
Discouragement
Even in the present, despite many years later, there are numerous who are debilitated by fear, while experiencing its effects through the categories as listed.
Of the five listed categories, their commonality is primarily the result of a vacuum or a void. For where there is lawlessness, the law is absent. The presence of uncertainty is the absence of assurance. Whereas, a mistrust is the absence of trust, and lastly without hope, there is the void of Discouragement.
The battle field wherewith these things are carried out, is the human mind. Though not a person is a master of the mind, save He who is its creator. However, these things and more, are the result of a void. May we in respond fill the void of discouragement with hope, in the Lord. A hopeful heart is a sufficiency to the void of hopelessness. Though others may cause hurt to us, the root of mistrust, but there is one who is worthy of Trust, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Even if we can’t trust our fellow men, may we Learn to trust in the Lord. Through this, He is able to bring people of trustworthiness into our lives.
Family, friends and even our actions of the past may cause uncertainty for the future, but Christ is the blessed assurance. May this be our story and our song, singing praises, in hope of that change we all need, but to be hopeful is to be grateful.
Great is Thy faithfulness Lord
Morning by morning new mercies I see
And all I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness
Be anxious about nothing, but in everything by prayer and by petition with thanksgivings, let your requests be made known to God;
(Philippians 4:6)
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🎨PSW·3✒©
I like insight sightful stuff like this, it makes me want to read more.
Really nice
Thanks for taking the time to revisit this and bring out scriptures references.
@Eric, in response to your question, the first five mentioned of FEAR in the Bible and their references:
Lawlessness, and its effect
Uncertainty
Mistrust
Hopelessness
Discouragement
Lawlessness, and its effect
Due to Adam and Eve Lawlessness through disobedience.
(Genesis 9:2) And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.
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Uncertainty
Abram, before he became Abraham, he was uncertain about the future and through this came fear.
(Genesis 15:1) After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in…
Thanks PSW
I'm interested in what you wrote when you said .. The first five mentioned of fear in the Bible, presents itself through the categories of:
Lawlessness, and its effect
Uncertainty
Mistrust
Hopelessness
Discouragement
Could you expound on the list above? Thanks
No wonder the phrase "fear not" is used over and over in the Bible.