FEAR OF THE LORD - B: 31st Sun in OrdTime

First Reading: Deuteronomy 6:2-6 (31 October 2021)

“If you fear the Lord your God all the days of your life and if you keep all his laws and commandments which I lay on you, you will have a long life, you and your son and your grandson” (Deut 6:2).

This is what Moses said to the Israelites before delivering the greatest commandment on loving the Lord with one’s all mind, soul, and strength (v. 5), functioning as a prerequisite in the performance of divine love. Moses clearly laid what needs to be done first, i.e., fear of the Lord. The book of Proverbs corroborates the importance of this virtue when it says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight” (Prov. 9:10).

But what kind of fear is it? Does it presuppose that everybody should tremble in dread before a transcendental God? Or does it mean paying reverential respect to him with a recognition of his pedestalled status? We recall that as Moses climbed Mt. Sinai to receive God’s commandment in Exo 19:16, God showed his awesome glory before the Israelites with “thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain ... so that all the people in the camp trembled.” The Israelites continued to be filled with fear amid this theophanic scene as smoke, fire, and earthquake emerged from the site (vv. 18). Is Moses then mandating them all to be frightened of this almighty God?

The Hebrew word used in Deut 6:2 is tira’ that is the imperative form of the verb yare’ which means “to fear;” thus, most English Bible versions have the translation: “Fear the Lord.” In the Septuagint, the Greek word used for this is phobēste, which is derived from the verb phobeō. While this action word ordinarily refers to being afraid or frightened, it may also denote having “a profound measure of respect for … with special reference to fear of offending” (cf. BDAG).

Fear of the Lord then can simply mean being righteous and just in one’s behavior and decision.

This nuance is best illustrated in Gen 42:18 when Joseph said to his brothers “Do this, and you shall live; for I am a God-fearing man.” This episode deals with Joseph’s climactic meeting with his brothers in Egypt. In assuring his brothers that he would not inflict them harm in retaliation to what they earlier did to him—given his vast authority as overseer of the land of Egypt (Gen 41:41-45)—Joseph referred to himself as “God-fearing,” not in the sense of being afraid of God’s power but to inform his brothers that he is a just man. Joseph’s subsequent words validate this, “if you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here where you are imprisoned…” (Gen 42:19).

It becomes clear then that the concept of fear of the Lord is not only being afraid of God’s glory, but entails being honest, just, and conscientious so that one does not offend God and others. Fear of the Lord is actually one of the attributes of the Davidic king who is to arrive as Isaiah prophesied: “The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding. A spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord, and his delight shall be the fear of the Lord” (Isa 11:2-3). This new messianic leader will also “judge the poor with justice, and decide fairly for the land’s afflicted…. Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips” (vv. 4-5).

Any true leader should have a fear of the Lord by being just, fair, honest, and concerned of the welfare of the poor, the marginalized, and those who suffer.

As we discern on who will be the next president of the Philippines, may we rigorously examine all aspirants whether they have this same fear of the Lord. The first marker is to check whether they honestly declare their educational decrees and their assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN). The second is whether they have an exemplary track record of good and just governance. The third is whether they advocate and exemplify the principles of equality, fairness, and moral ascendency.

- Rex Fortes, CM