The Hebrew word "yare" means reverence and awe but is not limited to that. It also means fear, fearful and afraid. If we fear anything other than God, we are being deceived from the truth of God's Word. God is the only Person, Deity, or object in the universe worthy of our fear.
We said in the past studies that the fear of God is closely linked to the illumination of His sovereignty. We also said that the fear of God is linked to the wisdom of God. The fear of God also causes us to HATE SIN the way that the Father hates sin.
There is too much tolerance for sin within the body of Christ. The body of Christ as a whole has joined the world in tolerating sin, compromising with sin, the renaming of sin to make it sound softer and more acceptable, participating in sin, and in general is still a slave to sin.
The true fear of God causes a believer to feel about sin the way the Father feels about it. Someone cannot say that they love God and that they fear God and be in love with sin and the world at the same time. We are not called to give our own definition to sin and pick and choose what we would call right and wrong. If so, sin would be defined as what is right or wrong in our own eyes. In doing so, there would be no measuring tool or standard.
God's Word and God's Character is always the final authority and standard as to what is called "SIN." Wherever there is an awe of God there is a dread of sin.
Fear of God And hatred of Sin
Proverbs 8:6-7 ESV Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right, (7) for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
Proverbs 8:13 ESV The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.
Proverbs 16:6 ESV By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.
Amos 5:14-15 ESV Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said. (15) Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.