What Does "Fear God" Really Mean?

The psalm below speaks of the God Jesus came to teach us about.  

Having said that, I need to clarify the Hebrew word for ‘fear’ in verse 9.  

That term does not mean afraid or scared. It is total awe!  

Before God we stand in total awe, wonder, reverence. Unbelievable amazement.

Being in God’s presence is something so astounding that it causes us to stop breathing. Which is also something that could scare the death out of you (-:)

This God who is illusive, and seemingly impossible to believe in, or have faith in, is beyond our greatest imaginations.  Beyond all definition, intellectual logic or reason.  

That is why God is so difficult to completely wrap our minds and hearts around.  

It is impossible for us to fit Gos into our well shaped mental boxes.  

And so we slowly move away from trying.  We try to find more tangible things to believe in.  We look for meaning, and search for purpose, in what we think we know.  Which often lead to discontent and often frustration; because they cannot fill the empty spot that we crave/strive to fill.

  1 Lord, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. 2 You forgave the iniquity of your people; you pardoned all their sin. 3 You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger. 4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us. 5 Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? 6 Will you not revive us again, so that your people may rejoice in you? 7 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation. 8 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts. 9 Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. 10 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. 11 Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky. 12 The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps.(Ps. 85)

12 The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.

This is my thought: every human person is made to move through life with God as the true north.  

But the problem is we don’t know how.  

So it becomes too difficult — too unreal.  

But I’m here to tell you that it is well worth your most precious time.