Book of Deuteronomy Fear Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)

Quote #4

"How you once stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when the Lord said to me, 'Assemble the people for me, and I will let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me as long as they live on the earth, and may teach their children so.'" (NRSV 4:10)

Specially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb, when the Lord said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children. (4:10 KJV)

What does "fear" mean when it comes to fearing God? Is it actual fear? Respect? Loyalty? Something completely different? Remember that God wants to be feared and loved at the same time. If you're feared, people will do what you want, and if you're loved, people will agree with what you do. It's a wrap.

Quote #5

[S]o that you and your children and your children's children may fear the Lord your God all the days of your life, and keep all his decrees and his commandments that I am commanding you, so that your days may be long. (NRSV 6:2)

That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. (KJV 6:2)

Translation: fear God and have a long life. Taking your vitamins won't hurt either. The average life span was significantly shorter in the ancient world, so long life was a pretty big deal.

Quote #6

"So now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? Only to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul" (NRSV 10:12)

And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul (KJV 10:12)

Oh, just that? No big deal. Maybe Moses is trying to make the Israelites think that serving God is simple—in spite of that long list of laws. Sure, the nitty-gritty legal stuff is important and holds the community together practically, but it's the fear of God that holds them together emotionally.