I like how throughout history, ever since Adam, in the garden of Eden, said “I was afraid, so I hid” (Genesis 3:10) God has been saying to us, “Fear not” or “Do not fear” or “Don’t be afraid”.
For example, Isaiah 43:1-2, NIV
But now, this is what the Lord says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
He doesn’t say we won’t pass through the waters and the river and the fire. But emotionally, spiritually, he will get us through them somehow.
In the very next chapter of Isaiah God says “don’t be afraid” again! Isaiah 44:1-3, NIV
“But now listen, Jacob, my servant,
Israel, whom I have chosen.
This is what the Lord says—
he who made you, who formed you in the womb,
and who will help you:
Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant,
Jeshurun [Israel], whom I have chosen.
For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,
and my blessing on your descendants.
It’s throughout the Christmas story too, each time the angels appear. When the angel Gabriel appears to Zecharias and Mary he says “Don’t be afraid”. Then the angel who appears to the shepherds says it, Luke 2:10-11 in The Message –
Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master.
Jesus says it in one of my favorite verses in the New Testament, Luke 12:32, NLT –
“So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.
In the Christmas story the angel is saying “Fear not” it to people who are frightened at his appearance. However, in the other contexts “don’t be afraid” is more general, as in, “Don’t be afraid of what life brings your way. Because I will be with you every step of the way.”
So what about verses like Proverbs 9:10 which says “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”.
I think those mean, no-one who is truly wise, speaks without fear of the things of God. No-one who sets out to share what they believe God is saying, who is truly wise, does it without a little fear and trembling, lest they say something that is not of God.
Encouraging people with God’s words is pretty safe because God is the God of encouragement. But, in general, be afraid, be very afraid, of sharing God’s wisdom with others. Because we are supposed to be afraid when we do that. Because fear of the LORD comes right at the beginning of the path to wisdom. Because if we’re 100% certain and have left behind that fear, we might have gone too far and gone on ahead of God. Which is not where he wants any of us to be.