"Fear of the Lord" – yirat Hashem – it suggests a deep reverence, a profound respect, a commitment to living in accordance with God's will. But who embodies this?
Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psalms, offers some fascinating answers. It’s not just one type of person. It's a tapestry woven with different threads.
First, the Midrash points to the household of David. King David, the poet-warrior, the shepherd turned king. Psalm 119:63 says, "I am a companion of all who fear You." David surrounded himself with those who shared his reverence. He worried about the Ark of God dwelling in a tent while he lived in a cedar house, as we see in 2 Samuel 7:2. And what did God promise David in Psalms 89:29-30? An eternal dynasty, contingent on his children following God’s law. Fear of the Lord, then, is about building a legacy of devotion.
But it doesn't stop there. The Midrash then turns to Pinchas. Remember Pinchas? He took decisive action against Zimri, stopping a plague and zealously defending God's honor. Numbers 25:11 tells us that Pinchas "turned back my wrath from the people of Israel." And God's reward? "My covenant of peace," a perpetual priesthood for him and his descendants (Numbers 25:12). Pinchas shows us that fearing the Lord sometimes means taking a stand, even a difficult or unpopular one, for what is right.
And what about those who weren't born into the tradition? The Midrash includes converts in this category. Abraham himself is cited: "Now I know that you fear God," God says in Genesis 22:12, after Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac. And then there's Obadiah, from 1 Kings 18:3, who "feared the Lord greatly." Rabbi Chanina even suggests that Obadiah's praise is greater than Abraham's or Joseph's because the word "greatly" is used to describe his fear. Converts, those who choose to embrace God's path, exemplify a profound kind of yirat Hashem.
Finally, the Midrash mentions Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as they're known in English. These three refused to bow down to Nebuchadnezzar's idol and were thrown into a fiery furnace, only to be saved by God. Isaiah 43:5 promises, "Fear not, for I am with you." These figures, saved from the fire, represent unwavering faith in the face of immense pressure.
So, what does it all mean? The Midrash paints a multifaceted picture. Fearing the Lord isn't just one thing. It's about building a righteous house like David. It's about courageous action like Pinchas. It's about embracing faith like converts. It's about unwavering trust like Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. And as Psalm 103:17 reminds us, "But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him." This love, this protection, extends not just in this world, but into the world to come.
Ultimately, the Midrash suggests that "those who fear the Lord" are not a select few, but rather a diverse group united by their commitment to living a life of reverence, action, faith, and love. And maybe, just maybe, that includes you and me.