Christian paradoxes: How is happiness to be found in constant fear? Is fear to be the atmosphere or the spirit of a child of God?

The Scream (1893), an Expressionist painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch

Proverbs 28:14

Blessed is the one who always trembles before God,
    but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.

Charles Bridges, MA (1794-1869), preacher and theologian in the Church of England, explains:

Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief

This Proverb fitly follows the last. Confession precedes, godly fear follows, the reception of mercy, as the end for which it is given, and the proof of its reception. (Ps. cxxx. 4.) It implies no uncertainty of our safety; but, by guarding us against fresh wounds of conscience, it more firmly maintains our confidence. If we believe and rejoice in the Lord as "our Sun," we would fear him alway as "a consuming fire." This fear is our security.

Faith without fear is self-confidence and self-delusion.  If he does not fear sin, there is no truth in his assurance


 

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego by Simeon Solomon, 1863.
The three confessors were bold before the Babylonish autocrat;
yet they so feared to offend against God, that "the burning fiery furnace"
was the better alternative in their eyes.

We may here profitably glance at some Christian paradoxes. How is happiness to be found in constant fear? Is fear to be the atmosphere or the spirit of a child of God? Where "love makes perfect," there can be no unquiet rollings or doubtings of heart. (1 John, iv. 18.) But godly fear preserves the sunshine, and seals our special acceptance. (Isa. lxvi. 2.) We walk with our Father in holy watchfulness and peace. Again--We readily conceive the happiness of trust. (Chap. xvi. 20.) How do we link with it the happiness of fear? So far from fear being contrary to faith, it is a component part of it, or at least its inseparable adjunct (Heb. xi. 7); the discipline, that preserves it from presumption. Faith without fear is self-confidence and self-delusion. Nay--the assurance of our "standing by faith" is balanced by an instant and most needful exercise of fear. (Rom. xi. 20.) Who grasped a more triumphant confidence than Paul? Yet without presuming upon a long and consistent profession, self-distrust, watchfulness and diligence established his confidence. 'If there be truth in the Christian's assurance, not sin itself can disappoint him, it is true. But it is no less true, that if he does not fear sin, there is no truth in his assurance.' Instead of being afraid to mix faith and fear, dread their separation. Again--the righteous is bold as a lion (Verse 1); yet he feareth alway. But Christian courage, though opposed to slavish, forms the very essence of godly fear. The three confessors were bold before the Babylonish autocrat; yet they so feared to offend against God, that "the burning fiery furnace" was the better alternative in their eyes.

Holy fear every way identified with happiness.  Live then in constant fear of yourself.



Moses before the Pharaoh,
a 6th-century miniature from the Syriac Bible of Paris.
Pharaoh's hardness of heart, and its consequences,
were but the bravery and ruin of the devil.

Thus is holy fear every way identified with happiness. It is a fear of reverence, not of bondage; of caution, not of distrust; of diligence, not of despondency. In proportion as we are raised above tormenting fear, we cherish a deep reverence of the majesty and holiness of God, a child-like fear of displeasure, a jealousy over our motives, desires, and the risings of our evil propensities, and an abhorrence and shrinking, not only from sin, but from the temptations and occasions of sin. Well does the Christian: know the value of this conservative principle; as far removed from legality as from presumption. One, whose mournful experience gives additional weight to his words, warns us, as "sojourners" in a world of evil, and with hearts so often betraying our steps, to "pass our time in fear." If we be surely, we are "scarcely, saved." (1 Pet. iv. 18.) Though there be no uncertainty in the end, there is appalling difficulty in the way--"Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall." (1 Cor. x. 12.) The man who stands in his own security, requires the caution more than any. Guard against an unheeding confidence. Keep the sentinel at the door. Watch for the enemy at every turn. Suspect a snake in every path, a snare in every creature. "Feed with fear." "Rejoice with trembling." Yea-- "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." None are so established in grace, but in unwatchfulness they may fall into the greatest sin. Live then in constant fear of yourself. This godly fear proves self-knowledge, preserves from self-confidence, produces selfdistrust. In wariness against a fall we are most likely to stand. If weakness be our frailty, the consciousness of it is our strength. "When I am weak, then am I strong." (2 Cor. xii. 10.) The importance of this principle will be seen by the contrast with its opposite. Fear keeps the heart tender, and the soul safe. Security and presumption harden the sinner, and he falls into mischief. Pharaoh's hardness of heart, and its consequences, were but the bravery and ruin of the devil. When David's self-indulgence and carelessness had swept away his tenderness, fearfully did he fall into mischief (2 Sam. xi. 2.) The latter history of his wise son reads the same awful warning. (1 Kings, xi. 1-11.) Peter's fearlessness, though the fruit of ignorance rather than wilfulness, brought him to the very brink of destruction. (Matt. xxvi. 33-35, 41, 74.)

Be deeply sensible to sin

A deep sensibility of sin is a special mercy. To think what it is what it may be; that, indulged only in thought, if the Lord restrain not, it will end in apostasy--Oh! dare we trifle with it? The man, who presumes upon it, as too harmless for eternal punishment, and promises himself peace in the way of his own heart--a voice from heaven could scarcely describe the tremendous horrors of his case. Every word of God is a thunderbolt levelled at him. Scarcely less pitiable is the man, who makes light of his eternal state: living without prayer; so much better in his own eyes than his more ungodly neighbours; and fully satisfied with a mere external preparation for eternity. Forget not--Christian Professor--we may be strong in confidence, only because we are sleeping in delusion, or hardened in insensibility. From all the mischief of self-ignorance and hardness of heart, Good Lord, deliver us !

Source: Bridges, Charles. A Commentary on Proverbs. New York/Pittsburgh: R. Carter, 1847, pages 541 to 543.