The Fear of God

“The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.” (Psalm 36:1)

Among the fourteen points of the indictment against the human race in the third chapter of Romans is, “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:18)

The “fear of God” includes reverence and awe for God, the fear of His judgment for the breaking of His laws and the acknowledgement of who He is and His grace, love and mercy.

Our text indicates that the sin of the wicked leads the Psalmist to conclude that the wicked have no “awe” or respect for God, and they think He is not serious about judgment for their violation of God’s laws. Their rejection of God’s salvation is nothing to them, since in the mind of the wicked, they have no condition that would require a Savior.