Proper fear is a profound reverence and awe toward God. Such “fear” promotes trust, as Psalm 56:33What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. (Psalm 56:3) states, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” At the same time, this reverential fear, which gives to God his right place in our hearts, delivers us from fearing man, as verse 11 states, “In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.” As illustrated later in the issue, when unbelief or a bad conscience (and, because of it, being out of communion with God) enters, then the anxious fear and the fear of what may happen is sure to come. Our Lord Jesus lived the most difficult life possible and suffered on the cross beyond our understanding. He lived and died with perfect reverencial fear and never experienced anxious fear, being perfectly calm in the face of impending holy wrath and death.
Giving God His right place of reverence and knowing His heart of love, when we walk in obedience to His will, casts out fear and gives boldness both toward God and toward man.