Fear that pleases God, and for which we were created

The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy.
Psalm 147:11

We were created for God’s pleasure (Rev. 4:11 KJV).  Therefore it behooves us to seek always to please Him.  The psalmist declares that one of the ways we can do this is by fearing Him.

The initial fear is fear of His just judgment of sinners, which we all are (Rom. 3:23, 6:23).  This fear, acted upon correctly, leads us to cry out for mercy and receive forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ.

The fear of God in the hearts of those who are forgiven leads the redeemed to fear, not God’s wrath since that has been taken by Christ in their place, but to fear sinning against One who has loved and forgiven us so freely.

Then, having received forgiveness, the redeemed hope in His mercy.  This hope does not end when forgiven.  It continues for the rest of our lives as every day we experience new mercies of God—mercies by which we are continually forgiven, cleansed of all unrighteousness, and carried through all of life’s ups and downs.  Whether we are riding the crest of the wave of God’s kindness or we are being crushed by the inevitable trials of this life, our hope is in God’s mercies.  And in His mercies we stand, secure in the Father of mercies.

It is as we fear the Lord and hope in His mercy that we please Him.  And it is for this purpose we were created.