527. And to them that fear Thy name, the small and the great, signifies who love the things which are of the Lord in a lesser and in a greater degree. By "fearing the name of the Lord" is signified to love the things which are of the Lord; "to fear" signifies to love, and "the name of the Lord" signifies all things by which He is worshiped (n. 81); by "the small and the great" are signified they who fear the Lord in a lesser and a greater degree. The reason why "to fear" here signifies to love is because everyone who loves also fears to do evil to him whom he loves. Genuine love is not given without that fear. Therefore he who loves the Lord fears to do evils, because evils are contrary to Him, being contrary to His Divine laws in the Word, which are from Him and thus are Himself; yea, they are contrary to His Divine essence, which is that He wills to save all, for He is the Savior, and cannot save man unless man lives according to His laws and commandments. And, what is more, he who loves evils also loves to do evil to the Lord, yea to crucify Him. This lies inmostly hid in all evil, even among those who confess Him with their lips in the world. That it is so is unknown to men, but it is well known to the angels. [2] That "to fear God" signifies to love the things which are of God, by doing them, and by not willing to do those which are against Him, appears from these passages:
What doth Jehovah God require of thee, but to fear Jehovah thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him (Deut. 10:12, 20). Ye shall walk after Jehovah your God, and fear Him, and keep His commandments (Deut. 13:4). Thou shalt fear Jehovah thy God, Him shall thou serve, and to Him shalt thou cleave (Deut. 10:20; 6:2, 13, 24; 8:6; 17:19; 28:58; 31:12). Who shall grant that there may be a heart in them, to fear Me, and to keep My commandments (Deut. 5:29). Teach me Thy way, O Jehovah, unite my heart to the fear of Thy name (Ps. 86:11). Happy is he that feareth Jehovah; that walketh in His ways (Ps. 128:1; 112:1; Jer. 44:10). If I am the Father, where is My honor? and if I am the Lord, where is My fear? (Mal. 1:6; 2:5; Isa. 11:2-3.) I will give them one heart and one way to fear Me, and I will put My fear in their heart, that they depart not from Me (Jer. 32:39-40). The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom (Ps. 111:10). Besides other places; as in Isa. 8:13; 25:3; 29:13; 50:10; Jer. 33:9; Ps. 22:23; 33:8, 18; 34:7, 9; 55:19; 115:11, 13; 147:11; Rev. 14:7; Luke 1:50. But the fear of God with the evil is not love, but the fear of hell.
This page is part of 
© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church