The Fear of the Lord: The Forgotten Foundation of Flourishing Leadership

Abstract

This thesis argues that the fear of the Lord grounds flourishing leadership. A combination of awe and obedience, the fear of the Lord is consistently called for in kings, governors, and judges in the Bible. This obedient awe grounds flourishing leadership by producing wisdom, integrity, and strong values within leaders, qualities that both the Bible and nearly all cultures find indispensable in leaders. To illustrate this principle, the Books of Samuel present the fear of the Lord as a key thematic difference between David and Saul, a fulfillment of Deuteronomy 17:18-20. These conclusions reveal the need for a new model or theory of leadership teaching based on the fear of the Lord and point to several best practices for researchers, growing leaders, churches, and mentors.