The Fear of the Lord (?!)

About fifteen years ago I was talking with a solid, mature brother and he remarked that he just couldn't relate to the idea of fearing God. More recently a very prominent speaker said flatly in public (in my hearing) that the fear of God had no place in a Christian's life. Now we all make mistakes but this was said in a rather adamant way, not as an aside. We need to follow the example of the Bereans (Acts 17:11) and examine the Scriptures daily to see if things are true.
Psalm 19:9 says that the fear of the Lord is clean enduring forever. Deuteronomy 10:12 states, "And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul." (ESV) And the conclusion of twelve chapters of lament in Ecclesiastes is to fear God and obey his commandments. (Ecc. 12:13)
Now some may say that this reflects the Old Covenant and that we are in the New. I wholeheartedly agree that we are in a New Covenant (Thank you, Jesus!) but I find references to fearing God in the NT as well. Matthew 10:28 has Jesus telling us to fear him who can destroy both body & soul in hell. (The devil has no power to do this) Great fear comes upon the church upon the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:5,11) But perhaps this is an unhealthy fear. Acts 9:31 "So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied." Being built up, peace and comfort are mentioned in the same verse as the fear of the Lord with a very positive result. 2 Corinthians 7:1 directs us, "Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God." Philippians 2:12 tells us "to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Finally Peter commands us to fear God. "Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor." (1 Peter 2:17 ESV) Many more references are available but I believe these make the point for those willing to submit themselves to the authority of the Word of God.
I trust that I have written a number of times on the love of God in this blog and that I will again in the future. However the truth that God is love should not be allowed to eliminate the fear which God commands of us towards Himself.