Psalm 130: If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.
Verse 4 is interesting. In fact, it seems counterintuitive to say we fear because there is forgiveness.
Another translation (NLT) says "you offer forgiveness that we might learn to fear you". Ye olde King James version says "there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared".
In going to my study notes, I read: The consequence of God forgiving should be that His forgiven people fear Him. Fearing God, a term that in the Old Testament virtually means trusting God, shows itself in obedience and worship. "If you take seriously the guilt of sin, you will take seriously the grace of forgiveness."
So it could be said like this: God's provision of grace to people that don't deserve it, once received, should be life-changing. Forgiveness leads to obedience and worship - not the other way around.
