2. Reverence and Awe

World Scripture

The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.
Habakkuk 2.20

The fire of hell has been forbidden to these two eyes: the eye that remained sleepless through watching in the ways of God, and the eye that wept with spirit trembling at the fear of God.
Hadith of Darimi (Islam)

Divine things, Proceeding from the mind Of the unseen kami— How awesome, and Not to be taken lightly!
Norinaga Motoori, One Hundred Poems on the Jeweled Spear (Shinto)

The true believers are those whose hearts are filled with awe at the mention of God, and whose faith grows stronger as they listen to His revelations. They put their trust in their Lord, pray steadfastly, and give in alms of that which We have given them. Such are the true believers. They shall be exalted and forgiven by their Lord, and a generous provision shall be made for them.
Qur’an 8.2-4

The fear of God is mighty and of great weight. Egoism is worthless and just vociferous. Walk under the weight of such great fear; And through Divine grace obtain knowledge of God. None crosses the ocean of existence unless he bear fear; Through fear the fear-directed life is beautified with divine love. Through fear of God, the fire of fear blazes in the human frame. Through fear of God and love is molded spiritual beauty. Without fear of God all that is uttered is misshapen and worthless— The mold and the shaping stroke both blind… Through fear of God vanish worldly fears. The fear of God which eliminates all other fear—how may it be called fear? No other resting place is except Thee; All that happens is Thy will. One might be afraid of it if anything other than God held any fear— To be shaken with such fears is sheer perturbation of mind.
Adi Granth, Gauri, M.1. p. 151 (Sikhism)

Teachings of Sun Myung Moon

Father! Our hearts are filled with fear as we recollect Thy sorrowful historical course. Knowing Thy difficult labors, whenever we approach Thy majesty, our minds are struck with awe.
(6:328, June 28, 1959)

Give reverence and honor to God, who has restrained Himself, silently enduring the path of suffering for thousands of years. Have the heart that God is your true Father. Make a determination that regardless of the suffering you may endure, you will become the central ancestors who will leave behind the Father’s tradition for tens of thousands of years.
(363:254, December 25, 2001)

Although I have a mouth, I keep silent. Not because I do not know how to speak, but because I am cautious that by misspeaking I might go against Heaven’s law. Not because I do not know how to complain, but because of God.
(67:316, July 22, 1973)

Most people curse Heaven, living with resentment and despair; few are the people who pledge their loyalty to God. Since we are among that loyal few, God treats us with seriousness. Nevertheless, think about God’s heart and His situation: How wretched it is that He has such a small group of insignificant people as us with which to restore the world.
(93:217, June 1, 1977)

O Father, Thy sons and daughters gathered here feel fearful
that we might not be adequate to become sons and daughters
who can receive everything Thou wouldst give us,
and who can give everything to Thee.
We fear that we may not be able to represent
the world, history and the cosmos,
when to us Thou wouldst express Thy heart,
the heart Thou hast always wanted to give us.
(35:288, October 25, 1970)