The fear of the Lord is beyond face value. It is not written on the face. For this reason God looks at our heart and not our face. This peculiar kind of reverence is derived from a revelation; a revelation of the wholesome holiness of God.
"A man who has passed through the chastisement of God is one who lives in fear before the Lord" (Watchman Nee).
No problem is more serious than that of a servant of God speaking rashly when he is unsure of God's will. We can be clear about God's will only when we live before Him and draw near to Him all the time (John 5:19,30).
“And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me” (emphasis added by me).
After a long series of deliberations, I find it worthy to note that it is God who causes us to fear Him by revealing His nature as Judge to us.