Zohar on Tehillim 111 – Yirat Shamayim
Tehillim 111:10
- «Reshit Chochmah Yirat Adonai» - (The beginning of wisdom is fear of G-d)
At the beginning, one serves G-d only out of fear of punishment. Without fear of punishment, it is impossible to begin serving G-d at all. Even the righteous must fear the Almighty. That is why those who serve out of love are very, very few.
The primary thing is fear of punishment, since "fear is the gateway to faith", and the world rests upon it.
Fear of the Almighty is the beginning and foundation of all worlds.
(Zohar, Bereishit 11b)
