Just asking (18): what does “fear God” refer to?

I have always had problems with rank and seniority though ironically I made my career in government where it was the most rank conscious.

Anyway, it roils me anytime if I am presented with a scenario where there could be classes of Christians in heaven, sort-of in first class, business, and economy!

Imagine my reaction upon reading Ps 103:11-13.

11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.
13 The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.

Sandwiched between two verses saying “those who fear him” lies a bland v 12 “us”.

If there were “halo” above “those who fear him”, on account of certain above average religious and moral behaviours, there were none above “us”.

So are these three verses talking about two different groups of people?

Or the same one group?

Who then are “those who fear him” (vv 11, 13) , and what are their characteristics?

If “those who fear him” (vv 11, 13) points to better “Israelites” or better “Christians”, and different from “us” (v 12), it makes exceedingly funny reading.

Besides, Ps 103 clearly extols the grace and mercy of God towards sinner Israelites. So it is hardly plausible to expect this psalm, even vv 11 and 13, to use “those who fear him” to refer to “better” Israelites, or with Judaistic halos!

But what about this NT passage:

“Now there was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort. He was a devout, God-fearing man **” (Acts 10:1-2, NET)
Here NET provides a note that seems to place a halo on those who fear:
{** The description of Cornelius as a devout, God-fearing man probably means that he belonged to the category called “God-fearers,” Gentiles who worshiped the God of Israel and in many cases kept the Mosaic law, but did not take the final step of circumcision necessary to become a proselyte to Judaism. See further K. G. Kuhn, TDNT 6:732-34, 43-44, and Sir 11:17; 27:11; 39:27. God-fearer}

If God fearing denotes a stronger religious and moral behaviour over the “us” (Ps 103:12), how could one rate the behaviour of Prophet Jonah who claimed:
“I am a Hebrew, and I worship* the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” (Jonah 1:9, NET)

Clearly Jonah didn’t exemplify anyone with halo even a rusty or broken one!

How should one render “fear”?

The note to that NET verse perhaps presents a way forward:
{*Or “fear.” The verb יָרֵא (yareʾ) has a broad range of meanings, including “to fear, to worship, to revere, to respect” (BDB 431 s.v.). When God is the object, it normally means “to fear” (leading to obedience; BDB 431 s.v. 1) or “to worship” (= to stand in awe of; BDB 431 s.v. 2). Because the fear of God leads to wisdom and obedience, that is probably not the sense here. Instead Jonah professes to be a loyal Yahwist—in contrast to the pagan Phoenician sailors who worshiped false gods, he worshiped the one true God. Unfortunately, his worship of the Lord lacked the necessary moral prerequisite.}

So, which group Ps 103:11 & 13 refers to?
Or are they just saying “those who worship him”, just like “us” in Ps 103:12? In the same way as Jonah?

Is there first class, business class, economy?

I’m just asking.