Monday, October 26, 2009

The Fear Of God

The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death. Proverbs 14:27

The fear of God is an awesome reverence and respect toward God. It is knowing that He is totally righteous and full of mercy and truth, compensating and rewarding the obedient in faith, and judging, chastening and punishing the disobedient. Whatever you fear the most, you will worship. David in his worship to Jehovah wrote the psalm, “Unite my heart to fear Your name” (Ps. 86:11). There is no single aspect of the Christian life that carries with it greater promise of blessing than to the man who walks in the fear of the Lord. The promises of the fear of God will flow like a fountain of life. It brings:

(1) The promise of wisdom. “And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding’” (Job 28:28). A man is only wise if he fears God. And he is a wise man because God is able to direct the steps of his life as a result of living his life in the fear of the Lord.

(2) The promise of spiritual cleansing. “The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether” (Ps. 19:9). The fear of God is like a disinfectant that keeps you morally and spiritually clean.

(3) The promise of guidance, instruction and prosperity. “Who is the man that fears the LORD? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. He himself shall dwell in prosperity, and his descendants shall inherit the earth. The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant” (25:12-14).

(4) The promise of long life. “The fear of the LORD prolongs days, but the years of the wicked will be shortened” (Prov. 10:27). The fear of God will help us discern and avoid the pitfalls in life that may hinder our destiny.

(5) The promise of deliverance from all other kinds of fear. “In the fear of the LORD there is strong confi dence, and His children will have a place of refuge” (14:26). Because God is in control of your life, if you fear God, he will deliver you from all other fears.

(6) The promise of abiding satisfaction and freedom from evil. “The fear of the LORD leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; he will not be visited with evil” (19:23). God will give us the ability to go through our problems without devastating our lives. Our lives will never be disturbed.

(7) The promise of a secure future. “By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honor and life” (22:4). What is the conclusion then? Solomon, the wisest man on earth, at the end of his life puts it this way: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all” (Eccl. 12:13).

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