The Substance of ‘The Fear of the Lord’

Scripture passage: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” (Proverbs 1:7)

1. Brief note on the passage

The fear of the Lord signifies that religious reverence which every intelligent being owes to his Creator. It is often used to express the whole of religion. Religion is the love of God, and the love of man.

The former produces all obedience to the Divine will. “He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.” (John 14:24) It is the love of God that sheds in the heart the deepest religious reverence, genuine piety, and cheerful obedience.

The latter brings about every act of benevolence to one’s fellow human beings. The love for God and the love of others cannot be separated. One is incomplete without the other. “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:8)

Reverential fear of the Lord is the prerequisite of knowledge. The term “fear” means to reverence, to be afraid, to stand in awe of, to honor, or respect. With the Lord as the object, this word captures both aspects of shrinking back in fear and of drawing close in awe. It is not the same as the outburst of human anger. It is not a trembling dread that paralyzes action, but neither is it a polite reverence. “The fear of the LORD” ultimately expresses reverential submission to the Lord’s will and thus characterizes a true worshiper. In this context, it is the first and controlling principle of knowledge.

The reverential fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, the principle, the first moving influence, begotten in the conscience by the Spirit of God. No man can ever become truly wise, who does not begin with God, the fountain of knowledge.

On the other hand, fools disdain wisdom and discipline. The term “fools” describes those who lack understanding (Proverbs 10:21), fail to attain wisdom (Proverbs 24:7), are filled with pride (Proverbs 26:5), and are contentious (Proverbs 20:3). Fools are people who despise wisdom and discipline; they treat these virtues as worthless and contemptible.

2. What it means to fear the Lord

When we think of fear, we associate the word with terror. But this is not the sensation the writer of Proverbs is referring to. What the writer of this book is saying is that we are to have a deep reverence and respect for the Lord. Literally, we are to be awed and humbled by his presence.

When we truly fear the Lord, we will recognise that he is the Creator and we are the creatures. He is the Master and we are the servants. He is the Father and we are the children. To put it simply, the fear of the Lord is a deep-seated reverence for God that causes men to want to please him at all costs. Genuine fear of the Lord is always seen in obedience to the Word of God. People who do not walk in line with God’s word do not fear the Lord, regardless of what they profess with their lips. Therefore, when we fear the Lord, there is an element of dread at what His wrath can do, but there is also such a respect for him and for his will that nothing else matters but doing that which pleases the Lord.

3. Benefits of fearing the Lord

According to this book, the fear of the Lord will produce certain benefits in our lives. When we fear the Lord, we will find certain things to be true.

a) It is the beginning of wisdom

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7)

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10)

The best place to begin the search for true wisdom is in the fear of the Lord. True fear of the Lord is born out of knowledge of how infinitely powerful, how majestic, and how full of goodness God is. Before one can grow in the Lord, he must first learn to fear him.

b) It motivates people to holiness

“By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.” (Proverbs 16:6)

The fear of the Lord promotes holy living. The person who truly reverences and respects the Lord will not do anything that brings disgrace, dishonor, or pain to the heart of the Lord. People who genuinely fear the Lord will flee from evil.

c) It prolongs life

“The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.” (Proverbs 10:27)

Many things can happen along the road of life and take us out of here in an instant. However, generally speaking, those who live in the fear of the Lord are more likely to live to a good old age than those who live for the flesh and the world.

Approximately 60% of human illnesses can be traced directly or indirectly to fear, sorrow, envy, resentment, guilt, hatred, or any number of emotional stresses. Add to that the awful pain caused by alcohol (cirrhosis of the liver), tobacco (cancer, heart disease), and immorality (venereal diseases and HIV AIDS). We can see that a life lived in the fear of the Lord with obedience to his word will result in a much healthier existence.

d) It produces security

“In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.” (Proverbs 14:26)

When we are walking in the fear of the Lord, we can have confidence that God is on our side. The person who is walking in the fear of the Lord and is living by the Book will have fewer feelings of insecurity, abandonment, and fear. There will be far fewer times when salvation is doubted. The fear of the Lord produces a strong sense of security and close fellowship with the Father. This is a blessed benefit!

e) It produces life

“The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.” (Proverbs 14:27)

When we walk in the fear of the Lord, we are stronger spiritually than we could be otherwise. The fear of the Lord is like a fountain that continually springs up with spiritual vitality and strength. This enables the Christian to walk holier and closer thus avoiding the temptations and snares of the devil.

f) It produces satisfaction and safety

“The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.” (Proverbs 19:23)

The person who lives in the fear of God will be a satisfied person. They will have one goal in life, pleasing the Lord. They will not be visited with evil. The person who walks in the genuine fear of the Lord need never fear going to Hell, he need never fear many of the things that beset the world around him.

g) It brings great blessings

Proverbs 22:4 “By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honor, and life.”

The person who chooses to walk in the fear of the Lord can rest assured that this decision will bring great blessings into his life. There will be spiritual riches beyond belief, like peace, joy, hope, security, the promises of God, and the presence of God. There will be honor from the Lord, and there will be abundant life.

4. Live in fear of the Lord

To fear God is to understand God. We know that God is love and full of mercy, but we also must recognize that God is holy and, by his very nature, must judge sin. To fear the Lord is to trust and believe him to hear your prayers, to forgive your sins, to help, to provide, and to save. A life lived in the fear of the Lord will influence and impact you. If you fear him, then you will want to honor him in everything. He will come first and he will be paramount in your life. Walking continually in the fear of the Lord will cause one to shun evil and flee from sin.

May the Lord help us all to walk in a reverential awe of the Lord, and his greatness and his glory. May his people always be a people who fear the Lord and prove it by living according to his word.

Selie Visa