The Fear of the Lord is Significant

When you read the Word, you get the idea that the fear of the Lord is extremely significant, but this topic can be a difficult one to grasp. It seems like the hidden truth of this fear lies in the Word itself.

Proverbs 19:23

The fear of the Lord leads to life and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.

Proverbs 14:27

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.

Exodus 20:20

Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.

These verses tell us that the fear of the Lord is life, it helps us to turn away from death, and if we have it, we may not sin. Often, we have an idea of who God is, and we know what the right path is, but it is so easy to slip into the world of sin. It is so easy to turn away from God and head towards death. So, we need God to help us be faithful and resist sin and temptation, to resist that very subtle pull to be lukewarm. But the Word of God tells us that we should fear the Lord, which will help us turn away from sin and death and turn towards Him so that we will be able to rest satisfied and be not harmed.

What is the Fear of the Lord?

Matthew 10:28

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 

In this verse, we see the definition of the fear of the Lord. It speaks about being afraid of someone who can harm us. So, this fear is being afraid for one’s life. It says that we should not be afraid of anyone who can harm this body but be afraid of the one who can destroy the soul and the body. And it is only God who can do this, and He will only do this if we choose the wrong path.  So, we should fear Him and let that fear keep us from going down the wrong path. But I don’t think just reading this helps us to understand this fear. We cannot just hear this once and truly be fearful of God. So, how do we get that fear of the Lord, do we just will ourselves to fear Him?…….

How do we get that Fear of the Lord?

Proverbs 2:1-5

My son, if you receive my words
    and treasure up my commandments with you,
making your ear attentive to wisdom
    and inclining your heart to understanding;
yes, if you call out for insight
    and raise your voice for understanding,
if you seek it like silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasures,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs tells us that if we receive, treasure, be attentive to, incline our hearts to, call out for insight and understanding of His Word, then we will understand the fear of the Lord. So does the fear of God lie in His words, commandments and knowledge? It says that we should have that intentional desire for the Word. We should see the Word as treasure. We should cry out for the understanding of His Word, and then we will understand the fear of the Lord. It is when we seek His Word like it is life itself, when we see the Word as not just important but as necessary for our lives, it is when we pay close attention to the Word and deliberately seek it, when we search for its hidden treasures, then we will know the fear of the Lord that leads to life.

When we see the Word as God himself, when we want the Word more than anything else, it is then that we will understand the wisdom that He has placed there for us.

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Psalm 111:10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

Job 28:28

And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

Deuteronomy 4:5-6

See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ 

So, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge, and God’s statutes, rules and His Word are our wisdom and understanding. So let us seek the Word more, with intent and great desire. Seek the Word, and then wisdom and understanding will come. And know that even though He is to be feared, He loves us and cares for us without measure. According to the Word, we are more valuable than many sparrows. The more we seek the Word, the more we will understand the fear of the Lord and the knowledge of God.

Matthew 10:29-31

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 

All photos were taken by Kyle or Vani. These photos are from the many adventures we have been blessed to experience together. We are so grateful for every blessing from God. No filters were used nor were the photos edited except for an occasional crop. We hope you enjoy.