If there is one thing that I believe that our society is really lacking today, is this one thing “Fear of the LORD.” I personally believe that this is the reason that we have such chaos in our streets today. Since the internet has come into existence our world has changed phenomenally in last few decades and I would not say that it has changed for the better. Technology has indeed put the entire world at your finger tips and the whole rest of the world also. We hear about all of these hackers getting into websites from around the world and causing all sorts of havoc for our society alone. Some of these people are all the way on the other side of the world and they believe that there is no accountability. Well, that might be what they think, but I have news for them. God is everywhere and sees and knows everything. If people really knew this and believed it the world would be like heaven on earth. But obviously they do not and they continue to sin against their fellow man. Psalm 36:1 says, “Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God to restrain them.
Fear of the LORD has many benefits! It gives life, security, and protection from harm. It teaches a person to be wise. It is the beginning of wisdom. It lengthens your life. It is the beginning of knowledge. All who have fear of the LORD will hate evil. And it says that evil is avoided by having fear of the LORD.
I want to address the word fear in Scripture, it is typically interpreted in two different ways. The first is like the definition that we typically think of “to be scared”, the second is translated “in reverence of”. To revere someone is to be in total respect of who they are and give them that respect. It is like someone that you look up to and want to please.
I personally fear the LORD “am scared of”, but not because I am afraid of Him, but I do realize that it is His decision of how long I live, the quality of what kind of life I live and where I spend my eternity. As He puts it in Scripture, do not fear man, for he can only kill the body, but fear God for He can condemn the soul, which is the second death that is spoken about in the Book of Revelation. This last Scripture quote was a paraphrase. Then I also fear the LORD, the other way that it is translated. I am so happy that He revealed Himself to me and I know that I am going to spend eternity with Him in heaven that I want to please Him now also, before I get up there. I do what He has commissioned us to do and that is to preach the gospel message and make disciples of men. What a privilege to be able to be involved with the Creator of the entire Universe!!! To know if I die tomorrow that I will wake up in His presence with the assurance of knowing that my name is written in the Book of Life! This is why I fear the LORD. I pray that you have not hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD, because if you have there will be dire consequences to pay, you will read about them in this study and you might want to reconsider your decision. I hope that God blesses you with fear of the LORD and that it catches onto others around you so that our society will get back in order. God does not want you to really fear Him, but He does want you to have a relationship with Him and in order to have a healthy relationship there definitely has to be a certain level of respect. So I hope that you cry out to God to get to know Him and once you know Him you will automatically fear Him, because He is so good!!! Well, I pray that this study enlightens you to who God is and He reveals to you what He wants to do for you, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Proverbs 19:23
Fear of the LORD gives life, security, and protection from harm.
Proverbs 15:16
It is better to have little with fear of the LORD than to have great treasure with turmoil.
Proverbs 15:33
Fear of the LORD teaches a person to be wise; humility precedes honor.
Proverbs 14:26
Those who fear the LORD are secure; he will be a place of refuge for their children.
Proverbs 16:6
Unfailing love and faithfulness cover sin; evil is avoided by fear of the LORD.
Proverbs 2:1-5
My child, listen to me and treasure my instructions. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight and understanding. Search for them as you would for lost money or hidden treasure. Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD, and you will gain knowledge of God.
Proverbs 1:7
Fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. Only fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Proverbs 1:20-33
Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square. She calls out to the crowds along the main street, and to those in front of city hall. “You simpletons!” she cries. “How long will you go on being simpleminded? How long will you mockers relish your mocking? How long will you fools fight the facts? Come here and listen to me! I’ll pour out the spirit of wisdom upon you and make you wise.
“I called you so often, but you didn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention. You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered. So I will laugh when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you – when calamity overcomes you like a storm, when you are engulfed by trouble, and when anguish and distress overwhelm you.
“I will not answer when they cry for help. Even though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me. For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD. They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them. That is why they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way. They must experience the full terror of the path they have chosen. For they are simpletons who turn away from me – to death. They are fools, and their own complacency will destroy them. But all who listen to me will live in peace and safety, unafraid of harm.”
Proverbs 9:10
Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in understanding.
Proverbs 8:13
All who fear the LORD will hate evil. That is why I hate pride, arrogance, corruption, and perverted speech.
Proverbs 10:27
Fear of the LORD lengthens one’s life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.
Psalms 36:1
Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God to restrain them.
Leviticus 19:32
“Show your fear of the God by standing up in the presence of elderly people and showing respect for the aged. I am the LORD.