THE GOOD FEAR
Proverbs 14:2, 26-27 NKJV
2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord,
But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.
26 In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence,
And His children will have a place of refuge.
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from the snares of death.
The title was not a mistake. There exists a fear that is healthy and good and produces good things in our lives.
It can’t be the fear of failure. That is a fear that drives people. To some, it drives them to success, but it comes with a price. That fear is never quenched, and it can come at a great cost to the one who is driven. And for some, the fear of failure leads them to certain defeat because they never venture out and take any risks.
The fear of man is a snare. The fear of the future can be crippling. The fear of snakes. Well, that’s a fear we can tolerate. But all the fears I have listed are not healthy. And depending on the level of fear, it can be toxic.
However, the fear of God is a good fear. The fear of God is not a fear of His punishment and harm. Rather, it’s a reverence and respect for God that leads to our not wanting to displease Him. Our verses for today describe this fear of God and some of its fruits.
A fear of God will cause us to live right. We walk in uprightness, or the right way in His sight, because of our respect and honor of God. And when we do miss it, we regret not being pleasing to Him more than we are afraid of impending judgment. The person who despises God engages in ways that are wrong, and especially wrong from God’s standard. The word despise is not used the way we typically use the word today. I despise onions. Actually, I hate onions, but the intense dislike is there. Despise in the Hebrew language meant to think lightly of. When someone thinks lightly of God, it takes the restraints off their behavior. Keeping in mind there are times when the best of us falls short. But someone who fears God is quick to repent and get back on track.
The reverence and respect for God create a strong confidence in us. And a strong confidence in God is a strong safe place for a family. If you are a single parent raising children, one of the greatest things you can do for your kids is have a relationship with the Lord that is genuine. Coupled with a fear of God that is tangible, that confidence creates a strong, safe environment for your family. Also, God’s children who fear their God have a place of refuge for their own lives. Walking out of fellowship with the Lord is not a confident place.
In the fear of the Lord is a fountain of life. And that life helps resist and turn away from the death that is in the world. I don’t know everything about what that fountain of life is. But it sounds good to me and beats any kind of snare of death.
The fear of the Lord can be learned and developed in our lives. This is another area where we can grow. And the results of a fear of God are worth the effort.
PRAYER
Lord, I fear You and have such a deep appreciation and respect for who You are. Thank You for forgiving me when I have fallen short. I purpose to grow in the fear of You.