HALLELUYAH! HALLELUYAH!! HALLELUYAH!!!
Topic: Embracing the Fear of God
WEEK 34: (Sept 7th – Sept 13th)
Release Date: September 8th
WEEKLY BIBLE READING: Proverbs 8:11-13
11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
INTERPRETATION
One of the most repeated themes in Scripture is the fear of the Lord. Last week, we established that the fear of God is not the kind of fear that terrifies and pushes us away from God, but the holy reverence that draws us closer to Him in humility and obedience. The fear of the Lord is not about being afraid of God’s presence but about honoring His majesty, acknowledging His holiness, and submitting to His authority. In fact, CCC hymn 537 encourages us not to be afraid in the arms of Jesus our Lord. The fear of God invites us into a deeper walk of wisdom and intimacy with Him, having discerned how merciful He is despite His unquestionable authority.
Proverbs 9:10 declares, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” This wisdom does not begin in the classroom or with the acquisition of information; it starts with recognizing who God is, discerning His Will for our lives, and giving Him His rightful place in our lives. When we embrace the fear of the Lord, we walk with the consciousness that He sees, He knows, and He judges righteously even when it does not seem so. It is this awareness that shapes the way we live, the decisions we make, and the way we treat others.
To fear the Lord is to love what He loves and to hate what He hates. Proverbs 8:13 tells us, “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.” Embracing the fear of the Lord, therefore, means rejecting sin and aligning our lives with His holiness. It is not mere lip service, but a heart posture that results in righteous living.
Furthermore, the fear of the Lord is a source of life and security. Proverbs 14:26-27 says, “In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death.” To fear the Lord is to embrace the path of wisdom, which recognizes that there is no safety elsewhere outside of God. When we live in holy reverence of God, we find safety and peace that the world cannot provide. While others may be tossed around by uncertainty, the one who fears the Lord stands firmly, knowing that God is sovereign over all things.
Embracing the fear of the Lord also leads to God’s blessings and favor. Psalm 128:1 declares, “Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways.” The Lord delights in those who revere Him, and He rewards their obedience with His presence, provision, and peace. Sometimes it may seem odd when we decide to choose the path of godly fear, but we must constantly refresh our hearts with what the Word of God promises to those who fear the Lord. A life lived in reverence to God is not a wasted life; it reaps eternal rewards.
The ultimate example of walking in the fear of the Lord is Jesus Christ Himself. Though He is the Son of God, Isaiah 11:2-3 tells us that “the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him… the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. His delight is in the fear of the Lord.” If Christ delighted in fearing the Father, then how much more should we, His followers, embrace the same? May our hearts daily echo the words of Psalm 86:11: “Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.”
PRAYER
Jehovah, Jesus Christ, Holy Michael.
Dear Father, teach us to walk in the fear of Your name. Help us to honor You in our thoughts, words, and actions. Unite our hearts to love righteousness and to hate evil, that we may live wisely, securely, and in the fullness of Your blessing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.