In sermon prep for last Sunday I walked through all the biblical references to the fear of the Lord. One thing that struck me this time was all the blessings that are promised to attend the fear of the Lord.
I tried to pull these references together to summarize what the Bible promises to us as we fear God in order to be more deeply impacted by this call. Here is what I came up with:
The fear of YHWH is the beginning of wisdom (Ps111:10; Prov 9:10), the beginning of knowledge (Prov 1:7). It is instruction in wisdom (Prov 15:33). It keeps you from sin (Leviticus, various passages), causes you to turn away from sin (Prov 3:7); in fact, by the Fear of the Lord you turn away from evil (Prov 16:6). It is “the hatred of evil” (Prov 8:13).
“The fear of the Lord is Zion’s treasure” (Isa 33:6)
It prolongs life (Prov 10:27) and brings riches and honor and life (Prov 22:4). In fact “The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm” (Prov 19:23). “It will be well with those who fear God” (Eccl 8:12). The eye of the Lord is on the one who fears Him (Ps 33:18) and the angel of the Lord encamps around him (Ps 34:7). The fear of the Lord gives one a strong confidence and provides a refuge for such a man’s children (Prov 14:26).
The Lord takes pleasure in the one who fears him (Ps 147:11) and will show fatherly compassion to him (Ps 103:13). The Lord’s mercy “is for those who fear him” (Luke 1:50).
“For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him-
the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children’s children,
to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.” (Ps 103:11, 17-18)
The Lord will fulfill the desires of the one who fears him (Ps 145:19). God provides food for the ones who fears him (Ps 111:5).
“Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
who greatly delights in his commandments!
His offspring will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.” (Ps 112:1-2)
Don’t you want the fear of the Lord? It brings his mercy, compassion & care. It produces wisdom and brings blessing even to your children.
We ought to pray with David:
“Teach me your way, O LORD,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.” (Ps 86:11)