FEAR OF THE LORD – UNRIVALED AWE
CONTACT POINT Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge –first in time and importance
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!
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
CHOICE
Prov. 1:28-29 ESV Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD,
CONTENT
Proverbs 15:33 The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
CONCLUSION
Ecclesiastes 12:13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. – conclusion of the whole matter (KJV)
CONTRADICTS the fear of man
Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.
Fearing what people might do or think controls one’s life and produces a snare – no freedom of movement or sense of security.
Isa. 8:11-13 NET Indeed this is what the LORD told me. He took hold of me firmly and warned me not to act like these people:
12 “Do not say, ‘Conspiracy,’ every time these people say the word. Don’t be afraid of what scares them; don’t be terrified.
13 You must recognize the authority of the LORD who commands armies. He is the one you must respect; he is the one you must fear.
Isaiah 8:12 Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
HOW TO FEAR THE LORD
Deuteronomy 10:12 “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
Prov. 3:7-8 ESV Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
Proverbs 23:17 Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day.
Proverbs 2:1-7 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you,
2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;
3 yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,
4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,
5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
PROMISES
Psalm 25:14 The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.
Psalm 31:19 Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!
Psalm 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,
Psalm 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Psalm 34:9 Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!
Psalm 85:9 Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.
Psalm 103:11-18 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
14 For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children,
18 to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.
Psalm 115:11 You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.
Psalm 115:13 he will bless those who fear the LORD, both the small and the great.
Psalm 145:19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.
Psalm 147:11 but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.
Proverbs 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.
Proverbs 14:26-27 In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.
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 22:4 The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life.