This term, “the fear of the Lord” or as in some translations, “the fear of Yahweh”, is used more often in Proverbs than any other book of the Bible but “The fear described here is not terror but awe”1. This term is also used in Isaiah prophetically describing Jesus Christ in
Isaiah 11:2 (LEB) And the spirit of Yahweh shall rest on him—a spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of counsel and might, a spirit of knowledge and the fear of Yahweh.
It is used only once in the new testament in
Acts 9:31 (LEB) Then the church throughout all of Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being strengthened. And living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it was increasing in numbers.
but the new testament also says this of the Lord in
Hebrews 11:6 (LEB) Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and is a rewarder of those who seek him.
If you don’t believe that God exists, if you don’t believe that God is good, you don’t believe in God’s love or His goodness so how can you receive anything from Him? However, if you do accept God at His word, that He is the creator of heaven and earth, where else would you go to understand the ways of life? As it says in Proverbs 14:27 (LEB) “The fear of Yahweh is a fountain of life, in order to turn from the snares of death”.
In All Toil There Is Profit
The Fear of The Lord is a Fountain of Life
Proverbs 14:25-35
This phrase, “the fear of the Lord” is repeated here first as strength and refuge for God’s children in
Proverbs 14:26 (LEB) In the fear of Yahweh, there is confidence of strength, and for his children, there will be refuge.
and then as a “fountain of life” that delivers from death in
Proverbs 14:27 (LEB) The fear of Yahweh is a fountain of life, in order to turn from the snares of death.
It is this holy reverence for the ways of God, a turning from evil to his righteousness that brings blessing that “exalts a nation” in
Proverbs 14:34 (LEB) Righteousness will exalt a nation, but sin is a reproach to a people.
Understanding the Lord as “a fountain of life” also means understanding that He made provision for every one of us. It is only greed and selfish hoarding that allows oppression and poverty to continue. Reverence for the ways of God leads us not just to our own individual safety and security but also to a place of more than enough in
2 Corinthians 9:8 (LEB) And God is able to cause all grace to abound to you, so that in everything at all times, because you have enough of everything, you may overflow in every good work.
Or, it says we honor God when we give to the poor in
Proverbs 14:31 (LEB) He who oppresses the poor insults him who made him, but he who has mercy on the poor honors him.
A Soft Answer Turns Away Wrath
Goodness of Heart is a Continuous Feast
Proverbs 15:12-22
We sometimes forget that we wear our emotions on our faces for all to see. How we feel shows as in
Proverbs 15:13 (LEB) A heart of gladness will make good countenance, but in sorrow of heart a spirit is broken.
but this isn’t talking about the outward pressures we might be facing, it is more about how we are internalizing what is happening as in
Proverbs 15:15 (LEB) All the days of the poor are hard, but goodness of heart is a continuous feast.
Experiencing the joy and peace and love of God is better than the wealth of the world in
Proverbs 15:16–17 (LEB) Better is little with the fear of Yahweh than great treasure and trouble with it. 17 Better is a dinner of vegetables when love is there than a fattened ox and hatred with it.
It says it this way about us as believers in Jesus Christ. When we face the pressures of life “the life of Jesus”, who is the light of the world, is revealed in
2 Corinthians 4:7–10 (LEB) But we have this treasure in earthenware jars, in order that the extraordinary degree of the power may be from God and not from us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying around the death of Jesus in our body, in order that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
Before Honor Comes Humility
Proverbs 15:23-33
We are all born into this world with a need to learn and we all are taught by people around us. It is for us to listen and learn in
Proverbs 15:32 (LEB) He who ignores instruction despises himself, but he who hears admonition gains heart.
We also though, must learn to distinguish between evil and good in
Proverbs 15:26 (LEB) Plans of evil are an abomination of Yahweh, but gracious words are pure.
We each have the opportunity to test the good and God himself will confirm to us when we turn toward him in
Proverbs 15:29 (LEB) Yahweh is far from the wicked, but the prayers of the righteous he will hear.
As we follow after the Lord and choose “the path of life”, we separate ourselves from the destruction. This is clearly seen in the lives of people that have escaped the destruction of addiction by entering a twelve-step program. Though these programs only hint at a higher power, there is a discipline of life that they enter, there is an acknowledging that they have the freedom to choose to be free as in
Proverbs 15:24 (LEB) The path of life leads upward for him who has insight, in order to turn away from Sheol below.
And as we acknowledge that we have freedom to choose, we also must recognize that it is the Lord himself is our “instruction” for the “path of life” if we will receive it in
Proverbs 15:33 (LEB) Fear of Yahweh is the instruction of the wise, and before honor comes humility.
By Loyalty and Faithfulness, Iniquity will be Covered
Proverbs 16:1-11
Study Verses
- Proverbs 14:25-35 The Fear of The Lord is a Fountain of Life
- Proverbs 15:12-22 Goodness of Heart is a Continuous Feast
- Proverbs 15:23-33 Before Honor Comes Humility
Today’s Reading
- Proverbs 14:13-35
- Proverbs 15:1-33
- Proverbs 16:1-11
References
- 1. Longman, T., III. (2017). Isaiah. In E. A. Blum & T. Wax (Eds.), CSB Study Bible: Notes (p. 1059). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.