FEAR OF THE LORD part 2
FEAR OF THE LORD part 2
Last time we talked about the meaning of the phrase “the fear of the Lord” and looked at scriptures instructing us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. We also saw that we are exhorted in the Proverbs to seek wisdom. Let us continue today with exploring what the others of the Faith have said about this subject. First, go to
http://biblehub.com/commentaries/psalms/111-10.htm
and read some or all of the commentaries.
What have we gleaned from those who have expounded on this subject?
From Matthew Henry we learn that:
“No man is wise who does not fear the Lord; no man acts wisely except as influenced by that fear. This fear will lead to repentance, to faith in Christ, to watchfulness and obedience.”
Barnes says:
“Reverence for God; respect for his law, his will, his government, himself; the fear of offending him, which will lead us to do right. This fear is not that of a slave; it is not mere dread; it is not terror. It is consistent with love, and springs from it.”
The Treasury of David section is especially rich in truth. I want to bring out a particularly important statement.
“Practical godliness is the test of wisdom. Men may know and be very orthodox, they may talk and be very eloquent, they may speculate and be very profound; but the best proof of their intelligence must be found in their actually doing the will of the Lord.”
What we have gleaned from these commentators is that the fear of the Lord must be rooted in love that results in obedience. This, I believe is what Yeshua was saying when answering the Pharisees in Matthew 22:34-40:
34 But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered themselves together. 35 One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
This leads us to ask, “How do we Love God and others?”
Well, we read in John 15:11-13 New American Standard Bible (NASB):
11 These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command you.
My conclusion is that to walk in the fear of the Lord means to walk in love. When we walk in love, we obey the Lord’s commandments and lay our lives down for others. This should also produce joy in us. When we lay our lives down for others in obedience and joy, then people are drawn to us and we can then lead them to Yeshua. And he who wins souls is wise.
Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who is wise wins souls.
Since the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, winning souls should be a natural result of loving obedience to our Lord and Savior.
Obedience and laying our lives down for others may look somewhat differently for each of us since we all have different paths to walk, but I think we can all improve in this area. Do you want to be called a friend of God? Do you want to be wise and win souls? Ask the Lord today how you can lay your life down for someone in obedience to the Him. Then do it!
Until next time, I pray for the favor and blessings of the Lord to be upon you.