On having the fear of the LORD

“My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom,and apply your heart to understanding; yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding,if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.” (Prov 2v1-5)

When we think of the fear of the LORD, we may be tempted to think that this has to do with the willful resolution of a man to revere God. We then allow such mindset to drive our conduct, in the sense that we are constantly asking ourselves the question, I shouldn’t do this because I have the fear of God. While it is a biblical truth that those who live righteously have the fear of God, it is important for us to know that the fear of God is actually the outcome of an inward desire to grow in the knowledge of God rather than a resolution to use reverence for God as the means by which our conducts are guided.

The text above tells us that if we are to have the fear of God, we must desire God’s wisdom which gracefully spans His precious word.”My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding…” As we yearn to grow in the knowledge of God, we trust Him to reveal himself through His Word. He pours His wisdom in our hearts. It is this inward work of grace that produces the fear of the LORD and enables us to live righteously. The Psalmist says in Psalm 119v11 “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You”.

No wonder Paul writes in Colossians 1v9, For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Let’s ponder on this words and trust the LORD to bless our hearts through His precious words.