#FEAR OF GID HOW TO#

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. The Apostle Peter says much the same, noting in 2 Peter 1:3-4, “For the Lord gives wisdom from his mouth come knowledge and understanding,” Proverbs 2:6 tells us, and those words are echoed by Jesus, who tells His followers, “Ask and it will be given to you seek and you will find knock and the door will be opened to you” ( Matthew 7:7). God is the ultimate source, the start from which all things come. James begins his book by pointing to the Father foremost, noting, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” ( James 1:5). Certainly, He created the world.īut beyond that, He is also the source of everything. The Bible tells us over and over, sometimes explicitly and sometimes indirectly, that we should be in awe of and fear the Lord because he is, after all, God: The Great I Am. Respect for God is not only a focus of Proverbs but reverberates throughout God’s Holy Word. That fear, that reverence, is our “why,” and the book then is filled with the “how.” Where Else Is Fear in the Bible? To him belongs eternal praise.”Īnd again, later on in Proverbs, we’re reminded, “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death” ( Proverbs 14:27).Ī careful reading of Proverbs finds nuggets of wisdom all rooted in reverence of God. This is echoed in Psalm 111:10, which notes, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom all who follow his precepts have good understanding. Indeed - fear is the beginning, the catalyst. But there is more to this, Solomon says, and it’s in this next verse that he makes his larger point.Īs he writes in Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” We all want to do right and be insightful. Indeed, these are good reasons for wisdom. The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: For gaining wisdom and instruction for understanding words of insight for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young - let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance - for understanding proverbs and parables ( Proverbs 1:6a).

#FEAR OF GID HOW TO#

Thought to have been written by King Solomon and filled with much wisdom about how to live a life in line with God and God’s principles, Proverbs details how - because we fear (respect, admire, love) God - we should want to be wise and live well. I will strengthen you and help you I will uphold you with my righteous right hand,” from Isaiah 41:10, or, “Do not be afraid do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go,” from Joshua 1:9b (NIV).īut in the Book of Proverbs, the concept of fear is of particular focus.

Often, we see it in verses of assurance, such as, “So do not fear, for I am with you do not be dismayed, for I am your God. The word fear appears in the Bible hundreds of times. How Is the Fear of the Lord Used in the Bible? He even made a sky where there was none before! In His power, He is able to move mountains and put stars in the sky. He created the heavens and the earth and everything in it ( Genesis 1). The “fear of the Lord” can mean two things: First, it can serve as an adjective, meaning the fear and awe that is God Himself, His immense and formidable nature - not only His wrath but also His power in general.Īs we know, God is all powerful. In this sense, fear is a positive quality and something to be pursued in the life of the believer.” What Does the ‘Fear of the Lord’ Mean? For example, in the Book of Proverbs, Mounce’s tells us, “The fear of God is central to the acquisition of wisdom…. Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary tells us fear means terror or awe depending on the context. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “fear” as “an unpleasant, often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger anxious concern or unpleasant alarm” - but it also notes it means “profound reverence and awe, especially toward God.”įear is used throughout the Bible, as well.

So why are we supposed to fear the Lord? What is the fear of the Lord? What Is Fear?įirst, let’s take a look at what fear means. He is our heavenly father, our creator who loves us and who made each of us in His image. When we are afraid of something, it’s usually because that particular something is bad or negative in some way.īut what about when we are talking about the fear of the Lord? God isn’t bad or negative - we know God is a good God. The word “fear” is typically used in a negative concept.

Fear of gid