This was the subject/focus of the prayer meeting last week at church. The timing couldn’t have been any better as it was the answer to many questions that had been mulling around in my mind that very day. I had just finished a book about a classmate whose life has been damaged by all the alcoholics she was surrounded with in her family. “Tragic and heart-breaking” is all I could think, and I felt compassion for her suffering. She talked a lot about her faith getting her through it all and there were Bible verses and quotes at the end of every chapter. I don’t know her well and have never had a spiritual conversation with her.
Most of what she faced were situations over which she had no control. She struggled to understand the choices these family members made and to make sense of what she suffered as a result of those choices. Where I struggled with her story is when she married a guy who ended up being an alcoholic. I had a conversation with someone who knew her better before her marriage and that woman’s comment was, “He wasn’t a good guy. We didn’t understand what she saw in him.” Ouch! She ended up divorced with 3 boys. The questions that popped into my mind were: After all that she had been through, how could she not see? How did she end up in this circumstance? Can suffering like this be avoided? If someone claims to have great faith, should it be evident in their decision making?
Then the prayer meeting… no one knew what had happened that day. I didn’t pick the topic but it was perfect.
Psalm 111:10 – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who practice it have good understanding. His praise endures forever!”
Different questions started running through my mind. The fear of the Lord has to be practiced. The saints that I consider wise definitely fear the Lord. It’s what they DO and how they think. It’s a heart issue. I know that they will steer me toward the Lord when I seek their counsel. Their lives are “on the right track” (not easy or free from suffering) and they seek to help others get on the right track. They teach it to others because the fear of the Lord is a good thing and it will bless their lives.
I knew I needed to refresh myself on the whole subject so I went and searched for verses that reference the fear of the Lord. Here’s a small sample of verses:
Proverbs 1:7 (ESV) – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Psalm 34:11 (ESV) – “Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.”
Proverbs 9:10 (ESV) – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”
Proverbs 14: 26-27 (ESV) – “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 16:6 (ESV) – “By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.”
Proverbs 19:23 (ESV) – “The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.”
Proverbs 22:4 (ESV) – “The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.”
Isaiah 50:10 (ESV) – “Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.”
The fear of the Lord can be taught and learned. There is no separating the fear of the Lord from wisdom; wisdom has a source. It is the means for turning away from evil/sin. It is accompanied by humility, protection, confidence and peace. The fountain (source) of life is the fear of the Lord. It causes us to praise God. My life and others have avoided heartache and suffering by fearing the Lord. To reject wisdom and instruction makes you a fool. It’s a huge deal! Going forward, I think I’m going to focus on this more when people come seeking help.
God is so good!!