“The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility goes before honor.” (Proverbs 15:33)
Today’s focal text contains another of the most important phrases in the Bible. It speaks of the “fear of the Lord” from which all wisdom comes.
Here are two other examples:
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!” (Psalm 111:10, ESV)
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7, ESV)
This is not an attitude of terror or slavish fear. It is a gospel invitation to hear the voice of His servant. It is a divine summons to come under His will. It is to live wisely: Recognize His wisdom, desist from our stubbornness, listen to His voice, hear His gospel, and seek to obey His instructions.
“The fear of the Lord” is relational. It recognizes who God is in relationship to us and who we are in relationship to Him. In “the fear of the Lord”, we recognize that we are not in control of our own lives but walk humbly before the God who is.
We pray the Lord’s Prayer regularly. That prayer describes what it’s like to live in the fear of the Lord. It’s a humble request for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, for His kingdom to come, and for His name to be holy and exalted. Thankfully, this means our wills might not be done, and our kingdoms might not come. It means names might not be exalted. To live in the fear of the Lord is to submit to His plans and purposes and receive His blessing and presence in them.
Prayer
Lord, I pray that Your will guide my life, so that my life is a reflection of the love, honor and glory that belongs to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Stay encouraged!
Pastor Mike
