Fear God so you will Fear Nothing Else

Solomon was known for his wisdom. “All the earth was seeking the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart” (1 Kings 4:24). Solomon understood that his wisdom was not his own – God was the source of Solomon’s wisdom.

“The fear of Yehovah is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10). Also, “The fear of Yehovah is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7). Wisdom and understanding come from knowing and honoring God.

The Bible defines “the fear of Yehovah.” David explained “The fear of Yehovah is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments” (Psalm 111:10). Obeying God’s instruction is not a burden. “How blessed is the man who fears Yehovah, who greatly delights in His commandments” (Psalm 112:1).

We delight in demonstrating through our actions the love we feel for others. Keeping God’s commandments is how we show Him we love Him, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). We “fear” disappointing God by not keeping His commandments. We are not keeping them out of “fear” of judgement.

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 gives a fuller definition, “what does Yehovah your God require from you, but to fear Yehovah your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve Yehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep Yehovah ’s commandments and His statutes.” We walk in God’s ways by obeying Him and living our lives with the goal of pleasing Him and loving him.

Service to God is another important aspect defining the fear of God. We serve God by fulfilling the Great Commission, “make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19). Ezra was a high priest in Israel who loved and served God by walking in His ways. “Ezra had set his heart to study the law of Yehovah and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances” (Ezra 7:10).

The fear of Yehovah also includes hating what God hates. “The fear of Yehovah is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverted mouth” (Proverbs 8:13). If we hate evil, we drive it out of our lives. Confronting the sin, pride and arrogance in our lives is where the hate is first directed. Then we will walk in God’s way and not the way of evil.

Some people “fear” God because they think He is watching them, waiting for an opportunity to punish them. Yes, God watches over us, “Behold, the eye of Yehovah is on those who fear Him” (Psalm 33:18). But He is watching to assist us in walking in His ways, serving Him and hating evil. “For the eyes of YEHOVAH move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

Next we will learn about the blessing that result from the fear of Yehovah.