Fear of the Lord

Brian has made it his goal this year to study the fear of the Lord.  He confirmed that the fear of the Lord is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit as listed in Isaiah 11:1-3.  These messianic verses show that the spirit of the Lord rested on Jesus. 

I found the following explanation of the fear of the Lord:

“The Catholic Encyclopedia explains that this gift "fills us with a sovereign respect for God, and makes us dread, above all things, to offend Him." In an April 2006 article published in Inside the Vatican magazine, contributing editor John Mallon writes that the "fear" in "fear of the Lord" is often misinterpreted as "servile fear" (the fear of getting in trouble) when it should be understood as "filial fear" (the fear of offending someone whom one loves).”

            In meditating on several verses concerning the fear of the Lord, I found a sense of order in understanding God’s plans for us, and they center around the fear of the Lord. 

First, I found that I must deny the right to own my own understanding.  I must trust God to direct my paths, and not depend on myself.  This of course, is essentially what every believer in Christ has already done, but I believe it also to be a constant state of being- not just a one time act.  So, first I must:

1.  Trust in the Lord with everything while

2.  Choosing not to depend on myself (my own understandings)

Proverbs 3: 5-6

 ⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart
   and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways acknowledge him,
   and he will make your paths straight.

Then I may,

3.  Call out to God for direction and understanding.  I was comforted by this chapter, because I do a lot of searching for understanding.  I want to understand a lot of things that I don’t.  I see that it is not a lack of faith that leads me to cry out to God.  In fact, it may be because of faith that I call to him.      

Proverbs 2:3-5, 9-10

…if you call out for insight
   and cry aloud for understanding,
⁴ and if you look for it as for silver
   and search for it as for hidden treasure,
⁵ then you will understand the fear of the LORD
   and find the knowledge of God…

 
 ⁹ Then you will understand what is right and just
   and fair—every good path.
¹⁰ For wisdom will enter your heart,
   and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

I think it is interesting that because a person cries out to God (vs. 2), in verse 10 the knowledge is pleasant.  I don’t receive knowledge well when I am not seeking it.  And when I offer unsolicited advice, it is often not received well. 

Jesus is the alpha and the omega, so I should not have been surprised to find him linked inexorably to the fear of the Lord.  Remember that Isaiah prophesied that the spirit of the Lord resting on the “shoot of Jesse” (Jesus) would display the fear of the Lord- and that he would delight in the fear of the Lord.  Previously in Proverbs we read:

            Proverbs 9:10

¹⁰ “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
   and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Since Jesus is the Holy One (Luke 1:35, 4:34; Mark 1:24; John 6:69), there is a link between having a “fear of the Lord” attitude and having wisdom.  There is secondly a link between knowing Jesus and understanding.  Understanding what?  The term could be applied universally- understanding your world.  I like to look back to Proverbs 2.  You can understand the fear of the Lord (vs. 5), and understand the right path to travel (vs 9).  Living out this cycle gives us the answers to life that we need.  And I want answers.

I don’t believe I am promised that every “why” I ask will be answered.  But I am promised “God direction”.  If I know Jesus and seek to know him daily, I can understand the fear of the Lord.  If I have a fear of the Lord attitude, I have the start to wisdom.  If I have the wisdom to trust God instead of myself, then I can call out to Him, and I will understand every good path he has laid before me.  And for an added bonus, God’s spirit will even help me enjoy the knowledge!  (Proverbs 2:10; Isaiah 11:3)

Jesus, please help me understand the fear of the Lord.  I want this attitude, because I need wisdom as a mother, a wife, a friend and as your daughter acting as your ambassador to a confused world.  Empower me with your spirit so that I will know and delight in fearing to offend you.  Teach me to cry out to you first in every situation.  Please direct my paths and give me the discernment to detect your direction.  Finally, let me follow you with joy- regardless of the path you lay before me.  Amen.