The Fear of the Lord

Here are some notes I took during a sermon at church earlier this month. I hope they are as helpful to you as they are to me.

Proverbs 2
1 My son, if you will receive my words
And treasure my commandments within you,
2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom,
Incline your heart to understanding;
3 For if you cry for discernment,
Lift your voice for understanding;
4 If you seek her as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then you will discern the fear of the LORD
And discover the knowledge of God.

What is the fear of the Lord?

Fear of the Lord is that which trembles at who God is and thrills to do what God asks.

For an example of this, see Heb 11:7- "By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith."

It's not adequate to just simply define it- it must be understood and entered in to (Prov 2:5)

Four things to do:

1. receive God's wisdom (Prov 2:1)

Listen to the Word of God. This is not just done through reading Scripture but also through sitting under the preached Word. Listen to the Word diligently- try to aviod any distractions. Get good sleep so you'll be attentive on Sunday mornings. Pray that the Word will be preached with power and that your heart would receive it. Also, we are to speak the Word to one another, admonishing, encouraging, teaching.

2 Tim 3
14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
15 and that from childhood you have known, the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.


2. treasure wisdom (Prov 2:1)

Psa 119

Prov 6
20 My son, observe the commandment of your father
And do not forsake the teaching of your mother;
21 Bind them continually on your heart;
Tie them around your neck.
22 When you walk about, they will guide you;
When you sleep, they will watch over you;
And when you awake, they will talk to you.
23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light;
And reproofs for discipline are the way of life

Memorization of Scripture:

- increases your faith

Prov 22
17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your mind to my knowledge;
18 For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
That they may be ready on your lips.
19 So that your trust may be in the LORD,
I have taught you today, even you.

- fight against sin

Psa 119
9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping it according to Your word.
10 With all my heart I have sought You;
Do not let me wander from Your commandments.
11 Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.

- a personal counselor

Psa 119:24- "Your testimonies also are my delight; They are my counselors"

- you'll sing

Col 3:16- "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

3. call out for insight (2:3)

Prayer

1 Kings 3
6 Then Solomon said, "You have shown great lovingkindness to Your servant David my father, according as he walked before You in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You; and You have reserved for him this great lovingkindness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
7 "Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.
8 "Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted.
9 "So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?"
10 It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing.
11 God said to him, "Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice,
12 behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you."

James 1:5- "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him."

4. seek it like silver (2:4)

Don't just seek it, but seek it as something beautiful.

Psalm 19
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.

Christ has all wisdom and knowledge, and He is supremely beautiful.

Col. 2
1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face,
2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself,
3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Col. 2:9- "For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form"

Heb. 1
3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.