The Clean Fear of the Lord
Proverbs 24:21 Fear the LORD and the king, my son, and do not join with the rebellious, 22 for those two will send sudden destruction upon them, and who knows what calamities they can bring?
In a world filled with rebellion, respecting and responding properly to higher authority opens the door to greater personal authority. Rebellion is defined as: Resistance to or defiance of authority, control, or tradition.
Proverbs 9:10, (NLT) Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.
There is “good” fear and “bad” fear. Bad fear is feeling a sense of terror or doom. This kind of fear is expectation of danger and harm. Most fears are imagined, but some are real. The only good thing about bad fear is that you are motivated to take action to avoid danger. Driving in snow and ice produces a healthy kind of fear that keeps you alert and cautious.
On the other hand,the fear of the Lord is “good.” David said in Psalms 19:9, “The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.”
Good fear is a dread of displeasing the Lord. It is a mindset that says, “I want to please God and not allow my actions to bring Him displeasure.” Honor and godly fear are foundational to living a victorious life. Authority flows in a line, or what the military calls a “chain of command.”
Those who function in the fear of God place a high value on having a right relationship with God and people with whom they relate. They are “clean” or “pure,” not only because foul things are removed. They are clean/pure because it has already been decided.
____________
Reflection Question: How is the “clean” fear of the Lord helping to change your life and please God?
