Week 26 (Psalm 34) The Fear of the Lord

The Fear of the Lord The beginning of Wisdom & Knowledge The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever. Psalm 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge Proberbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10

Not a terrifying fear of punishment The Fear of the Lord Not a terrifying fear of punishment Such fear causes us to avoid God; example: Adam & Eve Gives us a wrong view of God as Father Causes feelings of inadequacy and anxiety (Matt 25:25)

The Fear of the Lord In Hebrew the word denotes positive respect and reverent wonderment or veneration (fire, electricity, ocean) The attitude or emotion a lesser being feels when in the presence of true greatness.

Example: High school sports star/ Professional Sports Celebrity Example: Newly barred attorney before Supreme Court

Psalm 130:3-4 If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared.

Robert B. Strimple says, "There is the convergence of awe, reverence, adoration, honor, worship, confidence, thankfulness, love, and, yes, fear."

Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is everyone who fears, reveres, and worships the Lord, who walks in His ways and lives according to His commandments. For you shall eat [the fruit] of the labor of your hands; happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) shall you be, and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the innermost parts of your house; your children shall be like olive plants round about your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord. Psalm 128 AMP

Psalm 34 Instruction in the Fear of the Lord

“Bless” the Lord at all times Continual praise and boasting of the the Lord’s goodness and mercy “Seek” the Lord for deliverance from all other fear Matt 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love.

For those who fear Him, there is no want The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them (Jesus) For those who fear Him, there is no want The man who desires long life: Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceit Depart from evil and do good Seek peace and pursue it

Seek the Face of God His eyes are toward the righteous His ears are open to their cry His face is against evil doers He is near the broken hearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit

Many are the afflictions of the righteous But the Lord delivers him out of them all.