Friday, August 7, 2009

How to Develop a Healthy Fear of God

How to develop a healthy fear of God


Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Psalm 34:11

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom,

and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand

the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:1-5


We, as God's people must once become a God-fearing people. I have discussed in previous blogs, the purpose and motivation to be a God-fearing people. In order to have a successful Christian life, we must set good objectives. Our #1 objective should be to fear God. The Psalmist said, "I will teach you the fear of the Lord." Obviously then, the fear of the Lord must be learned. Proverbs 2:1-5 lays out a plan by which we can learn the fear of the Lord.


1. "Receive my Words..."

Accept the authority of Scripture. Make it your final authority for faith and practice.


2. "hide my commandments with thee..."

Meditate on God's word. Hide it in your heart. Make it your "knee-jerk" reaction to life's decisions.


3. "incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding..."

Be attentive to the wisdom and understanding of Scripture. Note: wisdom and understanding are inseprable in Scripture. Very seldom does on appear without the other,


4. if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding..."

Make it a matter of prayer.


5. "If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures..."

Make God's truths precious to you.


6. " Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD..."

Then and only then...


7. "and find the knowledge of God."

The knowledge of God is more than the retention of facts. Obviously this passage cannot mean we will know all that God knows. It means having a godly perspective on the knowledge we attain. How we see that knowledge is understanding. How we use that knowledge is wisdom.


8. Choose to live a pure, holy and sanctified life.


What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil,

and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD

are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry."

Psalm 34: 12-15

No comments:

Post a Comment