Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who esteem His name. “They will be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.” So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him. Malachi 3:16-18.
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.
In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence. Proverbs 14:26.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God says:
You read in My Word that “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” Proverbs 9:10; Psalm 111:10. “Blessed are those who fear the LORD, who greatly delight in His commands.” Psalm 112:1. And “how blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways.” Psalm 128:1. And you read that “fear of the LORD” gives you long life and good days. Psalm 34:11-12. And that those who fear Me want for no good thing and that My angel encamps around them to deliver them. Psalm 34:7-9. And that My eye is on those who fear Me to deliver them from death and feed them in time of famine. Psalm 33:18-19.
You may be interested in knowing what the “fear of the LORD” is. Put very simply, it just means you do not want to do anything that would break our relationship. “Fear of the LORD” is a close relationship where each one does nothing to violate the confidence of the other in the loyalty of that person to the other. It means you are faithful and true to Me no matter what your emotions, greed, or people tell you or threaten you with or entice you with.
An example of “fear of the LORD” is Daniel going to the lions’ den rather than sever his intimate relationship with Me. What men threatened him with did not move him off his loyalty to Me. He was a man who honored Me and was loyal to Me. He had no fear of men. And he had no fear in the sense of being scared or guilty with Me. His fear was of losing our walk together. His fear was of no longer talking with Me and receiving visions and revelation. His fear was of violating My trust in him. And I called him a man of excellence. None of his colleagues could find any fault in his life or hint of scandal or wrong doing, all they could accuse him of was serving Me.
Adam had a very close relationship with Me but he was not loyal to Me and did not honor My Word by keeping it. He broke faith with Me and went with another “god.” And then he said he hid because he feared Me. That was not what I mean by “fear of the LORD.” Adam had no “fear of the LORD,” he only had fear of punishment for his sins. He severed the relationship without a backward glance.
The friends of Daniel had no fear of men when Nebuchadnezzar threw them in the fire, they went in fearless because they had “fear of the LORD.” In the “fear of the LORD” there is strong confidence. Proverbs 14:26. Why? You know I am with you to deliver you because of your close relationship with Me when you are keeping My Word.
Peter denying My Son is a good example of fear of men but not “fear of the LORD.” He denied Me to save himself from the persecution of men. He had declared Jesus as My Son, and I had revealed that to him, yet mortal man, who perishes, made him deny Me in fear of men.
“Fear of the LORD,” in your life means being faithful to Me as I am to you. It penetrates to the smallest actions of your life. It can be as simple as not taking note pads, paper clips, and white-out from your workplaces for your own pursuits, or as big as not denying Jesus under persecution though it means possible death, as it was in Daniel’s case. “Fear of the LORD” is caring more about loving and honoring Me in all you do than you do about your own glorification and the favor of men to promote you if it means violating even the least of My commands. It is about where your treasure is. It is knowing to whom honor belongs and is due. It has to do with allegiance. Remember? Peter and John told the astonished Pharisees when they warned them never again to preach the Name of Jesus that it was better they obeyed Me than men. And Paul stood up in the storm that came upon the ship at sea, “The God whose man I am and whom I serve.” That describes someone who has “fear of the LORD.”
And Paul explained that he knew fear of the LORD. 2 Corinthians 5:11. And he defined it this way: “Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:9.
Jesus explained that “and He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” John 8:29. He is the faithful and the true. He kept all My commandments and only said My Words. John 8:28; John 15:10. He kept My commandments and abided in My love, and this made His life very effective and very life giving. John 15:10.
If you love Me, you will keep My Words; and I will come to you and make My dwelling with you. John 14:23. You cannot be honoring Me and disobeying My Words. Adam disobeyed My Words. He did not honor or respect Me. “Fear of the LORD” is about loyalty to our relationship by keeping My Words. If you love Me you delight in doing My Will, which is set out in My Word, in My commandments.
Jesus is the perfect example of “fear of the LORD.” His relationship with Me was of uttermost importance to Him. He would get away from the crowds to be with Me early in the morning and late in the night. And our relationship was one of mutual honor and love. We are one and we are love. He is My beloved Son.
Those who honor Me, I honor. 1 Samuel 2:30. Those who despise Me are lightly esteemed. Why? They do not walk in honor and integrity. They will not come into the Light because their deeds are wicked. A person who fears Me is always walking in the Light and can show all their deeds as done in Me.
“Fear of the LORD” makes you a person of honor and integrity, down to the smallest details of your life. When you are faithful in little things, I can entrust you with greater and greater things. Why? I know you are loyal and will not turn against the truth. I can trust you with My secrets and My plans and you will not give them over to the evil one to ruin. David understood, he wrote, “The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him and He will make them know His covenant.” Psalm 25:14. Covenant is a close and intimate relationship, where each one is dedicated to the other and shares all they have.
And David also wrote, “Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way he should choose. His soul will abide in prosperity and his seed will inherit the land.” Psalm 25:12-13.
When you fear Me, your eyes are continually on Me to see where I am directing you and how you can further My Kingdom in the earth. Mindful of Me in all your ways, I can direct your path. One who has “fear of the LORD” is not careless with their words and actions. Each moment is a golden moment unto Me. Not to please men, but unto Me. If you only behave well when your boss is watching you at work, that is not “fear of the LORD.” That is fear of men but not in the right sense there either if you cheat when they are not looking.
“Fear of the LORD” is a relationship with Me that is close and intimate, built on honor and trust, faithfulness and truth, that penetrates down to the smallest details of your life and your innermost thoughts of your heart. It is what My apostle Paul meant when he prayed that you would live a life fully worthy of the calling you have received.
It is a life of delightful obedience to My Word. Obeying My Word has great reward, not only in the next life but now. Obeying My Word will give you a life of great peace and joy, of good health and robust life. It will keep your children from going astray and will keep you from ever being under shame and condemnation. If you really live My Word each moment, you will find that it is very pleasant to let anger go and never keep it over night in your heart. You will find it is pleasant not to gossip, lie, and cheat. You will find your health and energy much better and your mind alert if you do not overindulge in alcohol, gluttony, and drug addiction. You will find that if when your co-worker or boss sends you a nasty email or accuses you of harassing them, you ask them what they want you to do and when they spit it out, you email back “got it” with a nice smiley face attached rather than swallowing the bait and accusing them of harassing you! And talking less to people with whom you know you will soon be disagreeing is wisdom. “He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.” Proverbs 17:27.
I tell you not to cast your pearls before swine. But I also want you not to eat their slop and do not talk their talk. Keep yourself pure and do not argue and get into word wrestling matches with others. Do not grumble and complain about people, even if they are nasty. Pray for them and keep yourself calm and don’t get sucked into their tantrums. Do not speak to meddlers and gossips unless spoken to and answer in short sentences filled with grace and salt. Careful you are not pulled into their idle words and pursuits. Their god is their belly. They have no “fear of the LORD.” But that is not what you learned when you learned Jesus Christ.
When you live and delight in the “fear of the LORD” I can entrust you with My power. Like I did Paul, Peter, and John. Amazing works took place at their hands. But they were people like you with emotions and flesh, but they learned the “fear of the LORD” and it made them into the beautiful, pure, dedicated, honest, honorable men that you know as apostles and saints. And you all are called and empowered by Me to partnership with My Son, fellowship with Me, and to My eternal glory.
Let Me grow you up by the milk and meat of My Word. Be attentive to My Words for they are life to those who find them and health to all their flesh. It feels great to walk in a manner worthy of the high calling you have received. And when you are walking in My Way you can ascend My holy mountain and be joyful in My house of prayer in accordance with the eternal purpose which I carried out in Christ Jesus your LORD in whom you have BOLDNESS AND CONFIDENT access through faith in Him. Ephesians 3:11-12.
Jesus made a new and living way for you to come to Me in the very holy of holies. Hebrews 10:19-22. You can now come to Me with your great High Priest who atones for your sins with His own blood and ushers you into My presence holy, blameless and without reproach. And that relationship gives you confidence to come. Jesus as your great High Priest atones and intercedes for you, cleanses you and releases you from your sins to make you a kingdom of priests unto Me. Then as your great good Shepherd He leads you out and leads you in. He guides you in right paths for His Name’s sake and makes your life full of good deeds done in His Name. As your good Shepherd, He gives you guidance, provision, protection and reward. And how do we do that? By My Spirit in you and on you. Do not grieve Him by walking contrary to Me Word for He breathed it out of My heart to your heart.
I love you. I have given you a Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, of Counsel and Fortitude, of Knowledge and FEAR OF THE LORD, and His delight is FEAR OF THE LORD. How about you? It is delightful to walk with Me for in My presence is fullness of joy. A life of victory over the world where I always lead you in triumph. A life well lived and ready for reward. Why would you throw all that away for the fleeting pleasure of sin?