The Blessings of Fearing God

The fear of the Lord has two main emphases — a dread and terror of the judgment of God and an awe and reverential delight in God for His greatness.  The former is the experience of the unbeliever and the latter is the experience of the believer.  The former compels people to attempt to run away from God, while the latter compels people to be drawn to Him.
 
This concept of fearing God is common in Scripture, and particularly so in the book of Proverbs.  The fear of God is the theme of the book — “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction” (1:7; cf. 9:10).
 
And as the theme of the book, Solomon also demonstrates many practical implications of fearing God.  What does the fear of God produce in God’s people (and what does lack of the fear of God produce)?  Solomon tells us:
 
Those who do not fear God will not be heard by Him, will not know Him, and will not have His knowledge or wisdom.
 
                  Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
                  They will seek me diligently but they will not find me,
                  Because they hated knowledge
                  And did not choose the fear of the LORD. (1:28-29)
 
If (when) you are wise, you will fear God and gain the knowledge of Him and His ways.  Or said another way, the search for wisdom (v. 4) is the search for God and His delights — those who seek wisdom are really seeking God.
 
                  If you seek her [wisdom] as silver
                  And search for her as for hidden treasures;
                  Then you will discern the fear of the LORD
                  And discover the knowledge of God. (2:4-5)
 
Fearing God produces a hatred of sin and evil:  sins like pride, arrogance, evil behavior, and sinful speech.  To develop a hatred of sin, cultivate a fear of (attraction to) God.
 
                  The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;
                  Pride and arrogance and the evil way
                  And the perverted mouth, I hate. (8:13).
 
Fear of God leads to fulness of life — and often length of life.  Lack of delight in God leads to an emptiness of life — and often a brevity of life.  
 
                  The fear of the LORD prolongs life,
                  But the years of the wicked will be shortened. (10:27)
 
Fearing God will provide confidence in difficult days — a refuge and place of safety; it is the source of life so that the God-fearer will avoid ultimate death (and the temporal snares of deadly sin).  Fearing God keeps one from ruining his life with sin.
 
                  In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence,
                  And his children will have refuge.
                  The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
                  That one may avoid the snares of death. (14:26-27)
 
Fear of God will give one contentment when he is poor by cultivating an awareness of the difficulties that often attend great wealth.  
 
                  Better is a little with the fear of the LORD
                  Than great treasure and turmoil with it. (15:16)

Fearing God teaches one to be wise — and humble.  He is content with humility and doesn’t desire to be honored. 
 
                  The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom,
                  And before honor comes humility. (15:33)
 
The fear of God keeps one from sin; he delights more in God and His truth than in sin.
 
                  By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for,
                  And by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil. (16:6; cf. 3:7)
 
The fear of God produces life that is satisfying, contented, and restful, away from the consequences of a life of sin.
 
                  The fear of the LORD leads to life,
                  So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil. (19:23)
 
Generally, a humble, God-fearing life will produce riches (enough to support one’s life), honor (as a God-fearing man), and life (because one avoids the complicating consequences of a sinful lifestyle).
 
                  The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD
                  Are riches, honor and life. (22:4)
 
Fear of God keeps one from envying the “easy life” of sinners.
 
                  Do not let your heart envy sinners,
                  But live in the fear of the LORD always. (23:17; cf. Ps. 37:1-11)
 
Fearing God reveals the entrapments of fearing man more than God; fearing and trusting God will produce safety from (and being exalted above) the traps of sin.
 
                  The fear of man brings a snare,
                  But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted. (19:25)
 
So be wise (1:9; 9:10).  Fear the Lord.  And experience the joy of the blessings of fearing God.