When Fear is a Good Thing
March 11/12, 2023
Steve Carter, Guest Speaker

Wisdom = Hokmah (in Hebrew) = skill

· The Purpose of the Proverbs is to train one in moral skillfulness and how to truly discern wisdom from folly.
· The theme of Proverbs is “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”
· This phrase is used 18x in the book of Proverbs and serves as the inclusio which is a biblical literary device to reinforce the theme and transition from one section to the next.

What is knowledge?
Facts + Feelings + Experiences = Knowledge

When Fear is a Good Thing
The term fear of the Lord was connected to covenant relationship, obedience, walking by faith with reverence and awe for Yahweh.

But how do we choose to Fear God over Fool’s Gold?

Backward - we hunger for Gods word.
· All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2nd Timothy 3:16-17)
· God-breathed = inspiration = heavens breath into our being

Forward - we walk with trust and obedience to God’s word and Holy Spirit.
· And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)

Inward - we choose humility and surrender to God’s word and Holy Spirit.
· The Fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death. (Proverbs 14:27)
· Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life. (Proverbs 24:4)

Outward - we bring this love and knowledge of the Fear of the Lord wherever we go in service of God and others.
· And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)

Upward - we raise a hallelujah as we consider all the Lord has and will do for His people.
· The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise. (Psalms 111:10)
· He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him. (Psalms 40:3)