Danny Fourie

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge … Proverbs 1:7

True knowledge is the “fear of the Lord”. Take note that it is not written that we must fear God – but the Lord. ‘Lord’ is the covenant name of God. The Lord is the God who is holy, but also merciful and filled with love. The God who engages with sinful people by entering into a covenant with them. It is true knowledge to serve this God.

What do we have to understand about this ‘fear’? Does it mean that there should be anxiety within us? Petrified of this God? No. The heathen are petrified of their gods, but in the presence of God we need not have anxiety. To fear the Lord is something else. Firstly, it is to have an understanding of the holiness of God. This is not anxiety, but a respectful diffidence. It is an understanding of his majesty in the light of which we as guilty people cannot survive. But there is more. The ‘fear of the Lord’ is to serve Him with respect and not take Him for granted but to keep Him in awe. It is not the fear of a slave for his owner, but a childlike fear.

To fear the Lord and serve Him is only possible when we come to know God as Father through Jesus Christ. The fear of the Lord is a kind of gratefulness, of reciprocal love, as an answer to God’s love. Without the relationship with Christ there is no space where this fear of the Lord (to serve the Lord) can grow.

Through the true faith in Christ a new love for his law develops. This new love for his law will then show through our daily lives. Psalm 86:11 says: “Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” The fear of the Lord becomes a warm-hearted joy in God through Jesus Christ. We experience serving Him is an act of love.

Prayer: Thank you Lord that we do not have a relationship with you similar as a slave has with his master. There is nothing over which we need to have anxiety before you. Just respect because you love us.  Amen