“If you seek her 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.” (Proverbs 2:5)
There is an unhealthy fear of the Lord. Many people today have an unhealthy fear of the Lord. Here is an example… Adam was fearful and hid in the bush because he was naked, “So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” (Genesis 3:10) Our fear of the Lord should never make us hide from Him or depart from Him. I will continue… “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’” (Matthew 25:24,25) Our fear of the Lord shouldn’t make us afraid so that we are stifled to do nothing, hiding what He has entrusted to us. This is an unhealthy fear. “And they were afraid. And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.” (Mark 5:15-17) They were afraid of Christ; He did mighty miracles. instead of seeking Him, they drew Him away. Salvation was at their door, but they were afraid of Him. And becoming mute, being so afraid: “because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.” (Mark 9:6) & “But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.” (Mark 9:32). And finally, “So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.” (Mark 16:8)
Don’t be afraid! Take courage! “And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” (Mark 6:49,50) Also at the Mount of Sinai, “Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.”” (Exodus 20:19-20)
Every good thing comes from the fear of the Lord. I will show you. Every good thing comes from fearing Him! From the fear of the Lord is... “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom (…)” (Proverbs 9:10) And from wisdom comes humility, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” (James 3:13) And from humility comes grace, “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6) To grow in wisdom is to grow in favor, as it says, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.“ (Luke 2:52) The same is said about Samuel, “And the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the LORD and men.” (1 Samuel 2:26) Know this: Favor is grace.
“The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches, honor and life.” (Proverbs 22:4) & “Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.” (Proverbs 3:7-8) & “The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be shortened.” (Proverbs 10:27) & “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.” (Proverbs 14:26,27) “The fear of the Lord leads to life, so that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil” (Proverbs 19:23) “Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may lengthen his life, still I know that it will be well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly. (Ecclesiastes 8:12) “It is good that you grasp one thing and also not let go of the other; for the one who fears God comes forth with both of them.” (Ecclesiastes 7:18)
There is a healthy fear of the Lord. A healthy fear of the Lord will follow Him in reverence and honor. As it says, “Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him:” (Mark 10:32) “You shall follow the Lord you God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him.” (Deuteronomy 13:4)
Synonyms to fearing the Lord. “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverted mouth, I hate.” Proverbs 8:13. “He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord, but he who is devious in his ways despises Him.” (Proverbs 14:2) “By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil.” (Proverbs 16:6) “Fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13) “You shall fear the Lord you God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name.” (Deuteronomy 6:13) “Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever!” (Deuteronomy 5:29)
The fear of man is a stumbling block. This is a great stumbling block to fearing the Lord God. “The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted.” (Proverbs 29:25) Certain men did not confess Him because, “Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” (John 12:40-42) “You shall not show partiality in judgement; you shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not fear man, for the judgement is God’s.” (Deuteronomy 1:17) “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28) “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Psalms 118:6)
“You are not to say, ‘Conspiracy!’ In regard to all that this people call a conspiracy, and you are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it. It is the Lord of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, And He shall be your dread.” (Isaiah 8:12-13)
The Fear of the LORD from the Lord. Jesus exemplified the fear of God better than anyone. “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And He will delight in the fear of the Lord, and He will not judge by what His eyes see, nor make a decision by what His ears hear; But with righteousness He will judge the poor, and decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; And he will strike the nations with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.” (Isaiah 11:3-4) “The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.” (Psalm 19:9) No-one needs this prophesy now that we have seen the Lord in the gospels and seen His wisdom and power through faith, but this gives us insight as to where His wisdom came from: the Spirit of the Father. They asked, "Where did this man get such wisdom and this power to do miracles?“ (Matthew 13:54) but we know. As Jesus Christ’s name is “Mighty God, Eternal Father“ (Isaiah 9:6); we see that the Father walked among us in Christ: “She will call His name Immanuel. (God with us).” (Isaiah 7:14)