The Right Kind of Fear

TEXT: PSALM 112:1-10

KEY VERSE: “Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments” (Psalm 112:1).

God is great and holy. His divine attributes are exclusively incomparable. As Creator of the universe, He alone deserves to be held in awe and with reverential fear the Psalmist is calling for today.

The text is about the blessings of the man that fears God. Fear, in this sense, does not mean being afraid of or being frightened by God for that is a negative emotion. That kind of fear will only make us to run away from Him. The fear described in the text implies holding God in awe - a positive feeling that even draws us closer to Him even as we hesitate, out of reverence, to get too familiar with Him. This blessed man fears God and therefore delights to obey His word. The proof of godly fear is wholehearted obedience to God’s word.

Also note that this blessed man is both gracious and generous. His blessings are innumerable and apply in time and eternity. Some of these blessings are listed in our text: a blessed posterity, inward and outward prosperity, comfort, wisdom, stability and honour. This man is so established that neither men nor devils can remove him from his rightful place. His blessings are also enduring. Contrast this with the wicked who, with envious grief, “shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish (verse 10).

Does your life square up with that of the blessed man? Do you fear God? No one can truly manifest godly fear until his life is manifestly regenerated and has profitably benefitted from entire sanctification. These blessings can be yours today if you truly and sincerely pray in faith to receive.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Godly fear honours God.