Psalm 111

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise." 

Psalm 111:10 (NIV) 

From the time I was 15 years old until I was 41, it was my practice to read a different chapter of Proverbs every morning as my starting point every day. One of the side effects of this exposure to Proverbs has been that I love to debate with my Christian friends on what the "fear" of the LORD is. In hindsight, that time would have been better spent discussing the evidences that we fear the LORD rather than trying to define an English word! This is how the wisdom literature approaches it. David, Solomon and others describe the actions of a person who fears the LORD and the fruit that they receive from their righteousness in their lives. They don't spend any time debating whether fear means respect or terror. This Psalm tells us that those who fear the LORD follow His precepts. They follow the spirit of the Law, not just the letter. They understand that what God tells us to do, the behaviours He instructs His children to follow, are for our good and will bring the fruit of righteousness in our lives. It is a matter of faith, really; the faith to believe in the character of God and the faith to trust Him and obey His instructions for our situation. A person who fears the LORD praises Him now for His instructions and will praise Him forever! For who is like our LORD who takes the time and expends the energy to make sure that His children receive the Words of life? He alone is to be praised. May we put the words of this blessed song into our hearts today: 

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our way! 

While we do His good will, He abides with us still, 

And with all who will trust and obey. 

Trust and obey, for there's no other way 

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. 

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies, 

But His smile quickly drives it away; 

Not a doubt for a fear, not a sigh nor a tear, 

Can abide while we trust and obey. 

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share, 

But our toil He doth richly repay; 

Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross, 

But is blessed if we trust and obey. 

But we never can prove the delights of His love

Until all on the altar we lay; 

For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows, 

Are for them who will trust and obey. 

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet, 

Or we'll walk by His side in the way; 

What He says we will do, where He sends we will go; 

Never fear, only trust and obey. 

{Words: John Sammis, 1887. Music: Daniel Towner.}

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