This week's verses dive into the fear of the LORD, and what it means to live it out.
"Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD..."
The fear of the LORD is a principle that has fascinated me for quite some time. I looked for explanations, throughout Proverbs especially, as to what it meant to practically have the fear of the LORD. The psalmist is asking for the reader's attention so that he can teach him this very thing.
"...What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?..."
Here we see the type of person that David is especially addressing himself to. We also can see some of the fruit of living a life in the fear of the LORD: a long and happy life.
"...Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile..."
We can see described countless times in scripture the power of the tongue and the devastating consequences that evil speech has. The word used for guile (mirmâ) means "deceit, treachery" (Blue Letter Bible). A person who is striving to live in the fear of the LORD will guard what comes out of his mouth, and only speak that which is pleasing to God.
"...Depart from evil, and do good;..."
When I was studying the fear of the LORD, one of the most practical, simple definitions I discovered is found in Proverbs 8:13, "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil:...". If we abhor evil in all that we do, the only alternative is to do good. God is good, and by departing from evil and doing good, we side with Him.
"...seek peace, and pursue it."
The Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon categorizes this use of the word "peace" as being associated with peace in human relations. We should live our lives seeking peace with those around us. Our God is the Prince of Peace--let Him use you as an instrument to bring His peace to the world.
This week, strive to live in the fear of the LORD. Pursue peace and truth and good.
Your sister in Christ,
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