The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (Proverbs 1:7)
The fear of the LORD is one of the least talked about things in the Church. How could a God of love want us to fear Him? Meanwhile, we wonder why sin is running rampant in the Church (let alone the world). Is there something we are missing? I think so!
At the elementary levels, the Fear of the LORD is about punishment. The worst "punishment" the LORD can give us is to let us have our self-centered way without restraints. If we track the progression of sin in Genesis 3-6; It begins with self-centeredness at the expense of God and others. Self-centeredness and selfish conceit invariably lead to bitterness. Bitterness invariably leads to hatred which is the seedbed for murder.
Once murder is in the heart, it erupts through words (character assassination) and actions. Cain murdered his brother Abel. Lamech murdered, and then justified doing it to other people who "hurt us" (psychologically, emotionally, or physically). Genesis 6 gives us a picture of a world filled with hatred, violence, and murder in the days of Noah.
We need the judgments of God in our midst! When the judgments of God are in our midst, at least people are afraid to openly do wrong (and it gives us more time for God to change the heart). I don't know how many times the fear of God's eternal judgment has stopped me from doing things that are really foolish. We need the Fear of the LORD deep in our lives and society.
The beginning of the fear of the LORD is self-centered and that we don't want to experience the judgment of God for our sin. However, there is much more available!
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This morning I was thinking that I'd like to read Job 28 in church. (I seldom have said anything from in front of the congregation.) Job 28 talks about the fear of the Lord. I'm not sure that I understand the passage--commentary seems kind of different than the way it effects me, sort of like hearing many gently overwhelming* things until I'm feeling prone to say, Lord, You know. Maybe the main reason not to sin is because it pleases God that we not sin. He's not the servant of sin (He doesn't serve sin to us), and He created us to serve Him.
As I drove to work I heard in preaching that as we live our lives and things that trouble us do not overwhelm us, it proves that God is on our side, so I guess "overwhelming" above is not an accurate word.
Job 28 KJV
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=job%2028;&version=9;
Net Bible
http://net.bible.org/bible.php?search=job%2028&book=job&chapter=28
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