The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
That one may turn away from the snares of death.”  Proverbs 14:27

There are many verses in Scripture that enjoins (directs, charges, requires, commands) us to ‘fear God’.  There is also Scripture that tell us of the promises concerning the ‘fear of God’.  The fear we are speaking of here is ‘reverent and worshipful fear’.  Let’s look at some of these verses in both the charges and the promises of fearing God.

Deuteronomy 10:12 says,
“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Joshua 24:14 says,
“Now, therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River in Egypt. Serve the LORD!”

Before we go further, does this mean just God’s people of old?  No, this is God’s people of all time!  Look at the following from the New Testament that admonishes us to walk in all His ways, to love as He loves and to serve Him.  (I chose only three, but there are so many more!):

“I…urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called with all humility and gentleness, with patience , bearing with one another in love.”  Ephesians 4:1-2

“So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of the God.”  Colossians 1:10

“And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us…”
Ephesians 5:2

The writer of Ecclesiastes in 12:13 tells us,
“…Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”  

As to the precious promises of ‘fearing God’ we see:
“Who is the man that fears the LORD?
Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.
He himself shall dwell in prosperity,
And his descendents shall inherit the earth.”  Psalm 25:12-13

“Oh how great is Your goodness,
Which You have laid up for those who fear You,
Which You have prepared for those who trust in You
In the presence of the sons of men!
You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence
From the plots of man;
You shall keep them secretly in a shelter 
from the strife of tongues.”  Psalm 31:19-20

“As a father shows compassion to his children,
So the LORD shows compassion to those who fear Him.”  Psalm 103:13

“The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him,
In those who hope in His mercy.”  Psalm 147:11

And in Mary’s magnificat to God, she exclaims,
“And His mercy is for those who fear Him from generation to generation.”
Luke 1:50

Let us embrace Proverbs 1:7,
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge…”
And,
Psalm 111:10,
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have good understanding…”  
And,
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom
And the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” Proverbs 9:10

So we give thanks to our glorious and gracious Lord for His loving kindness and tender mercies to us who greatly reverence our Lord and God.  Amen