Proverbs 28:1-28

Fear can be both a terrible and wonderful thing.  Some fear leaves us crippled and unable to function because is drains us of all hope and leaves us powerless to do what we know we ought to do.  However, there is another type of fear that Proverbs calls the beginning of all wisdom.  This is the fear of the Lord that makes us revere the Lord and promotes a desire to obey the Lord.  Fear is a God given emotion that warns us when we are not safe and creates a reaction of adrenaline in our bodies that help us to be able to run faster or be stronger in the face of danger.  However, like most emotions, it can get totally out of control and cause us to live in a constant state of panic over things that may or may not happen instead of as a reaction to real danger.  It takes real wisdom to recognize the difference between these two fears.

FALSE FEAR: This ungodly fear is usually brought on by a guilty conscience.  Paranoia is one of the consequences of guilt and can destroy and paralyze a person.  The righteous, on the other hand, are able to live with great courage.  Sin is the man cause of this fake kind of fear that creates instability in our nations and the rulers of men.  Oppression of the poor by the poor is a byproduct of this godless type of life.  All lawlessness, injustice and lack of integrity can be traced back to a life that does not practice the fear of the Lord so it is destined to experience this false type of fear.  Greed and deception will abound in a nation that has no fear of the Lord and the result of this is that all the citizens of this nation will live in hiding and fear.


FAITHFUL FEAR: There is a faithful kind of fear that is very productive because is leads us to recognize and confess our sins so that they can be forgiven.  To live in fear of the Lord is a blessed thing and will allow us to avoid the calamity of sin.  A ruler who does not fear God will oppress his people and those who have committed murder live as fugitives because they constantly fear the retribution that will most surely come.  This faithful fear will inspire us to walk in integrity, work with diligence, judge without partiality and give with generosity.  The fear of the Lord will allow us to faithfully rebuke our friends so that they will avoid the pitfalls of sin.  We will be faithful to our families, trust in the Lord instead of ourselves, prosper due to generosity and righteousness as a result of following the faithful fear of the Lord. 

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