THE FEAR OF THE LORD: KEY TO DIVINE TREASURES

The Psalmist wrote, "How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you" (Psalm 31:19). This affirms that every man who fears the Lord is blessed with the riches of God's goodness. The fear of the Lord is the strong confidence and security of every born again Christian. It is a fountain of the true Christian life.

Reference: Isaiah 33:6 New International Version (NIV) "He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure."

A rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge denotes the abundant blessings and mercies which have been conferred on us, as God's own people, through the gospel. This rich store is vast and wonderful and the Lord who grants them to us is the sure foundation of our lives and stability of our times.

The rich store of salvation includes the pardon of sin; the atonement; the promised inheritance; the hope of heaven and the peace of the gospel, which are all bestowed on a born again Christian. The same way we received the rich store of salvation is same way we received the righteousness of God in our spirit at the point of being born again.

Christ Jesus is the sure foundation of our lives in this present time, who provides us with a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. He is the conveyor of all the eternal verities mentioned in our referenced Scripture. King Solomon desired the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. In fact in 2 Chronicles 1:10 (NIV), he asked God to give him wisdom and knowledge. Later, Solomon quoted, 'I said to myself, "Look, I am wiser than any of the kings who ruled in Jerusalem before me. I have greater wisdom and knowledge than any of them"'. So he knew the value and understood the importance. Gratefully, we have the One greater than Solomon in us (Matthew 12:42).

In Christ Jesus, the wisdom and knowledge of God are inexhaustible. This wisdom is profitable to direct us in all things to the best possible result or end. And knowledge of the Lord helps us to interpret the wisdom in a way that practically leads to the glorious end in every situation. "Anywhere" or "in a plan" divine wisdom is introduced, the best means to accomplish the best or intended end is revealed. The knowledge is the divine comprehension of carrying out the procedure.

Beloved divine wisdom and knowledge function on the strength of having "the fear of the Lord". In other words, the fear of the Lord is not just our treasure, it is the key to the treasures of wisdom and knowledge and a guarantee of stability in our lives. Now that we know the secret to the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, which is the fear of the Lord, this means that we can live a life of excellence and glory in Christ all the way. The power of God works through the "fear of the Lord" in our lives. And until we consciously live with the fear of the Lord, we'll live an ordinary Christian life without tapping into the treasures of divine wisdom and knowledge in Christ.

Proverbs 9:10 (NKJV) shows us that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. This means that we cannot walk in true wisdom unless the fear of the Lord is evident in our lives. Also we cannot have true understanding, except we know God and His will through His Word and by revelation. The fear of the Lord is not the fear of going to hell or fear of His judgement or consuming fire. It is the sense of high regard, awe, and submission to His will. It is a fear that comes forth out of knowing His will and being readily disciplined to do what pleases Him. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Psalm 128:1-2; Proverbs 10:27; Ecclesiastes 8:12-13; Luke 1:50.

Guided Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, I thank you for my salvation in Christ, my justification by your righteousness, and the wisdom and knowledge displayed in my life by your Spirit. By the revelation of your knowledge and fear in the mysteries of grace, I live a life of glory, excellence and victory, in Jesus' Name, Amen.