“My son, if you receive my words, and treasure
my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and
apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
and lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, and search
for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the
Lord, and find the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:1-5
This passage in Proverbs 2 says that if we receive God
words, cry out for understanding and discerning, then we will understand the
fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. The fear of the Lord is the key
to the knowledge of God.
We already visited the fact that God is Love, and perfect
love casts out all fear. But, this “fear of the Lord” is a different kind of
fear. It is a reverence, awe, respect, trembling – that is required before a
Holy God.
God does not contradict Himself, so He can be love and holy,
merciful and just, high and lifted up and yet near – all at the same time. It
is difficult for us to comprehend, but He is like a multi-faceted diamond that
everytime the light reflects in a different way, we see a new glimpse of who He
is.
I love what author and speaker Bob Sorge says, “The fear of
the Lord and the love of God are like a gas pedal and brake pedal in a car. You
need both. With only gas—you will die, and with only brake, you will go nowhere.
We need both.”
It is so true. If we only focus on the love of God, we will
only depend on His mercy and forgiveness, and forget about holiness and
righteousness. If we only focus on the fear of the Lord, we will not identify
ourselves before Him as His beloved sons and will be afraid to approach Him,
living in condemnation and religion. We need both the Love of God and the Fear
of the Lord in our lives.
Scripture: “My son, if you receive my
words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to
wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for
discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver,
and search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear
of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:1-5
Prayer: Lord, I want to know You more. I am
hungry for the knowledge of God. I am hungry for relationship with You and to
know you more. I cry out for knowledge and discernment. I lift up my voice to You.
Give me the fear of the Lord. Let me know Your love and my place as a son (daughter)
before You, but let me tremble before Your Word. Let me have a deep respect and
honor for Your Holiness and Majesty that shakes me to the core. Give me the
Fear of the Lord that I may find the knowledge of God. I cry out to you for
understanding and discernment.
Continuing praying in your own words.
Prayer Posture: In Jewish culture and
throughout Church history, physical posture affects even our internal heart
posture sometimes. In many cases in the Bible where people came into contact
with the Holiness of God – they laid face down before Him, or got on their knees
or extended their hands out before Him. In your quiet place, alone with God.
Try one of these postures of prayer and honor and respect toward the Lord, and
prayer in your own words. Pause and see if you encounter a sense of His
presence or feel His holiness or fire.
Write: Write what you sensed or experience in
your prayer journal. Go back and reflect and revisit it at different times when
you desire more holiness or the fear of the Lord in your walk with God.
For more resources on praying Scripture or going deeper
in the knowledge of God, check out the “knowledge of God” blog series.
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