The Value of the Fear of the LORD

 Temple Baptist Church - 4-16-2023

Psalm 112

 

Introduction:  “A Psalm of Praise” – Praise ye the LORD!

 

A.  Psalm 112 begins with a blessing upon the man who chooses the fear of the Lord.  There is much said in the Bible concerning the fear of the Lord.

 

B.  “Fear the Lord” is found 30 times in the bible.  “Fear of the Lord” is also found 30 times in the Bible.  These are a few of the benefits of the fear of the Lord.

 

1.  The Fear of the Lord Gives Wisdom and Understanding. Job 28:28  And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord , that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

 

2.  The Fear of the Lord Is Clean. Psalm 19:9  The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

 

3.  The Fear of the Lord Is A Spiritual Teacher. Psalm 111:10  The fear of the Lord  is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

 

4.  The Fear of the Lord Gives the Knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:5  Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord , and find the knowledge of God.

 

5.  The Fear of the Lord Hates Evil. Proverbs 8:13  The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

 

6.  The Fear of the Lord Prolongs Your Days. Proverbs 10:27  The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

 

7.  The Fear of the Lord Gives Strong Confidence. Proverbs 14:26  In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

 

8.  The Fear of the Lord Is A Fountain of Life. Proverbs 14:27  The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

 

9.  The Fear of the Lord Is A Great Treasure. Proverbs 15:16  Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.

 

10.  The Fear of the Lord Purges Iniquity. Proverbs 16:6  By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

 

11.  The Fear of the Lord Brings Satisfaction. Proverbs 19:23  The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

 

12.  The Fear of the Lord Gives Riches, Honor, and Life. Proverbs 22:4  By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.

 

13.  The Fear of the Lord Gives Protection. Isaiah 2:10  Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the Lord , and for the glory of his majesty.

 

14.  The Fear of the Lord Is A Treasure. Isaiah 33:6  And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is his treasure.

 

15.  The Fear of the Lord Brings Comfort. Acts 9:31  Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

 

C.  The Fear of the Lord does not bring about a “Rose Garden” in life as God’s people have always paid a horrendous price for godliness.

 

1.  There will be Trials in Life - Job 1:1  There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

 

2.  There will be Troubles in Persecution - 2 Timothy 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

 

D.  BUT, “Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.” 

 

“Blessed” is often changed to “Happy” by a lot of people, but this is a mistake to do so.  You can be “blessed” when you are not happy.

 

Though life is often hard and unfair, those who choose the fear of the Lord are always blessed!

E.  Blessed!

 

Verse 2.  God will bless your family.  Young people are blessed by having parents who love God and live godly lives before them.  We are not Calvinist in that we think that our children have no choice, but we do give them the right choice to be chosen!  Dear LORD, give us a new generation to take our places when we are gone.

 

Verse 3.  God will bless your finances.  This does not mean that all God’s people will be rich, but it does mean that, when we put God first in our finances, He will supply all our need.  People tend to poverty through foolish choices in finances.  People tend to wealth through right choices in finances.

 

Verse 4.  God will bless your friends.  “A life lived is worth a thousand sermons preached.”  You acquaintances will see you for what you are and your influence upon them will be great.

 

Verse 5.  God will bless your favor.  You will treat others as graciously as God has been gracious to you.  Every soul we meet is one for whom Christ died!  “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you” is a Biblical principle.

 

Verse 6.  God will bless your followers.  You will stand in the Old Paths and the Old Ways giving continuity in a clear path from our fathers to the new fathers.  So many pastors and preachers have yielded the blessing of the Old Paths to the changing whims of a sinful world.  Be different!

 

Verse 7-8.  God will bless in your fixation.  You heart will be fixed upon the Lord and His service.  “I have decided to follow Jesus … though none go with me, still I will follow” is easier said than accomplished.  If you are saved, you got started right.  Finish right!

 

Verse 9-10.  God will bless your future.  None of us know what awaits us in the days to come, physically, financially, or spiritually but we do know Who holds tomorrow and Who holds our hand.

 

Conclusion:

 

Ecclesiastes 12:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.