Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

 

For the past few days, we have been studying the story of Ananias and his wife, Sapphria. Pride and their premeditated scheme to gain a high position in the Church by giving money, led to both of them dropping dead. At the end of the account, the Word of God says, And great fear came on all them who heard these things. (Acts 5:5)

 

There is a saying that goes like this. A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others. I don’t know who said this, but it is true. In the story of Ananias and Sapphria, we see where the elders of the Church had the young men carry out the dead bodies and bury them. This was a good lesson for everyone but especially the young men. Hopefully, the young men (and all the rest of the people) learned from the mistakes of Ananias and Sapphria and didn’t have to go through this themselves.

 

Six times, the Bible speaks about the fear of the Lord which comes from our understanding that God says what He means and means what He says. Five of the six times are the Words of Solomon, the wisest man to ever live.

 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7)

 

Then they will call on Me, but I will not answer; they will seek Me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord. (Proverbs 1:28-29)

 

Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the Knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:5)

 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the Knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)

 

The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and Might, the Spirit of Knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. (Isaiah 11:2)

 

Fear of the Lord is founded in belief and respect for Who God really is and What God has the Power to do. As the people of the First Church watched God strike Ananias and Sappriah dead, they gained some fear of the Lord.

 

In Chapter 3 of the Book of Acts, we see where God healed the crippled man and gave Him abundant life. In Chapter 4 we read that God Blessed Barnabas with a life of fulfillment due to his obedience. But then, in Chapter 5 we see Him striking Ananias and Sapphria dead. My friends, God is Who He says He is. He means what He says and He says what He means. He keeps His Promises. This understanding should cause you to have fear of the Lord.

 

In the above six Passages of Scripture on the fear of the Lord, we will close with this one. Then they will call on Me, but I will not answer; they will seek Me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord. (Proverbs 1:28-29) To fear the Lord is a choice. I pray you make that choice.

 

 

The fear of the Lord will……..….turn the tide……….in this dark and troubled world.

 

I choose to fear the Lord,         Doreen

 

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