Seek Fear

(Proverbs 2:5 KJV)  Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

This verse may be the center piece of the chapter and I find it a bit startling in that context.  The first four verse urge in different ways for us to dig in and seek the wisdom of God.  The following verses talk about all of the benefits but notice what it turns on:  “Fear” (3374).  And it isn’t just any fear, it is the fear of the Lord.

What startled me was that this seemed to be saying we should be seeking the fear of the Lord.  That goes against all of our post modern thinking.  We are supposed to be seeking self actualization and fulfillment.  We are supposed to be seeking community and cooperation.  Our churches are seeking to be seeker friendly.  That is all part of the way in which pagan Enlightenment thinking is seducing the people of God.  We are to seek to fear the Lord.  That will be the turning point.

So?  I don’t know how many times I will need to remind myself that my standards are not to be those of the world around me.  My standards were established before the foundation of the world. My standards are based in the character of God.  That is a fearful thing.  That is a glorious thing.  Fear.