Proverbs 8:15-17: “By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.”
Chapter 8 of Proverbs is not only about wisdom, but couples wisdom with the fear of the Lord. True wisdom is founded in the fear of the Lord.
Proverbs 1:7: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
I wonder why the fear of the Lord is not such a strong emphasis as it used to be among Christian congregations. Divorce, fornication, immorality, homosexuality, abortion, and pornography, etc. are a few of the common sins we face in our churches today. They do not seem to shock us like they used to.
There are increasing numbers of people in main line churches who are not married and yet live together. They get up on Sunday morning and feel quite comfortable about sitting together with the rest of God’s people without any fear of God and without any solid connection that our God is a holy God who will judge His people unless they repent.
These same people are quick to condemn others who seek to bring correction to them. It has become politically correct to not judge or condemn the sin of anyone, even if they are living in serious sin such as adultery, fornication, or homosexuality.
Ananias and Sapphira dropped dead when Peter condemned them for lying about the sale proceeds of a certain piece of land. It was not just lying to man, but lying to the Holy Ghost. Read Acts 5:1-11. This resulted in GREAT FEAR coming upon all the church.
Acts 1:11,12: “And GREAT FEAR came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people.”
When the apostle Paul confronted Elymas the sorcerer who withstood Paul’s preaching, he conferred blindness upon him for a season (Acts 13:8-12). What was the result? “When the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord (v. 12).
As kingly men, we must teach our families what it really means to fear the Lord.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell