Proverbs 14:27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
turning a man from the snares of death.

This verse is a very close parallel to 13:14, which I wrote on just yesterday, in that they both speak of a “fountain of life” enabling avoidance of “the snares of death.” In simply logical terms, that means that the subject of each verse is equivalent. (If A=B and C=B, then A=C.) Accordingly, “the teaching of the wise” is at the very least closely related to “the fear of the Lord.” That again came up yesterday. I’m tempted to just say, ditto to yesterday, and be done with it. However, repetition also means emphasis, so this deserves more thought. The devil does all he can to deceive people into not fearing God, from simple atheism to believing there is no hell, even if people believe in heaven. After all, why fear God if there are no eternal consequences to sin? The devil knows better than anyone that hell is real, because it was created as a punishment and prison for him. The popular concept of the devil ruling over hell is a totally unbiblical misconception, fostered by the devil himself. He himself fears hell! Revelation 12:12 says the devil is currently on earth, not in hell! That’s why a Biblical world view is so important, and why it’s tragic that so few people have a genuinely Biblical world view. Any world view that isn’t founded on the existence of a Creator and our consequent accountability to Him is a fantasy, and certainly not Biblical. If we are to have the wisdom to avoid the traps of the devil we’ve got to fear God! Loving God is indeed the “first and greatest commandment,” (Matthew 22:37-38) but that love must be founded on the deep respect and honor that the Old Testament calls fear. Only then can we have a world view that makes sense of everything.

As I comment fairly frequently, I had the immense privilege of being raised by parents with a Biblical world view, who based everything on the conviction that the Creator loved us enough to send His Son to die for us and then be raised again as proof of the eternal salvation that He offers to us. That conviction also caused them to set guidelines and exercise discipline for their children. A child who has no respect/fear toward their physical father is going to have a hard time relating properly toward their Heavenly Father. I don’t remember being whipped by my father, but I always knew it was a possibility! (That’s why the devil does all he can to degrade the whole concept of fatherhood, and he’s been sadly successful.) I am the physical father to two, but I am a spiritual father to many. I am to live, act, and speak so as to give them all a respect for and fear of God that will enable them to love Him accurately, for their blessing and His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me indeed foster a Biblical world view in all who know me, so that they may in turn know You, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!