Proverbs 14

“In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death.” Proverbs 14:26-27 (NKJV)

I sure love how the Bible defines itself! If we are to derive generationally-fortifying “strong confidence” from fearing the Lord (confidence that is a “fountain of life”), then God’s Word must clearly define what “fearing the Lord’ means.

“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.” Proverbs 8:13 (NKJV)

Notice how hating evil (pride, arrogance, the evil way, and perverse mouth) is the beginning of wisdom, and how our understanding is proportional to our knowledge of God.

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

That means God’s Word (and not ungodly counsel) must be the source of my knowledge and understanding of Him if I am to expect my wisdom and understanding to lead me toward the “fountain of life,” away from the “snares of death.”

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” Psalm 1:1-3 (NKJV)

Praise God that His Word has the power to transform not only our lives but also the generations that follow us.  If we fear the Lord, teaching and modeling faith to our children, they will honor us by not departing from Him.  (Proverbs 22:6)  Their “place of refuge” will forever be defined by their “strong confidence” that His Word never fails. Even though difficult seasons arise, they remain faithful to our teaching.

“Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” Deuteronomy 5:16 (NKJV)

Hatred of evil (motivated by our knowledge of God’s Word as revealed by His Holy Spirit) turns us away from the snares of death, leading to the fountain of life.

“And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17  (NKJV) (Jeremiah 2:13; John 4:10)