What do we gain by "fearing the Lord?"
Leviticus 25:17 Ye shall not therefore oppress one another; but thou shalt fear thy God:for I am the Lord your God.
Leviticus 25:43 Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour; but shalt fear thy God.
Malachi 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him.
The "Fear of the Lord" in Proverbs and Psalms leads us to specific benefits.
"Fear of the Lord" in Proverbs and Psalms
What we gain:
Scripture and text
Instruction
Prov 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and instruction, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Wisdom
Prov 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Prolonged days
Prov 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongs days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
Strong confidence
Prov 14:26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
A fountain of life
Prov 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
Better is little
Prov 15:16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
Instruction of wisdom
Prov 15:33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility.
Men depart from evil
Prov 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. [Pro 3:7]
Shall abide satisfied
Prov 19:23 The fear of the LORD tends to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
Not be visited with evil
Prov 19:23 The fear of the LORD tends to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
Riches, and honor, and life
Prov 22:4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honor, and life. [See Prov 2:1-5; 8:13; 23:17; 24:21]
Worship toward thy holy temple
Psa 5:7 But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.
Teach in the way that God shall choose
Psa 25:12 What man is he that fears the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
The secret of the LORD
Psa 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.
Great goodness which thou hast laid up for them
Psa 31:19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!
The eye of the LORD upon them
Psa 33:18-19 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
Deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
Psa 33:18-19 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
The angel of the LORD encamps round about them
Psa 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps round about them that fear him, and delivers them.
There is no want to them
Psa 34:9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
Thou hast given a banner to them
Psa 60:4 Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.
The heritage of the God fearing
Psa 61:5 For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.
Surely his salvation is nigh them
Psa 85:9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
God's mercy toward them
Psa 103:11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
The LORD pities them
Psa 103:13 Like as a father pities his children, so the LORD pities them that fear him.
The mercy of the LORD upon them
Psa 103:17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
He hath given meat unto them
Psa 111:5 He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.
God fulfils their desire
Psa 145:19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
The LORD taketh pleasure in them
Psa 147:11 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
See: Psa 2:11; 19:9; 22:23; 33:8; 34:11; 26:1; 40:3; 52:6 [in context]; Psa 55:19; 66:16; 67:7; 72:5; 96:9; 111:10; 115:11, 13; 119:38, 63, 74, 79; 135:20
What do we lose by not "fearing the Lord?"
Proverbs 1:24-33 Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, because you disdained all my counsel, and would have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, when your terror comes like a storm, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. "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, they would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies. For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil."
Ecclesiastes 8:13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.
Romans 3:10-18 As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one." "Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit"; "The poison of asps is under their lips"; "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; Destruction and misery are in their ways; And the way of peace they have not known." "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
Possessing the "fear of the Lord" as illustrated in the New Testament deters us from specific losses.
"Fear of the Lord" in the New Testament
What we lose:
Scripture and text
Our own life.
Acts 5:5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things.
Our Purity.
1 Tim 5:20 Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.
Our special standing as God's possession.
Acts 5:11-13 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.
Our cleanness of the flesh.
2 Cor 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Eph 5:21 ... submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Our working out salvation
Phil 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
Our rest with God.
Heb 4:1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.
Our spouses as believers.
1 Pe 3:1-2 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.
Our respect for things of God.
1 Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.
Our family, acquaintances and friends to salvation and eternal life.
Jude 1:23 But others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
Our glorious rewards with Christ.
Rev 2:10 "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
How would you define "The fear of the Lord?"
Psalm 139:1-4 O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; you understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
Psalm 139:12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.
Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
Psalm 94:9 He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see?
Proverbs 5:21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He ponders all his paths.
Jeremiah 16:17 "For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity hidden from My eyes.
Luke 8:17 "For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.
Luke 12:3 "Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
Matthew 10:26-31 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
See also 2Chro 16:9; Psa 11:4-5,7; 33:18-19; 34:15; 66:7; 94:11; 101:6; 139:23; Isa 66:18; He 4:12
Suggested definition for "The fear of the Lord."
The continual recognition that I am in the presence of a holy, just and almighty God; that every thought, word, action, and deed is open before Him and is being examined for judgment by Him.
The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. (Proverbs 15:3)
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. (2 Chronicles 16:9 a)