PSALM 34:11-22 Learning to Fear the LORD
PSALM 34:11-22
v. 11 "Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD."
There is a difference between being "afraid" of God and "fearing" God. Being afraid is being scared of God—scared of his anger, frightened of his punishment. People can be terrified at the thought that God might throw them into hell.
Yet God does not want his people to live in terror. It may seem strange, but the way to stop being scared of God is to start fearing the LORD! David in Psalm 34 is clearly very happy in knowing God: "I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be continually in my mouth" (v. 1). And without any contradiction or change in his joy, he tells us four times over to "fear the LORD." He even wants to teach us how to do it (v. 11). Being happy in a relationship with God, being thankful and joyful, comes from seeking and fearing the LORD.
To fear God begins with respecting him for who he is: God Almighty. I AM WHO I AM. And when you have that respect, you know that his word is trustworthy. He is a loving God who always does what he promises. Since he promised in his covenant to save and protect you and all his people, your confidence in him is solid and your love for him grows! You trust that he'll hear your prayers. At the same time you want to show your love by running from sin and obeying his commands because you know his identity—my Lord, my God, and my Saviour. Respect leads to trust and obedience, motivated by love.
David teaches us to fear God by living according to God's law: "Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it" (v. 13). Does this sound familiar? The Lord Jesus, our greatest teacher, instructed us to do the same, only more intensely. Think of his Sermon on the Mount: "Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil" (Matt. 5:37). And: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matt. 5:9). The apostle Peter taught in the same way, "Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God" (1 Peter 2:17).
Followers of Jesus show they are his by fearing the Lord. There's no terror in that, but only comfort and joy.
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