So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10.

I ask the question in the title because in this psalm, Psalm 34, David seeks to answer. It’s a question that has always caused me a disconnection. To fear God is not to be afraid of Him. I think a better question is, what are we capable of when we don’t fear God? I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me, let us exalt his name together. v. 1, 2, 3. I spent time with God this morning with that very question and came away being filled up with His peace and His love. A good place to be! I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears…Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. v. 4, 8. And David explains…Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. v. 11, 12, 13, 14. So what is our benefit in “fearing” the Lord? The righteous cry out, and he Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers them from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. v. 17, 18, 19. Can we begin to understand what it is that kills us? Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. v. 21. Evil slayed our Lord, the Son, and yet Father God delivered Him and not one bone was broken. Why “fear” the Lord? So we fear to do the very evil that slays us. We are so short-sighted. It isn’t death we should fear. Death is not the end. Our Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit – will be right there with us. The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned. v. 22. Fear to do evil. That is what destroys Life that is abundant.

We had the blessing of being with our daughters and grandkids yesterday. Our youngest granddaughter was so afraid of her aunt’s 4 cats she cried when they came near. They didn’t come near! They sat and looked at this tiny human making those noises; then they walked away. We all have fears. Children have fears and so do we adults. Fear what not having the “fear of the Lord” brings to this broken world of our Sin. Choose Life abundant with our God who Loves and knows the Way to Life eternal with Him. There is nothing to fear in His Love for you and eternal Life with Him to be found together.