Proverbs – Dr. Joseph V. (Josh) Carmichael: Recent Episodes
None
The fear of the Lord is a Biblical concept in short supply today. Let us think about this neglected doctrine together here. We will begin with a contrast. Solomon wrote, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Prov. 9:10 CSB). We must know God in order to fear Him. Further, wisdom, or skillful living, is one of our greatest needs. On the other hand, “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe” (29:25 ESV). These verses make the issue clear as to whom we should fear.
The wise man contrasts a prevailing way of life with the fear of God as its foundation with the daily temptation to fear mortal man. Wisdom and understanding, as we walk the narrow road, are contrasted with the traps all around us that would lure and entangle us away from the path of righteousness. Jesus crystalized the contrast above: “I say to you, my friends, don’t fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. But I will show you the one to fear: Fear him who has the authority to throw people into hell after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the one to fear!” (Luke 12:4-5 CSB). Jesus is too kind to beat around the bush.
I believe that a healthy dose of the fear of the Lord will not only fortify us to stand firm against the call of this world, but will also give us confidence and joy in how we live with our families and our neighbors and even our enemies.
Having been told by the angel she would give birth to the Son of God, Mary composed a prayer. In it she said, “His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear him” (Luke 1:50). As a faithful young lady she knew that the prevailing piety, or spiritual characteristic, of God’s faithful people is a reverence for him.
The Apostle loved to rehearse the Old Testament promises. After doing so in one letter he concluded: “So then, dear friends, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1). The capstone of our sanctification—our growth in God’s grace—is our fear of the Lord.
In one of his remarkable summary statements concerning the early church, Luke wrote, “So the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers” (Acts 9:31). You see, fear of the Lord is here seen as one side of a coin. On one side is the constant sense that we serve a holy and righteous God who will not be trifled with. On the other side, it is the very Spirit of the living God dwelling within the believer walking alongside us as our Comforter and Keeper.
Finally, Isaiah told us about our Savior who would come from the line of David. He described the Messiah’s character in detail: “The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him – a Spirit of wisdom and understanding, a Spirit of counsel and strength, A Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. His delight will be in the fear of the LORD” (Isa. 11:2-3a). John Murray commented here—it is wordy, read it slowly—on why the fear of the Lord is so important in our relationship with Christ. “If he who was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners was endued with the Spirit of the fear of the Lord, how can thought or feeling that is not conditioned by God’s fear have any kinship with him who is the captain of our salvation and who has given us an example that we should follow in his steps?”
As God’s people, we have been given the Spirit of Christ. And the Spirit of Christ is the Spirit of the fear of the Lord. So like the church in Acts, let us walk together in that glorious fear.
Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded. (Proverbs 13:13 ESV)
When I was growing up there were some popular commercials for a successful American stock brokerage firm. In each commercial one person would say to another, “Well, my broker is EF Hutton, and EF Hutton says, …” At that point the camera would pan back as every person in the scene was hushed and would lean in to listen. The voiceover followed: “When EF Hutton talks, people listen.” Our proverb reminds us of an even greater authority then EF Hutton was in the financial world of the 1970s. This proverb is referring to the word of God.
Several Hebrew words for the word of God, specially noted in Psalm 119, are translated by a variety of English terms. For example, law, testimony, way, precept, statute, commandment, instruction, and word, just to name a few. We know that for a human being, the most important response to the word of God is to repent and believe the gospel and be saved by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. But families, communities, nations, and entire cultures also do well to heed God’s word. History recounts the blessings that fall on those who revere and follow God’s law and the problems that immediately ensue as the word of God is rejected or ejected, as it may be. From the individual to the nation, this proverb teaches, whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself. Other English translations can help press this point home for us. The CSB, for example, says, the one who has contempt for instruction will pay the penalty. And the NLT, people who despise advice are asking for trouble.
Do you read and meditate on the Bible? Do you attend a church where the word of God preached faithfully and accurately? You know, the Bible was formerly read in public schools and at government-sanctioned events. Do we not see that a restraining grace from God has been removed from our society as God’s word has come to be more and more despised and rejected? I think the evidence is inescapable. Yet still, my main point is to encourage you to read this God-breathed book (see 2 Timothy 3:16-17) for your own edification.
God’s word says of itself that it is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12 CSB). It is as if God’s Spirit uses his word to perform needed spiritual surgery on us—for our good, our healing, the perfecting of our faith! And the psalmist, King David, describes the sheer wonder and pleasure of this word. He says it is trustworthy, right, radiant, reliable, and sweet. And he lists some of the rewards that revering the commandments bring: renewal, experience, gladness, enlightenment, and righteousness. (See Psalm 19). Do you desire these qualities and characteristics and outcomes in your life? I do. How about in your spouse or children? Or even in your vocational or business pursuits? Let us return to the word of God. May it again be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our paths—for God’s glory and our good.
PRAYER – Psalm 19:14:
May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
Lord, my rock and my Redeemer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. (Romans 1:16b CSB)
Paul clearly wanted the reader to know that he is not ashamed of the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. Why? Because this good news is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. The power of God. That is, his omnipotence. God has all power—infinite power—and it is sufficient and efficient for the salvation of all who believe it. For salvation. That is, being saved from our sins; from ourselves; from the world, the flesh, and the devil; from God’s righteous wrath upon sin; and from an eternity in hell. That is a wondrous salvation! To everyone who believes. To all who place their faith in the name of Jesus. To all who forsake their sins, turning away from them to God, believing that Jesus took your sins upon himself on the cross and credits you with his perfect righteousness. The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are protected. (Proverbs 18:10) There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12) The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe! Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Joel 2:32) If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. (Romans 10:9, 10). Amen and Amen.
I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of complete understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery—Christ.In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:2, 3 CSB)
We need wisdom like never before! In the Bible wisdom refers to the basic skills we need—physical, mental, relational, vocational—for navigating life successfully in this world. Biblical wisdom also refers to one’s relationship with God. The Psalms and Proverbs tell us the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. A proper reverence and honor and desire for the glory of God are essential for a life of wisdom.
These ideas converge in the portrait the apostle, Paul, paints of Christ in his letters to the churches. Paul teaches us the in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Do you know Jesus? Have you trusted in Him alone? His is the one in whom salvation is found: Savior of sinners. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12) He is the one in whom redemption is found: Redeemer of the lost. When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4, 5) He is the one in whom we find justification, a right-standing with God: Justifier of his people. The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction.For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:22-24)
Paul sums it up in his letter to the Christians at Corinth. He says, “It is from him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption—in order that, as it is written: Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.**” (1 Corinthians 1:30, 31). It is only through the Wisdom of God, that is, Christ Jesus, that we as individuals, as families, as communities, and in all the areas of government will glorify God and will live wisely in the way God intends.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, please send your Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, to fill me, to renew the members of my family, and to save my community, my state, and our nation from the world, the flesh, and the devil. To God be the glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down, but a good word cheers it up. (Proverbs 12:25 CSB)
As a pastor and a hospital chaplain, anxiety often overcomes me with a double-dose: Sunday followed by Monday. I can find myself sweating profusely and feeling faint. Just did yesterday. And then came close today. When will it end? Come, Lord Jesus.
By God’s grace and in his wonderful timing last night I read about prayer and anxiety, about what “an unused prayer link” to God looks like. “Anxiety. Instead of connecting with God, our spirits fly around like severed power lines, destroying everything they touch. Anxiety wants to be God but lacks God’s wisdom, power, or knowledge. A godlike stance without godlike character and ability is pure tension. Because anxiety is self on its own, it tries to get control. It is unable to relax in the face of chaos. Once one problem is solved, the next in line steps up. The new one looms so large, we forget the last deliverance” (Paul Miller, A Praying Life)
“Pure tension.” “Unable to relax in the face of chaos.” Thank you, Paul, for these phrases that help me describe my dilemma. However, life must go on even in the midst of the situations that unleashed the anxiety. What do I do? Another Paul tells me to be anxious for nothing but to pray about everything. … through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7) These Pauls think alike. Prayer. Well, I can try. Peace. That sounds divine.
But the Proverb mentions a good word that cheers up. Peter, have you got anything for me? Indeed: Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you. (1 Peter 5:6-7). OK, here goes. (And thank you, Solomon, for the ancient and relevant insight, a sort of stairway to heaven.)
During his earthly life, [Jesus] offered prayers and appealswith loud cries and tearsto the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was the Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered. After he was perfected, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, and he was declared by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 5:7-10 CSB)
Jesus did not only pray. He offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears. He prayed in the Spirit (Isa. 11:2; Mk. 2:10). He prayed in faith (Mk. 14:36). He prayed in dependence upon the Father. And he prayed with a proper respect for God the Father: he was heard because of his reverence. Jesus had an appropriate fear of God, his Father.
Therefore, he prayed with wisdom and with understanding (Job 28:28; Ps. 111:10; Prov. 9:10). Jesus prayed from a faithful heart (2 Chron. 19:9) and a clean heart (Ps. 19:9; 24:3-6). Jesus’ relationship with God was such that he prayed from a sense of righteousness, humility, and confidence (Prov. 8:13; 14:26). Jesus was heard because of his reverence.
So what does this mean for us? First, let us approach God in prayer from a sense of reverence and awe (Heb. 12:28). Second, pray in faith, believing that he exists and hears you (Ps. 65:2; Heb. 11:1-3, 6). Third, pray in confession of sin and repentance toward God (Ps. 32 and 51). We, after all, are sinners. Next, pray from your standing as justified by grace through faith (Rom. 3:21-26; 2 Cor. 5:21). Finally pray to your Father who loves you—as a believer (if you are one), you have been adopted into his family. Pray from the wonderful position of sonship as sealed by the Spirit (Rom 8:9-17).
PRAYER: Father in heaven, thank you for hearing our prayers. We thank you for Jesus, our high priest, who intercedes for us at your right hand. We thank you for your Holy Spirit who intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And we pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is tested by his praise. (Proverbs 27:21 ESV)
This one hit me hard the other evening. The NLT translates it: Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but a person is tested by being praised. I had been basking in some encouraging words I had recently received. As I read those words above the conviction was instant. So, in God’s good providence, I know I needed to hear it. Temptation always lurks. I know that humility come before honor and pride before a fall (cf. 16:18; 18:12.) So I actually felt the warning. I can let that praise go to my head (as flattery) and move me toward trouble or I can receive it gratefully and humbly, looking forward in faith.
Several ideas and passages flood my mind as I think about this. First is the fact that receiving praise is a test. The crucible and furnace are instruments of purification. And they are hot! How I receive praise and commendation will reveal my heart and test my character. Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. (Prov. 4:23 CSB) Second, other passages confirm and advance this. For example, a crucible for silver, and a smelter for gold, and the LORD is the tester of hearts (17:3). The Lord is behind this! He uses our experiences to improve us. We are to grow not only through difficulties, but also through successes. Perhaps he is also reminding me to hold on to things in this world loosely and to be slow to assume a high sense of my own importance. That is actually freeing (cf. Philippians 2). Finally, it is a reminder to be thankful. All I have is from God. Any profitable thing I do is as an instrument in his hand. And so as I trust in him with all my heart, he will continue to direct my path—and yours.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, all that I have is from you. Thank you for your steadfast love and your mercies. Help me rejoice in the Lord always. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Wednesday Night Bible Study before Prayer at NCPC. June 14, 2017 “7 Things God Hates” Proverbs 6:16-19
sermon, “The Fear of the Lord: The Heart of Holiness,” August 11, 2013. Sermon text: Proverbs 3:5-8 In Newbern: “The Fear of the Lord: The Heart of Holiness,” Feb. 16, 2014 Sermon text: Proverbs 3:5-8
Audio from the sermon, “The Fear of the Lord: The Reality of Life,” August 4, 2013. Sermon Texts: Proverbs 1:7; 9:10; Ecclesiastes 11:9; 12:1, 13-14 Sermon outline In Newbern: Audio of the sermon: “The Fear of the Lord: the Reality … Continue reading →