The Fear of the Lord

Psalms 119:73-80
(73) Yodh. Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
(74) Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.
(75) I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
(76) Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant.
(77) Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.
(78) Let the insolent be put to shame, because they have wronged me with falsehood; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
(79) Let those who fear you turn to me, that they may know your testimonies.
(80) May my heart be blameless in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame!

The repeated theme in yesterday's stanza was the value of affliction. Today it is the fear of the Lord. We know from Proverbs 1:7 that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Here we see that those who fear the Lord will go to the Psalmist for learning. It looks like the Psalmist is in something of a pastoral role here.

What undergirds all of this? God's Word. Fearing God may be the beginning of wisdom, but how do we acquire the wisdom once we have begun? The answer is in God's "testimonies." We need to go to Scripture to get the wisdom that begins with the proper fear of Him.