JUNE 30
Psalm 128:1, “Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways!”
A friend recently shared with me her fear of spiders. It’s ironic how a creature small enough to drown in a teardrop can cause a full-grown adult to abandon furniture, pride, and all sense of logic in under a second. People fear many things, and there are hundreds of phobias that fall into three broad categories: specific fears of objects or situations; social fears involving groups or public performance; and fears of being trapped or unable to escape. In many cases, fear is a healthy and protective response—like a fear of heights that keeps us from danger.
In Psalm 128, however, the psalmist highlights a very different kind of fear: the fear of the Lord. Twice in the psalm (Psalm 128:1, 4), this fear is linked directly to blessing. And yet, though there’s certainly reason to fear God, it’s ironically one of the things many people don’t do. But what does it mean to fear the Lord?
The Hebrew word used here for “fear” (yir’at) speaks not of terror or panic, but of reverence, awe, and profound respect. It’s a holy awareness of God’s greatness, authority, and goodness that leads to obedience and worship. To fear the Lord is to recognize who He is and respond accordingly—to live with the desire to walk in His ways and honor Him in all we do (Psalm 128:1).
The blessings associated with this fear are personal, practical, and far-reaching. The psalm speaks of satisfaction in one’s work, joy and fruitfulness in the home, peace in the community, and the joy of seeing future generations thrive. This shouldn’t surprise us—for the One we are called to fear is also the One who created us and knows what is best for us. To walk in His ways is not just pleasing to Him; it is life-giving for us.
Fearing the Lord doesn’t shrink life—it enlarges it with blessing. When we walk in reverent obedience to God, we experience His favor in every area: joy in our labor, richness in our relationships, peace in our homes, and a legacy that outlives us. The one who fears the Lord is not only personally fulfilled but becomes a source of blessing to others.
“The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.” — Oswald Chambers
APPLICATION QUESTIONS: In what areas of your life are you relying on your own understanding instead of walking in reverent fear and trust in the Lord? How might your daily choices, relationships, or attitude change if you lived with a deeper awareness of God’s presence and authority?
LookingtoJesus 