Have you ever, as a believer, felt the urge to lash out at someone; maybe curse them out for something they did, like recklessly bashing your car on the road? Or perhaps you’ve been tempted to make a compromising decision-aborting an unexpected pregnancy, taking a bribe at work, falsifying documents for quick gain, or engaging in a business you knew deep down you couldn’t pray to God about because you were certain He wouldn’t approve?
Yet, in that very moment, something held you back. You just couldn’t go through with it; not because you weren’t capable, but because it didn’t feel right. That uneasiness you felt wasn’t just the Holy Spirit convicting you; it was also the fear of God restraining you-a quiet but firm reminder that some things are simply not worth the cost.
In 2 Samuel 23:1-7, David was at the end of his life, about to go and be with his ancestors. But before he left, he gave his son Solomon; and by extension, us-some profound counsel.
These were the last words of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob. And in these final words, he revealed his secret—the one thing that made him special, the reason he was so highly exalted by God.
David’s secret was simple but profound: He feared the Lord. He revered God and deferred to Him in all things. He understood that he was king only because God made him king and that God was the real King—he was just His messenger.
This same secret was woven into God’s instruction to Solomon in 1 Kings 3:14, 1 Kings 9:4-5. It was the same command He gave Joshua in Joshua 1:7-8 and the same instruction He gave Israel through Moses in Deuteronomy 10:12-13. It was the standard by which every king of Israel and Judah was judged—they either feared God and walked in obedience or rebelled and did evil in His sight.
If you read David’s last words too quickly, you might miss the weight of what he was saying. But I love that he kept it simple-you’d need someone to help you misunderstand it. All his teachings to Solomon were wrapped up in this one secret: Fear the Lord.
The fear of the Lord births wisdom and knowledge (Proverbs 9:10-11). It simplifies your walk with God-without it, trying to live righteously would feel like an exhausting effort of rule-keeping. But with it, holiness flows naturally (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
It also draws you into intimacy with God, because “the secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him” (Psalm 25:14). And the beautiful thing? God doesn’t leave us to figure it out on our own. He has given us the Holy Spirit-the Spirit of God-who teaches us His ways and helps us walk in the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord shapes us. It keeps us humble, obedient, and aligned with His purpose.
By now, you might be wondering: What does it really mean to fear God?
Deuteronomy 10:12-13 says: “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the LORD your God, live in a way that pleases Him, love Him, and serve Him with all your heart and soul. And you must always obey the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.”
The fear of the Lord is not the human kind of fear that debilitates or paralyzes a person, bringing torment or pain. Rather, it is a deep reverence, honor, and highest regard for God. It acts as a restraining influence (Proverbs 16:6), keeping our hearts in check and aligning our desires with His will.
David lived in perpetual fear and consciousness of God, and it pleased the Lord. His heart was always turned toward God, and his life reflected that devotion. Solomon; after all his wisdom, experiences, and deep reflections; summarized everything under this one truth: “Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
I remember coming across the story of Naaman, the man healed of leprosy by Prophet Elisha, and thinking to myself: How can an unbeliever fear God more than many Spirit-filled, tongue-talking believers? If only more people were as quick to honor God as Naaman, we would be better for it. Naaman, after experiencing God’s power and being healed of his leprosy, immediately recognized God as the only true God. His fear of the Lord was so deep that he worried about even the appearance of bowing in a pagan temple. He said: “However, may the LORD pardon me in this one thing: “When my master the king goes into the temple of the god Rimmon to worship there and leans on my arm, may the LORD pardon me when I bow, too.” (2 Kings 5:18)
This is why, though we are not under the law, a heart that truly fears God would not do the things He hates, and even when he does, he would be very quick to repent like David. It would be easily corrected by the Holy Spirit and open to His reproof.
Would you say that your heart truly fears the Lord?
