The Fear of the Lord and True Courage

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 19, 1895

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 21, No. 37.

The Fear of the Lord and True Courage

“The fear of the Lord is” not only “the beginning of wisdom” (Ps. 111:10), but it is the beginning of true courage. To fear God is to keep his commandments, and this “is the whole duty of man.” Eccl. 12:13. The keeping of the commandments of God is also the manifestation of perfect love, for all the law hangs on this: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,” and, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Matt. 22:37, 39. “Love is the fulfilling of the law.” Rom. 13:10. “This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.” 1 John 5:3. This is perfect love, and “perfect love casteth out fear.” Then the man who fears God will not fear what man can do to him.