The fear of the LORDis a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
Reverent fear of the Lord is a fountain or source of life that causes a person to depart from the snares or traps of death. The snares of death are sin, for sin transgresses God's law and sin brings death. This fear means hating evil, including pride and arrogance, and belongs to the wisdom that turns people from evil. This fear is instruction in wisdom, belongs to God's life-giving way, and is connected with His law. Reverent fear is such a life-giving source that it moves people to turn from evil and is joined with confidence and refuge, leading away from the traps of death.
This fear is strong confidence and a refuge or asylum that guards believers, keeping them from the snares of death, especially sinners exposed to God's wrath. As such a refuge it protects from the power of Satan and from the second death, giving present and future happiness, safety, and eternal interests. As the cities appointed for one who killed without design gave security while fleeing the avenger of blood, so all Heaven invites sinners to come to this refuge with the same earnestness with which men fled to preserve temporary life, in order to gain life eternal.
Reverent fear of the Lord is a fountain or source of life that causes a person to depart from the snares or traps of death. The snares of death are sin, for sin transgresses God's law and sin brings death. This fear means hating evil, including pride and arrogance, and belongs to the wisdom that turns people from evil. This fear is instruction in wisdom, belongs to God's life-giving way, and is connected with His law. Reverent fear is such a life-giving source that it moves people to turn from evil and is joined with confidence and refuge, leading away from the traps of death.
This fear is strong confidence and a refuge or asylum that guards believers, keeping them from the snares of death, especially sinners exposed to God's wrath. As such a refuge it protects from the power of Satan and from the second death, giving present and future happiness, safety, and eternal interests. As the cities appointed for one who killed without design gave security while fleeing the avenger of blood, so all Heaven invites sinners to come to this refuge with the same earnestness with which men fled to preserve temporary life, in order to gain life eternal.