Proverbs 10:27 “The fear of the Lord prolongs days, But the years of the wicked will be shortened.”
One of the central themes of Proverbs is the FEAR OF THE LORD. For instance, Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction,” and in Proverbs 31:30 we find the virtuous woman is known and praised for fearing the Lord. The fear of the Lord is taught as the way to experience a blessed life here on earth. Occasionally it is contrasted with the fool or with the wicked as it is here in Proverbs 10:27. Most of the time we find the BENEFITS that come from having a right relationship with God in which He is acknowledged as God and one stands in AWE of Him offering adoration and obedience.
In contrast is to have a wrong relationship with God. Here we see the WICKED who do what is WRONG in God’s sight. They have no desire to obey what He says. There is no fear of the Lord with them.
A study of both those who fear the Lord and those who are wicked and quickly find that life is very different. Here the one who fears the Lord receives prolonged days. The idea is they GET MORE OUT OF THE 24 hours. The wicked, on the other hand are missing out on life as they live in constant fear of being caught for something they did and having to cover up things they did. Those living right with God will not have perfect lives but will not be reaping the consequences of wickedness.
One of my favorite verses about the fear of the Lord is Proverbs 19:23. It says, “The fear of the LORD leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil.
The wicked do not have a satisfying life. For example (and these are but a few as the word “wicked” is mentioned 86 times in Proverbs and 85 times in Psalms.)
Proverbs 3:33 The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked
Proverbs 4:19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble.
Proverbs 11:5 …. But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
Proverbs 11:21 Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished;
Proverbs 13:25 The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul, But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want.
Proverbs 15:9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But He loves him who follows righteousness.
And I can go on and on. The lifestyle of the wicked may be pleasurable and profitable for a time, for a moment, but it is only for a short time.
God’s Word appeals to us to choose to FEAR THE LORD, choosing to fear Him as if our very life depended on it, because it does.
Continue Strong fearing the Lord,
And remember to DATE the WORD