Daily Devotional for Tuesday, October 21

Fear the Lord

“My son, fear thou the Lord and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change,” Proverbs 24: 21.

Proverbs 24:21-34 underscores the importance of fearing the Lord and walking in wisdom. The passage begins with a vital exhortation, “My son, fear thou the Lord and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change” (verse 21). This verse calls us to revere God and respect authority, warning against associating with those who are unstable or rebellious.

The verse that follows elaborated on the consequences of ignoring this advice. “For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?” (verse 22). This serves as a reminder that the fear of the Lord brings stability and protection, while disregarding divine wisdom leads to sudden destruction.

In verses 23-25, the text emphasized the importance of justice and fairness. True wisdom involves standing up for what is right and just even when it is unpopular.

Verse 27 encouraged preparation and diligence, teaching us the value of planning and hard work in achieving our goals.

The passage concludes with a vivid picture of the results of laziness in verses 30-34, “I went by the field of the slothful … and, lo, it was all grown over with thorns.” This imagery warned that neglect and slothfulness lead to ruin, reinforcing the importance of diligent effort and the fear of the Lord.

DAILY CHALLENGE

Let us strive to embody these principles daily, honoring God in all that we do.

Steven Ridings