An Idea Borrowed

Years ago on a radio program someone shared that they read a chapter in Proverbs every day. Since there are 31 chapters and the longest month has 31 days it allows you to read through Proverbs on a regular basis. I use it as the launch pad for my personal worship time and branch out from there. On this blog I will try to share some of the insights I have in the Word. I will try to organize them in the archive by reference.

Friday, September 14, 2012

Fear and Fountains

(Proverbs 14:27 KJV)  The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

All of us are familiar with “fear” (3374) but us city boys don’t know much about fountains.  For modern urban dwellers a fountain is in a public place and is usually associated with some artistic statue.  In some areas children play in it.  It is a decoration.

This “fountain” (4726) would be natural.  It would be a place where the water bearer of the family would come to get water.  It was a source of life.

If I had to haul my water I would prefer a fountain to a well.  A well means I must labor to bring the water up.  A fountain delivers the product.  Has someone dropped something in the well?  If they drop something in the fountain it gets washed away and replaced.  Well water stays put.  Fountain water overflows and goes on to new areas.

I prefer a life-giving fear.

So?  Someone said there are two reasons not to fear.  One is because you are very brave.  The other is because you don’t understand the situation.  For us, we fear because we know the situation.  We live because we know the Fountain. 

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