The Peace of Fear

(Pro 15:16 KJV)  Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

This concept is not intuitive to the average person on the street.  Of course that average person has little knowledge of the Bible and no knowledge of God.  To most people “fear” (3374) is a cause for “trouble” (turmoil NASB) (4103), not a source of relief.  To those who live in constant touch with the living God this is obvious.

How can peace come from fear?  An insight is that one of the translations of “trouble” is “confusion.”  Another is “panic.”  When you know the living God you understand that there is no reason for panic and you have a focus that organizes confusion.  How did David say it?

(Psa 23:4 KJV)  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Are we surrounded by chaos and death?  Yes, but His rod and staff, a source of fear to evil, are a comfort to me.

So?  Fear the one with the big stick not the one with the gilded tooth pick.  He is on your side.  Actually you are on His side.  Peace, brother.