Proverbs 14:26

Proverbs 14:26 "In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge."

This proverb is an extremely rare reference in Solomon's writings to the child of God.  In fact, the Old Testament almost never mentions the child of God because the Holy Ghost tasked New Testament writers to handle that glorious topic.  The New Testament was given the privilege to declare the opportunity for a sinner to divinely become an eternal child of God as first introduced by the only begotten Son of God Himself in John 3 when He said, "ye must be born again."  From there, other New Testament writers such as Paul, Peter and John wrote extensively on the miraculous new birth and glorious adoption of sinners into the family of God.  Frequently in the New Testament, individuals are referred to or addressed as the children of God, which is the amazing work of the Spirit of God after a person believes in the Son of God.  Rarely however, does the Old Testament refer to anyone being the child of God, which makes perfect sense since technically the death, burial and resurrection of Christ necessary for the new birth had yet to take place.

The Old Testament may be quiet in regard to the children of God, referring to angels as the “sons of God” in Genesis as well as Job and the nation of Israel as the “firstborn” of God in Exodus, Jeremiah and Hosea, but it isn't silent in regard to God being portrayed as a Father.  In Malachi 1, God asks, "if then I be a FATHER, where is mine honour?"  In Psalm 103, David describes God in paternal terms writing, "Like as a FATHER pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him."  Solomon himself used similar paternal language to describe God in chapter 3 when he wrote, "For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a FATHER the SON in whom he delighteth."  Before His death, burial and resurrection, Jesus was very pointed in referring to God as a Father to men and women, saying things such as "Be ye therefore perfect, even as YOUR FATHER which is in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5) and "After this manner therefore pray ye: OUR FATHER which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name" (Matthew 6).

To my knowledge, this particular proverb is Solomon's only direct reference to the child of God and even then, it is only discovered by grammatical investigation since the only possible father figure in the proverb is "the LORD."  These Biblical facts are not irrelevant at all.  In fact, they help us understand the author's intended teaching.  By linking the fear of God to the paternal nature of God, we understand the nature of healthy Biblical fear of God.  By connecting the fear of God to the father-figure of God, we better know what it looks like to properly fear God.  There are great benefits to fearing God properly.  There is immense good in fearing God appropriately.  Solomon is not suggesting that we fear God as some mighty villain bent on destroying anyone who doesn't bow to Him.  He is not teaching that we fear God as an intolerant and insensitive Deity willing to take human life with little concern.  He is not suggesting we fear God as we would a madman on the loose or a merciless hurricane or tornado.  Biblical fear of God is best seen through the child-father relationship.  Biblical fear of God is best understood when seeing God as a Holy and Faithful Father.

 When we see God as a Father, we will fear Him as our Authority; as a more powerful and competent Person as ourselves.  When we see God as a Father, we will fear Him with an appreciation for His responsibility for us, meaning we will appreciate His duty to raise us properly so that we become responsible and proper children.  When we view God as a Father, we will expect a great sense of consistency in His character and rule over us.  When we view Him as a Father, we will anticipate justice without respect of persons.  A good father punishes wrongdoing and disobedience consistently and justly.  He doesn't turn a blind eye to some of his children while more harshly punishing other of his children.  A good father doesn't make empty threats nor does he allow disobedience to go unaddressed, otherwise his children will learn terrible habits.  When we see God as our Father, we will fear Him as a consistent and just Authority under Whom our disobedience will not be occasionally missed or intentionally overlooked.  When we see God as our Father, we will fear Him as a Faithful and Immutable Presence Who will not forget or ignore the disobedience of His other children.  This appreciation for God's fatherly responsibilities and paternal character will bring "STRONG CONFIDENCE."

Knowing evil will always be punished brings a sense of deep confidence.  Knowing the Authority above us will always do right brings confidence.  Knowing the CEO will always do the right thing, even if that means firing you, brings a certain sense of stability.  Knowing the President will always do the right thing, even if that means punishing you, brings a healthy sense of confidence.  Knowing the Pastor will always do the right thing, even if that means addressing your uncomfortable issues, brings a crucial sense of certainty.  Nothing undermines a person's confidence like inconsistent leadership.  Nothing strips confidence from us like inconsistency in the authority above us.  Kids growing up in homes with inconsistent and unjust parents struggle with insecurity.  Wives in marriages with unstable and unfair husbands struggle with insecurity.  People struggle with security in friendships with ever-changing standards and expectations.  When a person consistently and fairly executes their standards for anything, they give everyone around them a sense of confidence.  As holy, righteous, just and immutable, God most certainly offers that confidence to His children.  When we recognize His unchanging and just nature, we should fear disobeying Him and in so doing, behave with a sense of deep confidence in the moral rules of life.

This Biblically-healthy fear of God not only gives us confidence in life but it gives us a refuge from life.  If we know that God loves us too much to not consistently punish our disobedience, then we will know that He loves us too much to not consistently protect us from evil.  When we see Him as a Father, we will not only fear His just oversight but we will see that consistent oversight as proof that He loves us and in so seeing, will turn to Him to protect us from the big bad bullies of life.  A father who demonstrates the character and strength to consistently address evil in the home communicates the character and the strength necessary to deal with evil outside the home.  If for the sake of leading justly, a father appears unmoved by a child's effort to wiggle out of punishment, that man will communicate something very powerful to that child - that he will be unmoved by the threat of evil in the world and as such, will protect that child from the evils of life.  Strength in the face of evil within a child will communicate strength in the face of evil within the world.  When a child fears his father's consistent justice when considering evil, that child will run to his father's loving arms when facing evil in the world.

Parents all too often think strength against disobedience in home will push a child out of the home when in reality, the opposite will happen.  A child that experiences consistent confrontation for evil in the home will find confidence and comfort in that home when living in an evil and unjust world.  The key is consistency and justice.  God brings both to the table and for that reason, brings both confidence and comfort to His children.  When we experience the relentless consistent justice of God in our lives, we find a refuge we can trust in a world we can't.  See God as a Father and you'll understand confidence.  Fear God as a Father and you'll enjoy strong confidence.  Experience God as a Father and you'll find a place of refuge.