Growing in Faith
What it looks like to fear the Lord
Psalm 34:11–16 “Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. What man is he that desireth life, And loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, And thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; Seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, And his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.”
David is giving clear instruction on what it truly means to fear the Lord. Many times we are told to fear God, but not always shown how that looks in daily life. In this passage, David makes it practical. First, he teaches that we must guard our speech. To “keep thy tongue from evil” means refusing to speak words that tear down, corrupt, or harm. No matter a person’s background or temperament, a life that fears God will be marked by controlled and careful speech. Second, David instructs us to avoid deceit. This goes beyond avoiding blatant lies—it includes any form of dishonesty or manipulation. Lies only serve to protect self and promote a false image. A believer who fears the Lord should desire truth, because truth reflects the character of God. Third, we are called to “depart from evil, and do good.” This is not passive—it requires intentional action. Since our natural tendency is toward sin, we must deliberately turn away from what is wrong and pursue what is right. To fear the Lord is to have a reverent submission to Him, choosing His ways over our own. Fourth, David says to “seek peace, and pursue it.” Peace is not something that simply happens; it must be actively chased. A God-fearing person does not stir up strife but instead works to bring unity and reconciliation. What we truly value will be evident in what we pursue. David closes with a powerful reminder: the Lord is attentive to the righteous—He sees them and hears their cries. At the same time, He stands in opposition to those who do evil. This contrast reinforces a sobering truth: the fear of the Lord is not merely a concept, but a way of life that carries both promise and accountability. To fear the Lord is to live with a deep awareness of His presence, shaping our words, actions, and desires.
It is seen in what we reject, what we pursue, and how we walk each day. And in that kind of life, there is both the comfort of His watchful care and the confidence that we are walking in a way that pleases Him.