Solomon concluded that the above was the “whole” duty of man in Ecclesiastes 12:13.

In the book of Proverbs alone, Solomon used the idea of fearing God or His commandments at least 21 times. Below are a few examples of the positive benefits of fearing the Lord:

1:7 – it is the beginning of knowledge

3:7 – it is the antithesis of evil

9:10 – it is the beginning of wisdom

10:27 – it prolongs life

13:13 – it brings reward

14:26 – it gives strong confidence

14:27 – it is a fountain of life helping us avoid the snares of death

15:16 – it is more valuable than material wealth

16:6 – it keeps us away from evil

19:23 – it leads to life and peaceful sleep

22:4 – it results in riches, honor & life

24:21 – it protects us against harmful associations

31:30 – it brings fulfilment & praise

Just as there are different kinds of love, such as love for your spouse, your child, your mother, a friend, etc. there are different kinds of fear. For example, you may not be able to rationally decide whether you are afraid of spiders or snakes, but you can rationally and objectively decide to fear God. The fear of spiders is an emotional reaction, but the fear of God is a deliberate, intellectual decision to honor and respect him.

Spiders and snakes may make us anxious, but recognizing the sovereignty of God results in peace.