Fear God First

Daniel 2:19-23 During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven 20 and said: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. 21 He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. 22 He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. 23 I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.”
 
VERSE 23 is a wonderful praise to God, isn’t it? Daniel is in awe that God has given him wisdom and power to reveal the king’s dream! He rejoices that God has made known to me what we asked of you But do you know God gifted this wisdom, power and knowledge to Daniel and his three friends because they had an appropriate fear of God?
    Yes, it’s true. God’s Word teaches the fear-to-wisdom-to-power-to-knowledge connection: Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. And Ecclesiastes 12:13 Here is my final conclusion: fear God and obey his commandments, for this is the entire duty of man. 14 For God will judge us for everything we do, including every hidden thing, good or bad. Yes, your life is in his hands.
    To fear God is to know he is holy – pure in every way. You live in reverent worship, loving God and desiring to know him. This reverent heart leads you to seek God’s wisdom – his commands, his mercy, his grace, his love. Knowledge is moving wisdom into action, empowered to act into God’s will.
    This was Daniel’s lifestyle. The fear of God was his core value that led him to gain an incomparable wisdom that continually praises and glorifies the LORD throughout his life. You are called in Christ today to this same fear. The LORD God has spoken through the ages to reveal his truths. “What is right? What must I do? What is God’s will” are not mysterious questions when you seek God’s wise counsel. He reveals what no man can know because he is the One who changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them.
 
Luke 1:49  for the Mighty One has done great things for me — holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.