Fearing God: Blessing

In Deut. 5:25f in the retelling of the Exodus 20 scene, the congregation asks, "why should we die?" They had heard seen His glory and heard His voice. Asking what mortal man has heard God's voice and lived, they petition Moses to go on their behalf. (On a side note: either they thought Moses has not mortal or they didn't care if he died.)

God's response is this is good as I wrote before: they would die. But He also says, "Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep my commands always so it might go well with them and their children forever." God does not want us to fear Him just to fear Him or just to keep us from evil but also that it will go well for us and that we will experience His blessings.

The bible speaks again and again not only of the correlation of fearing God and that keeping you from sinning, but how there are blessings and promises associated with fearing Him.

He are a few promises for the man or woman who fears God: long life (Deut 6:2); wisdom (Job 28:28; Ps 111:10; Prov. 1:7; 9:10; 15:33); spend days in prosperity and inherit the land (Ps 25:12-13); you lack nothing (Ps 34:9); health and nourishment (Prov 3:7, 8); a secure fortress and a refuge for their children (Prov 14:26); their children will be mighty, wealth & riches are in his house (Ps 112:1-3; 128:1-6); wealth, honor and life (Prov 22:4); a future hope (Prov 23:17, 18); fulfilled desires (Ps 145:19); the Lord's love is great and everlasting for them and He has compassion on them (Ps 103:11, 13, 17); the Lord delights in them (Ps 147:11); the Lord's confidence (Ps 25:14); His eyes are on him/her (Ps 33:18); a key to the treasure of salvation (Is 33:6) and the sun of righteousness will rise up with healing its wings for them (Mal 4:2, 3).

Oh, that my heart would be inclined to fear the Lord and keep His commands always so it might go well with Robin and myself and our children forever.