The Fountain of Life

3/8/2025

Elijah McSwain, Sr.

Proverbs 14:27 NKJV — The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death.

The Book of Proverbs was written by Solomon. It contains wise proverbs or sayings that teach fundamental principles, concepts or truths to live by. John MacArthur explained “the word “proverb” means “to be like,” thus Proverbs is a book of comparisons between common, concrete images and life’s most profound truths. Proverbs are simple, moral statements (or illustrations) that highlight and teach fundamental realities about life. Solomon sought God’s wisdom (2 Chr. 1:8–12) and offered “pithy sayings” designed to make men contemplate 1) the fear of God and 2) living by His wisdom (1:7; 9:10).” 1 The Book of Proverbs speaks about many themes from wisdom, moral instructions, humility, folly, foolishness, wealth, poverty, pride, pursuit of knowledge, righteousness, wickedness, the fear of the Lord, the well of life, the fountain of life, the foundation of life and much more.

Solomon is passing on a wealth of knowledge to help cultivate others in biblical truth for righteous living. He lays the framework for the Book of Proverbs in the opening chapter of the book (Ch. 1) to give directional insight to each wise sayings found within Proverbs. Proverbs 1:1-7 (NKJV) declares “the proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: to know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity; to give prudence to the simple,

to the young man knowledge and discretion— a wise man will hear and increase learning,

and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, to understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Proverbs 14:27 reiterates what is summarized in the opening chapter. The implication is that reverential fear for God is key to a foundational life that is rooted in Him. As we analyze Proverbs 14:27, let’s first consider reverential fear for God.

Reverential Fear For The Lord

In the beginning of Proverbs 14:27, Solomon disclosed the fear of the Lord is a fountain of life. The phrase “the fear of the Lord” means to have reverence, respect, and esteem for Him. The manner in which a person has reverential admiration for God is through understanding His Word that reveals the Lord’s Person, character, and will. Reverence for the Lord involves submitting our lives to His life, our wills to His will, and our character to His character. Simply it is a desire to live for Him as we are drawn to the Lord.

John MacArthur explained “the fear of the Lord is a state of mind in which one’s own attitudes, will, feelings, deeds, and goals are exchanged for God’s.” 1

It is a humble obedience that leads to aligning one's life with God’s will and following His purpose. Psalm 111:10 (ESV) notes “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding." To have fear for God influences every area of our lives. It involves applying or putting into practice the wisdom obtained from God through the understanding that we have received of Him. Wisdom for godliness stems from His Word. Understanding is insight given to be made practical in a person’s life through the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Thus, reverence and respect for the Almighty leads to humble submission which points to divine wisdom yields godly understanding and ends with practical application.

The combination of adoration, wisdom, understanding, and application leads to the fountain of life. The fountain of life is the source of life. God is the source of life. Reverential fear for the Lord leads to everlasting life. Proverbs 19:23 (NKJV) makes known “the fear of the LORD leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction.”

An individual will not know life until they know the “Giver of Life”. The true measure and meaning of life involve knowing the Lord as Savior and Redeemer. To know God is to have life and to have true life is to know God.

John Gill specified “the fear of the Lord is a fountain of life…...Where the true fear of God is, there is a real principle of grace, which is “a well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life”. Eternal life is connected with it; the Lord, who is the object of fear, He is the fountain of life: as of natural, so of spiritual and eternal life; spiritual life springs from Him, is supported and maintained by Him, the consequence of which is life everlasting.” 2 The life that is found in God is comprised of eternal life, liberty and freeness in Christ, joy unspeakable, holiness, godliness, peace, righteousness, contentment, purpose, fellowship with the living God, kingdom living, perseverance, comfort, and awareness to the ways of God. The fountain of life is the source of spiritual strength, renewal, refreshment, nourishment and sustenance that sustains every believer through reverential fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord leads to a healthy life. Just as water is vital for the human body so is the fountain of life vital of all of life.

The fountain of life entails of our connectivity to God.

Psalm 36:9 (NKJV) cites “for with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.” William MacDonald concluded “in Christ is the fountain or source of life. “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). In that light we see light. Just as natural light reveals things in their true form, so the light of God enables us to see things as He does. It enables us to form correct estimates of spiritual realities, of the world, of others, and of ourselves.” 3 Fear for the Lord enable us to see His standard for living as we possess a holy reverence for Him. Deuteronomy 10:12-13 (NKJV) addresses “what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, “and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good.”

I strongly exhort and encourage every person to fear the Lord, walk according to His ways, trust Him with your life, and build your life upon Him because the way of sin, death, ungodliness, and wickedness is too costly. Make sure that your life is connected to the fountain of life, the source of life, and the “Giver of life”. A connection to the fountain of life helps people avoid the snares of death.

The Avoidance of Deadly Snares

The phraseology of Solomon consummated his declaration to fear the Lord by stating fear turns one away from the snares of death. Death is the polar opposite of life. The true essence of life is interwoven in God. It is life that has been united with Him through Christ. John 14:6 NKJV gives the depiction where “Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

Life resides in Jesus. To know Him is to be a recipient of everlasting life.

However, the state of death is the reality of being cut off from the source of life. Alienation from the fountain of life equates to spiritual death. Spiritual death has consequences, impending eternal damnation and present entrapment. Solomon penned that the sphere of death is accompanied with the snares of death. The snares of death encompass the notion of temptation to sin, being governed by sin, pursuing vile passions, and inordinate affections, living in darkness, spiritual separation from God who is life and light, and a desire to live after the flesh. The snares of death are traps, dangers, pitfalls, ploys, and schemes that leads to a person’s demise, destruction, and death. It is associated with negative consequences of being cut off from the source of life. These snares consist of things that ruin people morally, spiritually, physically, and mentally by being entangled in its affairs.

The good news is that Solomon advised that the fear of the Lord is life, and it turns one away from the snares of death.

Reverential fear for God prevents people from living a lifeless life of spiritual death and destruction.

Warren Wiersbe expressed “fearing the Lord keeps our priorities straight. We are steered clear of evil.” 4 A willingness to follow the Lord through holy fear for Him is the means of escaping the snares of death. Fear of the Lord is to have reverence for His Word, whereby, we are governed by the law of God as He provides guidance by lighting our pathway.

“The Lord is the object of our reverence that is connected to our reverence for His Word. Reverence for God leads to a deeper understanding of His Word and admiration for Him.” 5

Psalm 119:105 (NKJV) emphasizes Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Proverbs 13:14 (NKJV) implies “the law of the wise is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death.” In addition, Proverbs 12:28 (NKJV) reveals “in the way of righteousness is life, and in its pathway, there is no death.” Quite simply fear for the Lord is the essence of life and the means by which avoidance from the entanglements of death is made possible.

J.D. Douglas conveyed “holy fear is God-given, enabling men to reverence God’s authority, obey His commandments and hate and shun all form of evil.” 6

Ultimately, the fear of the Lord keeps us in His way as Proverbs 2:10-22 (NKJV) “when wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you, to deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things, from those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness; who rejoice in doing evil, and delight in the perversity of the wicked; Whose ways are crooked, and who are devious in their paths; To deliver you from the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters with her words, Who forsakes the companion of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God. For her house leads down to death,

and her paths to the dead; None who go to her return, nor do they regain the paths of life— so you may walk in the way of goodness and keep to the paths of righteousness. For the upright will dwell in the land, and the blameless will remain in it; But the wicked will be cut off from the earth, and the unfaithful will be uprooted from it.”

The conclusion of the matter is that God will shield your life from the snares of death when you fear Him and follow His ways. Ecclesiastes 12:13 (ESV) is written “the end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” Your life will be enriched and made better when you turn to God and flee the things of the world.

Choose fear of the Lord over rebellion. Choose life over death and His life, the fountain of life, will spring up in your soul.

Resources

1. The MacArthur Study Bible

2. Gill, John. “Commentary on Proverbs 14:27”. “Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible”. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/geb/proverbs-14.html. 1999

3. The Believer’s Bible Commentary

4. The Wiersbe Study Bible

5. https://www.thechristianinquiry.org/post/the-fear-of-the-lord

6. Douglas, J. D. 1996. “Fear.” In New Bible Dictionary, edited by D. R. W. Wood, I. H. Marshall, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer, and D. J. Wiseman, 3rd ed., 365. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.