The Word of God tells us, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom" (Pro 9:10). This is strange language to the ears of the world. Unfortunately, it also seems to be strange to many of God's children. No doubt there are many reasons for this; but standing at the head of the line is that sobering reality that nothing deprives us of our joys and pleasures like fear. Edmund Burke said, "No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear."
Fear...strength withers in its presence. Happiness flees. It's a fact woven into the fabric of our daily lives. This is why we often think of fear only in that dreadful sense of anxiety when we face the presence of danger...So we usually conclude that fear is to be avoided at all costs.
Yet the Bible tells us the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Christians often misunderstand what the fear of God is. How are we to understand this? How can we fear God and love Him at the same time? This issue of the Broadcaster attempts to answer these questions and to bring some clarity to this most important subject. From A.W. Pink's and Charles Bridges' short and helpful articles to the lengthier discourses by A'Brakel, Gill, Bunyan, and Spurgeon, there is a clear Biblical unfolding of this glorious theme. Our prayer is that you will find much help and edification as you digest each of these blessed articles.
Charles Bridges was a preacher and theologian in the Church of England, and a leader of that denomination's Evangelical Party. As a preacher he was well-regarded by his contemporaries, but is remembered today for his literary contributions. Educated at Queens' College, Cambridge, he was ordained in 1817 and served from 1823 to 1849 as vicar of Old Newton, Suffolk.
In 1849, he became vicar of Weymouth, Dorset, later serving as vicar of Hinton Martell, Dorset (c. 1857). Bridges participated (with J. C. Ryle) in the Clerical Conference at Weston-super-Mare of 1858, and also participated in the consecration of the Bishop of Carlisle in York Minster in 1860.
At least twenty-four editions of Bridges' Exposition of Psalm 119 (1827) were published in his lifetime. C. H. Spurgeon considered the commentary to be 'worth its weight in gold'. Spurgeon also pronounced Bridges' Exposition of Proverbs (1840) 'The best work on the Proverbs'.
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