Isaiah 8:11-13 Good News Translation (GNT)

¹¹ With his great power the Lord warned me not to follow the road which the people were following. He said, ¹² “Do not join in the schemes of the people and do not be afraid of the things that they fear. ¹³ Remember that I, the Lord Almighty, am holy; I am the one you must fear.

In the day when Isaiah prophesied, the people of Israel had lost their way. They had forgotten how to be wise. Instead of considering what God wanted them to do, they considered only their own desires. They pondered only how their actions would appear to other men. That is, they behaved as fools.

Jeremiah 4:22 Good News Translation (GNT)

The Lord says, “My people are stupid;
they don’t know me.
They are like foolish children;
they have no understanding.
They are experts at doing what is evil,
but failures at doing what is good.”

Each day, both as individuals and as a People, we make choices. To be wise, we must consider whether our choices will please and honor the Lord. Regardless of what others may think, we must choose to do what would most please God.

Psalm 111:10 New Living Translation (NLT)

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom.
All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.

Praise him forever!

We must fear to displease God. Proverbs put it this way.

Proverbs 9:10 Amplified Bible (AMP)

The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight and understanding.

When we fear God and carefully consider His ways, we have no need to worry about what other small and puny men might think. We know that what is important is whether The Creator will be pleased with our choice. For if we obey God, we have nothing to fear.

Revelation 1:16-18 New Century Version (NCV)

¹⁶He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp double-edged sword came out of his mouth. He looked like the sun shining at its brightest time.

¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man. He put his right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. ¹⁸ I am the One who lives; I was dead, but look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys to death and to the place of the dead.

This then is why Isaiah described the fear of the Lord as treasure.

Isaiah 33:6 King James Version (KJV)

And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is his treasure.

What then is wisdom? Wisdom is to correctly fear that which we should most rightly fear. And above all things, we should fear to displease the Holy One.

 Romans 8:31 American Standard Version (ASV)

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?