Psalm 60:1-4

    1      O God, You have cast us off;
    You have broken us down;
    You have been displeased;
    Oh, restore us again!
    2      You have made the earth tremble;
    You have broken it;
    Heal its breaches, for it is shaking.
    3      You have shown Your people hard things;
    You have made us drink the wine of confusion.

    4      You have given a banner to those who fear You,
    That it may be displayed because of the truth.
-Psalm 60:1-4

We must come to a point in maturity where we recognize that the fear of the Lord is a good thing. Proverbs 16:6 teaches us that it is by the fear of the Lord that men depart from evil. God is so good that he will give evil the consequences that it deserves. In this we must fear the Lord. We do not have a free pass at sin. This is not the full picture however.

It is also the goodness of God that leads men to repentance. God does not just punish wickedness, He also rewards righteousness. Praise be to God where both can equally be true. Understanding then how wickedness is judged and righteousness rewarded, let us walk in righteousness as the Lord has equipped us to do.