The fear of the Lord is pure, remaining forever. The judgments of the Lord are true and altogether righteous.
“The fear of the Lord” here presents reverent worship and obedience in accordance with the word of God. It is “clean” because it frees a person from idols, hypocrisy, and a careless attitude toward sin. Divine fear is not terror for those who rely on His mercy. It is holy reverence that recognizes the Lord’s greatness. His judgments also are true and altogether righteous. Human laws can be imperfect or biased, but God’s assessment never errs. For the believer this is a firm foundation in times of moral confusion. Truth is not determined only by social agreement. God’s word is the final standard. At the same time, His righteous judgments humble us, because we too are under them. For this reason, holy fear toward the Lord must always be accompanied by a deep awareness of our need for His grace.