Beginning of Wisdom: The Fear of the Lord

“A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels…The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:5, 7, KJV).

“Wise Sayings of Solomon—A Manual for Living,” This is the title Eugene Peterson in The Message Bible gives the book of Proverbs. For the next several days, we will look at selected verses in Proverbs that have a probing message for us in this twenty-first century.

Much store was given to “wisdom” literature in ancient writings. Wise men recognized the orderliness of the world and sought to find ways to live in harmony with the laws of nature and of the Creator and Author of that orderliness whom they and we recognize as the Lord God. The purpose King Solomon had in writing Proverbs was to impart divine wisdom concerning life. Early on, he stated the goal: “to hear…to increase learning...to attain wise counsel.” The very heart of wisdom and the highest goal the pursuit can give is stated in verse 7: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”

We can pursue knowledge for knowledge’s sake…just to learn more, to have cognizance of how things operate in this environment we call earth. But we cannot get away from Solomon’s insight: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” All learning without this very basic and necessary step will profit us nothing. What frightens me now is that mankind is departing from this key step in the pursuit of wisdom. The fear of the Lord is disappearing from much thinking.

A common attitude, a modern practice is to ask: “Who is God that I should honor or acknowledge Him, much less fear Him?” Fools live without God. The wise recognize and worship God. He is the God of grace, the God of history, the Fount of wisdom. We who fear and reverence God see Him as the source of knowledge.

Life is held together and exists because of His power and wisdom. I bow my head and my heart with fear and trembling at the thought of an omnipotent, omniscient omnipresent God Who holds all things together and Who loves even me. Amidst the present-day clamor to omit God’s name from public proclamations, let us never forget: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Monday, June 28, 2010