Proverbs Chapter 1

October 20, 2008

Proverbs 1:7
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.“

What a tremendous verse! Simple, yet packed with nourishment for the Christian who takes this Word to heart.

We often hear the term “Fear the Lord”. What does this mean? Simply put it means to reverence God. But lets take a closer look at the idea of “Fear the Lord”.

To “Fear God” is to be established in His Word (Psalm 119:38). Job equates the “Fear of the Lord” with departing from evil (Job 28:28). To “Fear God” is to focus on Him solely and not on our problems (Job 6:14), or on those around us whom we might want to envy (Proverbs 23:17). In the “Fear of the Lord” there is safety, strength and confidence (Proverbs 14:26). The “Fear of the Lord” will bring peace and contentment to the soul (Proverbs 19:23).

As we can see in these few verses, to “Fear the Lord” is a very good thing for the Believer. It is not a burden to bear or an act to shy away from. In fact, the next phrase in our verse says that it is the beginning of knowledge. Appropriately, this word “beginning” is the very first word in the Bible. It refers to the absolute beginning, the point from which something starts and all else follows, the foundation.

Putting it all together we see that there can be no real knowledge without first having a deep reverence or “fear” of Almighty God. We must “Fear God” in order to have a proper foundation on which to build knowledge. Only as we focus our hearts on Him and turn from our wicked ways can we find peace, safety, confidence, joy and KNOWLEDGE.

Verses 20-29 in Proverbs 1 give us a very bleak picture of what happens to those who refuse to “Fear the Lord” and therefore hate knowledge and instruction. There is calamity, fear, desolation, destruction, distress, anguish and hopelessness.

May we be of those who experience God’s goodness and blessing as we truly learn to “Fear Him.”