Fear

A Proverb of Solomon

Proverb 1:7

by Wayne Everett Harris

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Fear, reverential awe is a mighty thing. Fear or reverential awe of the Lord is a beginning of something great. That something great is knowledge.

In fear or reverential awe we submit to God. We submit to His revelation or disclosure. As we fear Him reverentially He reveals things to us. He trusts us with truth. Knowledge is ours from the God of all knowledge, our all-knowing Father.

Without fear of the Lord we do not even begin to gain His knowledge. Fools miss out on this revealed knowledge. They despise His wisdom and instruction. They choose their ways, and not God’s.

Jesus says, “I am the way…” and the one who fears the Lord seeks to learn from Him. The fool hears the same words and says, “Who does he think he is?”

It is difficult to understand how two people can deal with knowledge differently. To one the meaning of the knowledge is crystal clear. The other one muddles through the revelation without a clue. His or her mind is not open or receptive. The info channels are blocked.

A wise person wakes up and glorifies God with a reverential awe for Him. A fool wakes up and declares in his heart that there is no God. The knowledge of God flows in the one who fears Him. The fool gets nothing.

Some are satisfied that they are a god unto themselves. They are deceived. They fool themselves and some others, but God is not fooled. They live as if nothing can touch them. They are so wrong.

The same God the fool despises controls his or her birth and death dates. They are so blinded and lost that they do not even understand the great danger they are in. One fiery dart that flies out of formation can hit them and end their foolish existence. They ignore God while standing on the brink of eternity.

This healthy fear of God is truly a beginning of knowledge. To reverence the Lord God of heaven is wise beyond measure.

The lesson: Fear the Lord in reverential awe. Bow in reverence to the King of kings. Begin this day in reverential awe, in a healthy fear of the Lord.