The fear of the Lord is a concept that appears numerous times throughout the Bible. It refers to having reverence, awe, and respect for God. The book of Proverbs especially emphasizes that the fear of the Lord is the beginning or foundation of wisdom. But what exactly does this mean and why is it so important?
To truly understand the fear of the Lord, we must first recognize who God is. God is the eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing Creator of the universe. He is perfectly holy, righteous, and just. As Psalm 147:5 says, “Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.” God is infinitely greater than us, and we are completely dependent on Him for our very existence.
Because of who God is, the only proper response is reverence, awe, and deep respect. We are finite, limited creatures, while He is the infinite, unlimited Creator. King David expressed this well in Psalm 8:3-4, “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” To fear the Lord is to recognize His power and majesty compared to our frailty and lowliness.
Fearing God also means understanding that one day we will give an account to Him (Hebrews 4:13). There is no hiding from God, no escaping His judgment. He is a righteous judge who will punish unrepentant sinners. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). Those who fear God have a healthy dread of displeasing Him.
At the same time, the fear of the Lord is not sheer terror. It is tempered by the knowledge that God is also merciful and gracious to those who humble themselves and call upon Him. As Psalm 103:8 says, “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” Those who fear God need not be paralyzed by fright, but rather show Him reverence mixed with godly fear.
So why is the fear of the Lord the beginning or foundation of wisdom? There are several reasons for this according to Scripture:
- The fear of the Lord leads to obedience and knowledge. Psalm 111:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!” Those who fear God obey His commandments, which leads to understanding, wisdom, and praise.
- The fear of the Lord helps us recognize the temporary nature of human achievements compared to the eternal God. “The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short” (Proverbs 10:27). It provides perspective.
- The fear of the Lord motivates us to pursue what pleases God. “By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for; And by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil” (Proverbs 16:6). It helps us resist temptation.
- The fear of the Lord leads to true fulfillment. “In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, and His children will have refuge” (Proverbs 14:26). We find confidence, stability, and protection in fearing God.
- The fear of the Lord is the path to wisdom. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10). Wisdom and understanding start with reverence for God.
In summary, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom because it orients our perspective correctly. Fearing God reminds us we are dependent creatures who will give account to our Creator. This drives us to obey Him, pursue holiness, find true meaning in Him, and gain His wisdom. All wisdom flows from a foundational reverence and awe of who God is. As John Calvin said, “By the fear of the Lord we are to understand the reverence due to God arising out of a knowledge of His supreme majesty.”
Here are some key Bible verses about the importance and meaning of fearing God:
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7)
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul…” (Deuteronomy 10:12)
“The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.” (Proverbs 19:23)
“Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!” (Psalm 33:8)
“But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.” (Psalm 5:7)
“And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.” (Luke 1:50)
“Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others…” (2 Corinthians 5:11)
“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)
“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” (James 4:17)
Fearing God takes wisdom and understanding. It is not a natural impulse, but rather a conviction developed through studying Scripture. As we grow in knowledge of who God is through His Word, we learn to revere and submit to Him. The more we comprehend His surpassing greatness, the more we understand how worthy He is of our deepest awe and respect.
Practically speaking, those who fear God demonstrate that reverence by obeying His commandments. We show we honor the Lord by pursuing holiness, honesty, justice, mercy, faithfulness, and love. Our actions, words, thoughts, and attitudes should reflect our consciousness of God’s perfection and glory. Fearing Him means caring more about pleasing God than pleasing people or ourselves.
Additionally, the fear of the Lord gives us proper perspective. It reminds us that all human achievements are fleeting compared to God’s eternal greatness. No amount of wealth, fame, power or pleasure in this temporary world matters next to the everlasting God who created and sustains all things. Fearing God keeps us focused on the heavenly, eternal realities rather than earthly, temporal things.
Those who fear God also avoid evil and temptation. The knowledge that we will give account to the Lord motivates us to resist sin. We do not give into wickedness because we dread offending our holy, almighty God who abhors all evil. The fear of the Lord helps us flee youthful lusts and moral compromise.
Furthermore, fearing God leads to profound blessings. It brings confidence that God will supply all our needs, security that cannot be taken away, and refuge in Him amidst life’s storms. Those who reverence the Lord discover that He is a loving Father who cares for His children. While the benefits of fearing God are endless, some key blessings include guidance, peace, joy, purpose, hope, and eternal life.
Finally, the fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom and understanding. As Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” The pathway to insight and wisdom starts with revering God. As we get to know His character through Scripture, we learn how to live wisely. Fearing God keeps us humble so that He can impart His perspective to us. Wisdom comes from recognizing the Lord’s greatness and seeking His counsel daily.
In conclusion, the fear of the Lord is essential to the Christian life. Developing a profound awe, respect, and reverence for God is the starting point for gaining heavenly wisdom. As we obey Him out of holy fear, resist evil, find security in Him, gain eternal perspective, and humbly seek His guidance, we will grow in understanding and insight. Wisdom begins with fearing the Lord and recognizing His might, majesty, glory and love. This foundational truth unlocks the knowledge of God.