Monday Reflection – May 10, 2021 The Fear of the Lord The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Proverbs 1:7a

Monday Reflection – May 10, 2021The Fear of the Lord
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Proverbs 1:7a
The book of Proverbs is considered a collection of practical life wisdom given mostly in short, memorable statements. It is concerned with practical life wisdom more than ideas about God and His work of salvation. As Solomon launches out in this first chapter, he establishes the foundation of all wisdom in today’s Watchword – the fear of the Lord. His vital theological principle is that true knowledge and wisdom flow from the fear of the Lord. This fear of the Lord is not a cowering, begging fear, suggesting being afraid of God.
So, what is the fear of the Lord? It is the right reverence that the creature owes to the Creator. It is the proper respect and honouring of God. Bridges says that it is that affectionate reverence by which the child of God bends himself humbly and carefully to his Father’s law. For Kidner, it is a worshipping submission to the God of the covenant. Ross submits that the fear of the Lord expresses reverential submission to the Lord’s will and therefore characterizes a true worshiper.
God should be regarded with respect, reverence, and awe. This attitude of the creature toward the Creator is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom. Wisdom cannot advance further until this starting point is established. The fear of the Lord suggests the pursuit of a right relationship with God, and this is critical to gaining knowledge and wisdom. Waltke beautifully and correctly says that, “What the alphabet is to reading, notes to reading music, and numerals to mathematics, the fear of the Lord is to attaining the revealed knowledge of this book (God’s word).” When Solomon speaks of beginning, it is not about stage one, instead it is the first and controlling principle.
This principle of the fear of the Lord as the beginning of wisdom runs throughout scripture. This includes: Job 28:28 – “Truly, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” David says in Psalm111:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. And as Solomon concludes his thoughts in Ecclesiastes 12:13, he says, “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone.”
I agree with Morgan who asserts that, “The fundamental fact, then, is that in all knowledge, all understanding of life, all interpretation thereof, the fear of God is the principal thing, the chief part, the central light, apart from which the mind of man gropes in darkness, and misses the way.”
As we embark on this special month of May, recognized as Child’s Month, and where we also celebrate Education Week, Teachers’ Day and Mothers’ Day, may we develop the disposition of the fear of the Lord, demonstrate it in our daily lives, and inculcate it in our children. Only then is true knowledge and wisdom ours.  
Jermaine Gibson