“The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of wisdom [its starting point and its essence], And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding and spiritual insight.” – Proverbs 9:10 (AMP)
We’re uncomfortable with the idea of fearing God. We defend Him as One whose love is so great He needs not be feared.
As 1 John 4:18 says that “Perfect love drives out fear”, so we redefine fear as “awe” and “reverence”, when in reality, the Scriptures use the term “fear of God” frequently enough to give us the impression than something more than awe is appropriate. It is the kind of fear that terrified the disciples when they heard God’s voice at the Transfiguration in Matthew 17:6; that overwhelmed Isaiah when he cried out: “Woe to me! . . . I am ruined!” in God’s presence in Isaiah 6:5; and that drove John facedown at the sight of the glorified Son (Revelation 1:17).
Why does a God of love tell us that wisdom begins when we fear Him? Well, it’s because when we approach the Holy One with a casual familiarity, we are not living in reality. We do not take Him as seriously as we ought, and we do not take our sin as seriously as we ought.
Fear – not of punishment but of the overwhelming greatness of God, sees Him correctly. When we stand on the edge of the vast, bottomless gulf that separates us from Him, and we behold the immeasurable expense He paid to bridge that gulf, we experience fear. Fear of what would have been if we had never known the Gospel. Fear of our own unworthiness. Fear of the absolute dedication to Him that is now required of us.
When this fear grips us, we begin to understand the enormity of the Gospel and of our God. That understanding begins to rearrange our lives, and that is what wisdom is all about.
It is vital that we know God’s love and rest comfortably in it. But a true understanding of His love begins with an overwhelming awareness of His greatness, holiness, and power as they contrast our own sinful nature. There is nothing more fear-inducing than that. But this is where we must begin. This will shape our self-awareness, our relationships, our work, our prayers and everything we think and do. It will surely make us wise.
Reflections: Does my daily thoughts and actions picture me as one who truly fears the Lord? Judging based on my lifestyle, am I truly wise or foolish?
Confession: The Spirit of God is at work in me to produce the life of God in me. I do not live carelessly anymore but I choose to live a life of watchfulness and fear of God.
Related Scripture: Proverbs 9
Bible Reading: Genesis 40
