Proverbs 9:10: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Solomon talks a lot about the “fear of the Lord” throughout the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs was the first book of the Bible I ever read in its entirety. I remember seeing this phrase and being really confused. I knew I was supposed to love God, but why should I fear God? And how is fearing God foundational to wisdom? I conducted lots of google searches, listened to podcasts, and read books trying to grasp this concept of fearing the Lord. I think I struggled with it so much because I didn’t want God to be scary. There are enough scary aspects in life that we have to face, and I thought God was meant to be the One who relieved our fears and helped us through them.
What I’ve learned is that fearing the Lord is a positive, healthy practice. It means you respect God to the point of reverence. It means you grasp just how powerful, almighty, and big God is. This fear of the Lord is the start of wisdom because it moves you to live your life in a way that will glorify and please the Lord.
As you’ve been reading through Proverbs, what verses or concepts have been confusing or hard for you to grasp? Wrestle with those. Ask your pastor, listen to podcasts and sermons, and pray to God asking for clarity.