“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth forever.”
Psalm 111:10 KJV
Everyone likes to be thought of as wise; to have wisdom in life, in career choices, in family planning, in rearing their children, in guiding their teens, in decision making throughout their lifetime. Wisdom begins with a fear of the Lord, and understanding is obtained only through wisdom. But what exactly does it mean to fear the Lord?
- Does it mean to tremble in fear like we would a bully who might corner us in a back alley? No!
- Does it mean to timidly submit like we would a criminal pointing a gun at us? No!
- Does it mean that God might squash us like a bug if we disobey? No!
To fear the Lord means to recognize Him for Who He is.
- The Almighty Creator of all things – He even created us. (Nehemiah 9:6)
- The Savior of the world – He came to save us. (John 10:30; I John 3:16; I John 4:14)
- Omniscient – all knowing (I John 3:20; John 16:30)
- Omnipotent – all powerful (Luke 1:37; Psalm 115:3)
- Omnipresent – everywhere at the same time (Proverbs 15:3; Jeremiah 23:24; Acts 17:27)
- Sovereign – supreme ruler – That places us under His authority. (Psalm 29:10; Psalm 83:18; Psalm 93:1)
- Infinite – unlimited (Psalm 147:5) We’re finite beings, bound by time and space and our mortal limitations.
- Full of mercy and loving kindness – Ephesians 4:32; 5:2)
- The righteous Judge (Psalm 96:13; John 5:22; Acts 17:30-31; Romans 14:10-12; Philippians 2:10-11)
We can’t recognize God for who He really is – the ever present, all powerful, and all knowing Creator of the universe, supreme ruler, and righteous judge – without truly realizing how vile and corruptible we are, incapable of pulling ourselves out of the muck and mire of sin. Vulnerable. Helpless. Doomed without His grace and mercy.
Wisdom is found only in fearing the Lord, and understanding is obtained through wisdom. It’s not possible to get saved without a fear of God. To get saved a person needs to recognize God for who He really is and see themselves for what they really are before they’ll ever see their need for a Savior.
Proverbs 4:7 says, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”
Understanding comes from wisdom, but where do we get wisdom? The Word of God.
II Timothy 3:15 says, “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
Job 28:28 says, “And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.”
True wisdom begins with God.