The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Proverbs 1:7

As a young boy, Jesus would have grown up learning all of the Scriptures we know as the Old Testament, so he would have the Torah, the Proverbs, the Psalms and Prophets to learn from.

And for sure he would he have known Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

In fact, since Jesus was the Word, he would have embodied it’s very meaning.

We can get a glimpse and evaluation of the early life of Jesus in Luke Chapter 2. Verse 40 says:

And the Child continued to grow and become strong [in spirit], filled with wisdom; and the grace (favor, spiritual blessing) of God was upon Him. Amplified Bible (AMP)

And
A few years later Luke 2:52

And Jesus kept on growing, he matured —in wisdom, in physical stature, in favor with God, and in favor with others.

Now let’s go a little more deeper in the meaning of this scripture Proverbs 1:7. First let’s read it from 2 different translations

First, The Voice Translation

Let us begin. The worship of the Eternal One, the One True God, is the first step toward knowledge. Fools, however, do not fear God and cannot stand wisdom or guidance. Proverbs 1:7 “The Voice” Translation

And now, the Amplified Translation

The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; But arrogant fools despise [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction and self-discipline. Proverbs 1:7 (AMP)

Commentary
Not “fear” like you’re afraid something bad is going to happen if you disobey God, but rather a healthy reverence and respect for the Lord.

The Hebrew word here is (Strongs H3374) yir’ah  and it’s meaning is heavy duty:
1. fear, terror
2. awesome or terrifying thing (object causing fear)
3. fear (of God), respect, reverence, piety
4. revered

The understanding of “fear” is rooted in love in 2 aspects.

First, “fear of the Lord” is to protect us from doing stupid stuff, that’s what fools do. It could be our own doing – self sabotage; or it could be at the hands of other fools.

Secondly, it is a warning intended to propel us towards a healthy relationship with the only One who can offer safety, comfort and provision.

What it Means

To worship with holy fear means we have to actually “humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord” (Jame 4:10) so that he will lift you up.

Now, life only makes sense when we do it God’s way.

How to Live It Out

So here are three ways to live it out. Pray for and receive a fresh revelation of worship from these three aspects.

1. A fresh revelation of the holiness of God.

God is Holy he deserves reverence! So the warning is to not be flippant, irreverent, or too casual when offering worship.

What we need is a fresh sense of awe, wonder, and majesty that respects the supremacy of God in our times and places of worship. This is something often missing in today’s culture. So the warning is to not be flippant, irreverent, or too casual when offering worship.

2. A fresh revelation of what humility looks like for you.

Psalm 24 instructs that we are to Purify your hearts and hands when approaching him. This is especially true when you are leading public worship. (Psalm 24).

Jesus said the “pure in heart will see God.”

This is also about having the right mindset, which is the overflow of developing the right kind of spirit.

We have to cultivate the same desire David expressed in Psalm 51:10 “create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me”.

3. Trust and Obey.

Here “worship” is understood as reverence for the Lord expressed through a lifestyle of obedience to His Word. 1 Samuel 15:23 “To obey is better than sacrifice”.

Wisdom begins with worship, and worship begins with reverence.

Prayer:
Lord God, Maker of heaven and earth, I ask and pray that you would fill us with your wisdom and a holy fear of the Lord. Jesus, you are the source of all knowledge and wisdom. We dedicate this year to your purposes, and to your glory. Protect us from all evil. Renew within me a right spirit, and guide me with Your wisdom and revelation. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Daily WorsDaily Worship Devotional Podcast with Rob Still photohip Devotionals is a 5-minute podcast dedicated to studying the Word of God and hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit. Currently, we are following the Christian year calendar as our framework. We’re in the season of Epiphany – the Season of Light and exploring the early life of Christ. Join us on the journey!

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