Fear the Lord
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
PROVERBS 1:7
This is the foundation.
This is where wisdom begins.
Not with intelligence.
Not with life experience.
Not with age.
It begins with fear.
Why does the Bible say this?
Why does GOD want us to fear him?
Why is fear of God the commencement of Wisdom?
Make it make sense.
What Does It Mean to Fear the Lord?
Not terror.
Not paranoia.
But reverence.
Awe.
Recognition of God’s holiness
Power
And Justice.
Fear of the Lord means:
You take God seriously.
You understand he is not like you.
You stop trying to make God explain himself.
You accept that God is always right, even when life feels wrong.
This is the beginning of wisdom.
TRUST GOD’S WISDOM NO MATTER WHAT COMES
GOOD
OR BAD
Why Does the Bible Start Here?
Because until you fear God,
you will keep trying to be god.
You’ll rely on your own reasoning.
You’ll demand answers.
You’ll expect rewards.
You’ll believe good behaviour deserves good outcomes.
But the fear of the Lord breaks that thinking.
It humbles you.
It silences pride.
It prepares your heart to receive… not argue.
The Story of Job
Job was the most righteous man of his time.
God said so.
Satan’s accusation?
Job only loved God because God had blessed him.
Take away the blessings, Satan said,
and Job would curse God to his face.
God allowed the test.
Job lost everything.
Children.
Wealth.
Reputation.
Then his health.
His wife told him to give up.
His friends accused him.
They believed God only punishes the wicked.
But Job had done nothing wrong.
At first… Job still worshiped.
Still trusted.
But eventually, he cracked.
He asked why.
He demanded justice.
He called God out.
He did not deserve this.
He demanded an explanation.
Why had God allowed him to be treated so cruelly?
God’s Response
God did not explain.
Instead, He asked questions.
“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?”
JOB 38:4
“Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons?”
JOB 38:32
“Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?”
JOB 40:2
God didn’t justify His actions.
He revealed His greatness.
God took Job on a tour of the universe.
There is a saying:
A lion does not fear nor listen to a mouse.
Even more so with God and humanity.
God is God.
He made us from dust.
Who are you to question me?
The message was clear:
You do not need to understand everything.
You need to understand who I AM.
God showed Job that his ways were so far above a human’s that nothing was about Job.
The Result?
Job repented.
“Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.”
JOB 42:3
“My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.
Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes.”
JOB 42:5–6
Job needed to understand that nothing was about Job’s acts of service…
Job needed to stop trusting on his own righteousness…
Job needed to trust in God because of who God is.
Everything was for God’s ultimate plan and glory.
Job found wisdom.
It wasn’t the wisdom of why.
It was the wisdom of humility.
Of reverence.
Of surrender.
Job ultimately acquired the wisdom of humility.
Which is the second most repeated order in the New Testament.
We are told to be humble more than 40 times.
Heavenly wisdom is humble.
Humility is Wisdom
Humility is the posture of heavenly wisdom.
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.”
PROVERBS 11:2
We are told to be humble
more than 40 times in the New Testament.
God’s wisdom begins with reverence…
and grows through humility.
You cannot learn
if you think you already know.
Trust God’s Wisdom
Even when it doesn’t make sense.
Even when you are misunderstood.
Even when you’re suffering.
Even when your obedience isn’t rewarded.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding.”
PROVERBS 3:5
That is fear of the Lord.
To trust him… not yourself.
To worship him… not your feelings.
To obey him… regardless of the outcome.
Final Thought
God’s perspective was so huge that ultimate justice was not about us.
Nothing is about us.
All is for God’s glory.
That is where the fear of the Lord is based.
His ways are so outside our realm of understanding anything can happen.
Your suffering is not proof of failure.
Your questions are not rebellion…
Unless you demand control.
Let the fear of the Lord still you.
Let it lead you to wisdom.
Let it grow you in humility.
This is where true wisdom begins.
LET US PRAY.
HEAVENLY FATHER WE FALL TO OUR KNEES BEFORE YOUR GREATNESS OH LORD. HELP US WE PRAY TO REPENT OF OUR PRIDE. OUR ARROGANCE. OUR SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS. GUIDE US TO LEAN INTO YOUR GREATNESS. WITH HUMILITY. WITH AWE. WITH SINCERE GRATITUDE. FORGIVE US LORD WE BESEECH YOU. IN JESUS MIGHTY NAME WE PRAY. AMEN.
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