Fear of the Lord

Via TJC

"Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Knowledge, but Fools despise wisdom and instruction" Proverbs 1:7

As I began reading Proverbs to write this DBO with the intent of finding words that resonated with me I couldn’t get past this verse which spoke so many things to me. To help unpack it I went to biblehub.com where they have a text Analysis tool that provides a Parallel break down.

“The Fear” comes from [yir-‘At] meaning Awesome, reverence, respect,

“of the Lord” [Yah-weh] proper name of the living God (Hebrews dare not speak it)

“[is] the beginning” [rê-šîṯ] start, chief, beginning

“of knowledge” [dā-‘aṯ] discernment, understanding, wisdom, perception

“Wisdom” [ḥāḵ-māh] shrewdness, prudence, Skill (in war)

“and Instruction” [ū·mū·sar] discipline, chastening, instruction

“Fools” [’ĕ-wî-lîm] one who is foolish, despises wisdom, mocks when guilty, is quarrelsome, who is licentious

“[But] despise” [bā-zū] hold in contempt, show despite toward

This verse to me is a warning and a promise to those who seek wisdom; You revere, stand in Awe of and Respect the God of the universe seeking his Instruction, correction and discipline. Only then are you ready to start your journey to knowledge. The result will be a right or righteous perception of truth through the word.

But the lost Fools of the world are those that deny the truth and hold the very nature and existence of God in contempt, they are the fools that despise wisdom, mock when guilty and are licentious. They make up their own truth and try to pass it off to other distorting the perception of reality.

Only God is the author and arbiter of Truth. Wisdom founded on anything else is fraught with peril.

Daily Battle Order:

Read through Proverbs this week and share with the group, through the comments section, what the Lord reveals to you. Do not be distracted or disheartened by the fools of this lost and Evil world but look out for the lost sheep yearning for the Truth of the word to set them free.