Watch the video above and talk about it with a group or mentor. Learn more.
The Fear of the LORD
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
“The fear of the LORD” is a recurring phrase in Proverbs (1:29; 2:5; 9:10; 10:27; 14:27; 15:16; 15:33; 16:6; 19:23; 22:4; 23:17; 28:14; see also Psalm 111:10), but what does it mean?
Many people grew up afraid of God, but the Bible gives a different picture of him. We don’t need to be afraid of God. Those who have put their faith in Jesus can claim the truth of these words from 1 John 4:18: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”
What is the “fear of the LORD” in Proverbs? It is a reverent awe of God. He is incredibly powerful and holy, yet he loves us. Though he loves us, we don’t cease to recognize how awesome and perfect he is. We don’t cease giving him the worship he deserves.
The Beginning of Knowledge
What does it mean that the fear of the LORD is the “beginning of knowledge?” “Knowledge” and “wisdom” are likely synonyms in 1:7, each referring to a life of value characterized by godly living. The “fools” who despise this wisdom are not just “stupid” as we might think. The Hebrew indicates these people spurn knowledge more than they lack it. They are choosing to live an unwise life that is characterized by not putting discernment into action.
“Beginning” is the first step in a sequence, but it is also the “foundation” of all other wisdom. Proverbs 1:1-6 lists the purpose of the whole book. The first real “proverb” in Proverbs (1:7) is that reverencing God is the first and most important step toward true wisdom. It is the proverb by which all other proverbs are defined, the lens through which we should understand everything following it in the book. Reverencing God is the first step on the path toward living a life characterized by applying godly principles.
Discussion Questions:
- Watch the video together or invite someone to summarize the topic.
- What is your initial reaction to this video? Do you disagree with any of it? What jumped out at you?
- Has there been a time in your life (maybe even now) that you were afraid of God? Explain.
- What does it look like to live a life that is in “reverent awe” of God? Explain.
- Have you ever known someone who is “knowledgeable” but does “unwise” things? Explain.
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
