Throughout the Old Testament, we find numerous references to “the fear of the Lord.” The scripture posted on the homepage of Logos Bible Software on July 21, 2019, comes from Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Proverbs 9:10 makes a similar declaration:
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding
Here is a dramatic graphic rendering of Proverbs 9:10:
Psalm 111:10 also mentions the term:
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding
The expression thus connects with three primary virtues: “knowledge,” “wisdom,” and “understanding.”
Although many Bible teachers tend to emphasize synonyms, such as “respect,” “reverence,” and “honor,” the term also suggests a deep, serious recognition of someone who “is awesome in power” and who should be looked upon with “fear and trembling” as Psalm 2:11 indicates:
Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.
Another reference from Psalm 19:9 teaches us regarding this vital concept:
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.
Solomon, in his wisdom, settles the whole discussion regarding humanity and God:
Ecclesiastes 12:13
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
In Romans, Paul discusses the sinful nature of humanity:
Romans 3:10-12:
As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one. 11 No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. 12 All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.”
He concludes by saying,
Romans 3:17-18:
17 They don’t know where to find peace.” 18 “They have no fear of God at all.”
Once again, the Psalmist concurs regarding those enemies who fought against him:
Psalm 55:19:
God will hear and humble them, Even He who sits enthroned from old— Selah. Because in them there has been no change [of heart], And they do not fear God [at all].
Both Proverbs 9:10 and Psalm 19:9 form the introduction to this poem:
The Beginning of Wisdom
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.
Psalm 19:9
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Proverbs 9:10
We begin and stand in absolute awe of You,
Thoroughly washed in the fountain of holiness.
The old has passed away—Behold, You make all things new:
Redeemed and justified by Christ, our righteousness.
As you search the earth, may we find grace in your sight.
We seek to be wise but never in our own eyes.
We stand perfected offspring destined to walk upright,
Beloved ones, whose heart Your Word purifies.
We are filled with knowledge and wisdom from above
And bound by a covenant no one can sever,
For nothing can separate us from God’s love:
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.
We are renewed in strength and upheld by God’s Word,
As we pursue wisdom, growing in the fear of the Lord.
Tommy Walker offers this song of worship: “The Fear of the Lord”
A recent blog post discussed the indescribable vastness of God, the creator of the universe as revealed in the final section of Romans 11 which is designated as a doxology or hymn of praise. The Verse of the Day for May 17, 2018 is opening verse of this passage found in Romans 11:33-36 in the New International Version:
[Doxology] Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor? 35 Or who has first given to Him that it would be paid back to him? 36 For from Him [all things originate] and through Him [all things live and exist] and to Him are all things [directed]. To Him be glory and honor forever! Amen.
God is to be praised and glorified, for He is the fountain of all wisdom and life-source of all knowledge. Because of the frailty of our flesh, we acknowledge our need for the wisdom of God and the knowledge of God to fulfill His will in our lives.
The passage from Romans 11:33-36 brings to mind the relationship between the wisdom and knowledge of God:
The Beginning of Wisdom
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.
Psalm 19:9
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:
and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Proverbs 9:10
We begin and stand in absolute awe of You,
Thoroughly washed in the fountain of holiness.
The old has passed away—Behold, You make all things new:
Redeemed and justified by Christ, our righteousness.
As You search the earth, may we find grace in Your sight.
We seek to be wise but never in our own eyes.
Here we stand perfected and destined to walk upright,
Your beloved ones, whose heart Your Word purifies.
We are filled with knowledge and wisdom from above
And bound by a covenant no one can sever,
For nothing can separate us from God’s love:
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.
We are renewed in strength and upheld by God’s Word,
As we pursue wisdom, growing in the fear of the Lord.
We concludes with Romans 11:33-36 Song “Oh, The Depths of the Riches” (Christian Praise Worship w/ Lyrics)
Proverbs 9:10 in the Amplified Bible, the Verse of the Day for October 24, 2017, makes a bold statement regarding the origin of wisdom:
The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight and understanding.
The word “beginning,” transports us to the first verse in the Bible:
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Proverbs 8:23 in the Amplified Bible brings to our attention that even before the beginning spoken of Genesis 1:2, the wisdom of God was on the scene:
From everlasting I was established and ordained, From the beginning, before the earth existed, [I, godly wisdom, existed].
If wisdom existed before the beginning, what is origin or the beginning of wisdom? Once again, the answer comes from Proverbs, the Book of Wisdom:
Proverbs 4:7 (Amplified Bible)
The beginning of wisdom is: Get [skillful and godly] wisdom [it is preeminent]! And with all your acquiring, get understanding [actively seek spiritual discernment, mature comprehension, and logical interpretation].
The Psalmist adds to the discussion with these enlightening words:
The [reverent] fear of the Lord is the beginning (the prerequisite, the absolute essential, the alphabet) of wisdom; A good understanding and a teachable heart are possessed by all those who do the will of the Lord; His praise endures forever.
The message regarding the origin of wisdom expressed in the Verse of the Day is reinforced and augmented in Proverbs 1:7[Amplified Bible]:
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.
In order to comprehend more fully the essence of wisdom, we must go back to the beginning.
As we reflect upon wisdom, so brilliantly displayed in the Book of Proverbs and elsewhere, we find that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” poetically expressed in this manner:
The Beginning of Wisdom
The [reverent] fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
Psalm 19:9 (AMP)
The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight and understanding.
Proverbs 9:10 (AMP)
We begin and stand in absolute awe of You,
Thoroughly washed in the fountain of holiness.
The old has passed away—Behold, You make all things new:
Redeemed and justified by Christ, our righteousness.
As you search the earth, may we find grace in your sight.
We seek to be wise but never in our own eyes.
We stand perfected offspring destined to walk upright,
Beloved ones, whose heart Your Word purifies.
We are filled with knowledge and wisdom from above
And bound by a covenant no one can sever,
For nothing can separate us from God’s love:
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.
We are renewed in strength and upheld by God’s Word,
As we pursue wisdom, growing in the fear of the Lord.
As we attempt to apprehend to at greater degree the magnitude of God and His infinite power and glory, we speak of the fear of the Lord. We stand in absolute awe, in wonder, and amazement. Recognizing both an awareness of terror and dread, we tremble in light of our coming up short and perpetually missing the mark. At the same time we are aware of the reverence, respect, and honor that God Almighty rightfully deserves, knowing that He loves us, and His unconditional love casts out all fear.
We rejoice with the Psalmist who declares:
Let those who fear the LORD say: “His love endures forever” (Psalm 118:4).
The LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love (Psalm 147:11).
A perfect musical accompaniment to this entry is the song “The Perfect Wisdom of Our God.”
“We Choose the Fear of the Lord” by the Maranatha Music also relates to the beginning of wisdom.
The Verse of the Day for October 12, 2016 offers sound advice taken from Proverbs 1:8-9 (NLT):
[A Father’s Exhortation: Acquire Wisdom] My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.
The Book of Proverbs reveals Solomon’s advice to his son and to all who would desire to walk as the wise. This repository of words is a treasure house to those seeking to acquire and apply the principles of wisdom. Each day unfolds as a new beginning, an opportunity to make a fresh start in our quest to lay hold on wisdom, for we recognize this truth in Proverbs 4:7 (NLT):
Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.
How do we begin? We go back to the beginning where we find that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” according to Proverbs 9:10 which is graphically illustrated in this dramatic way:
This foundational principle is also poetically expressed:
The Beginning of Wisdom
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.
Psalm 19:9
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:
and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Proverbs 9:10
We begin and stand in absolute awe of You,
Thoroughly washed in the fountain of holiness.
The old has passed away—Behold, You make all things new:
Redeemed and justified by Christ, our righteousness.
As You search the earth, may we find grace in your sight.
We seek to be wise but never in our own eyes.
Here we stand perfected, those destined to walk upright,
As Your beloved, whose hearts Your Word purifies.
We are filled with knowledge and wisdom from above
And bound by a covenant no one can sever,
For nothing can separate us from God’s love:
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.
We are renewed in strength and upheld by God’s Word,
As we pursue wisdom, growing in the fear of the Lord.
A perfect accompaniment to today’s post is the worship song “We Choose the Fear of the Lord” by Maranatha Music.
From James 3:13 comes the Verse of the Day for September 16, 2016 in the Message Bible:
[Live Well, Live Wisely] Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom—it’s animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats.
The King James Version of this verse also begins with a question, followed by this answer:
James 3:13
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
In light of the topic of wisdom, this verse brings to mind a series of teachings posted as blog entries entitled “Words of Wisdom”—a daily dose of “words to the wise.” Here is one of the entries modified and re-posted below:
Despite the sweet savor of past victories that we desire to linger forever or the bitter aftertaste of former times of seeming defeat that we seek to forget, each day unfolds as a new beginning, an opportunity to make a fresh start. How do we begin? We go back to the beginning. As we reflect upon wisdom, so brilliantly displayed in the Book of Proverbs, we find that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” poetically expressed in this manner:
The Beginning of Wisdom
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.
Psalm 19:9
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:
and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Proverbs 9:10
We begin and stand in absolute awe of You,
Thoroughly washed in the fountain of holiness.
The old has passed away—Behold, You make all things new:
Redeemed and justified by Christ, our righteousness.
As You search the earth, may we find grace in Your sight.
We seek to be wise but never in our own eyes.
Here we stand perfected, those destined to walk upright,
As beloved ones, whose hearts Your Word purifies.
We are filled with knowledge and wisdom from above
And bound by a covenant no one can sever,
For nothing can separate us from God’s love:
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.
We are renewed in strength and upheld by God’s Word,
As we pursue wisdom, growing in the fear of the Lord.
A perfect accompaniment of this blog entry is the worship song by Tommy Walker: “The Fear of the Lord.”
From James 3:17-18 in the Amplified Bible comes the Verse of the Day for May 19, 2016:
But the wisdom from above is first pure [morally and spiritually undefiled], then peace-loving [courteous, considerate], gentle, reasonable [and willing to listen], full of compassion and good fruits. It is unwavering, without [self-righteous] hypocrisy [and self-serving guile]. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness (spiritual maturity) is sown in peace by those who make peace [by actively encouraging goodwill between individuals.
This passage from the Book of James brought to mind a previously posted collection of blog entries entitled “Words of Wisdom”—a daily dose of “words to the wise.” Here is an excerpt and a poem related to wisdom:
Despite the sweet savor of past victories that we desire to linger forever or the bitter aftertaste of former times of seeming defeat that we seek to forget, each day unfolds as a new beginning, an opportunity to make a fresh start. How do we begin? We go back to the beginning. As we reflect upon wisdom, we find that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” (Proverbs 9:10). Here is a dramatic, graphic rendering of the verse:
Psalm 19:9 also opens with “the fear of the Lord.” Both verses introduce this poem:
The Beginning of Wisdom
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.
Psalm 19:9
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:
and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Proverbs 9:10
We begin and stand in absolute awe of You,
Thoroughly washed in the fountain of holiness.
The old has passed away—Behold, You make all things new,
Redeemed and justified by Christ, our righteousness.
As You search the earth, may we find grace in your sight.
We seek to be wise but never in our own eyes.
Here we stand mature, as those destined to walk upright,
As beloved ones, whose heart Your Word purifies.
We are filled with knowledge and wisdom from above
And bound by a covenant no one can sever,
For nothing can separate us from God’s love:
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.
We are renewed in strength and upheld by God’s Word,
As we pursue wisdom, growing in the fear of the Lord.
A perfect accompaniment of this blog entry is the worship song “We Choose the Fear of the Lord” by Maranatha Music.
The Verse of the Day for January 25, 2016 is taken from Philippians 4:8 (KJV):
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
This verse clearly relates how believers should think and serves as the foundational scripture for a blog entry based on words of advice, often directed toward children, but they certainly apply to children of God at any age.
Edited and re-posted below is a devotional based on the statement: “Think before you speak.” When written as an acrostic, the word “T-H-I-N-K” was broken down into a series of questions with scriptures related to each of the questions asked.
This particular statement immediately brought to mind James 1:19:
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
The Amplified Bible renders the verse in this way:
Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry
Proverbs 17:28 in the Amplified Bible makes this astute statement regarding speaking, or rather, not speaking:
Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent;
with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent
Proverbs 23:7 (AMP) also speaks of the center of our thoughts:
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. As one who reckons, he says to you, eat and drink, yet his heart is not with you [but is grudging the cost].
This verse is coupled with this sobering reminder from Luke 6:45 in the Amplified Bible:
The upright (honorable, intrinsically good) man out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart produces what is upright (honorable and intrinsically good), and the evil man out of the evil storehouse brings forth that which is depraved (wicked and intrinsically evil); for out of the abundance (overflow) of the heart his mouth speaks.
Every believer is to be conscious of what that individual thinks. We are reminded to control our thoughts. Paul exhorts us to “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” We must never forget that “thoughts are the seeds to our words and deeds.” Therefore, always “Think before you speak” and ask these questions:
T Is it true?
In every situation we want always to speak the truth, and so we ask this question before we open our mouths in response: “Is it true?” We are always looking to the Word of God as our standard for what is true:
Psalm 19:9 declares:
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
Psalm 119:160 reiterates this truth:
Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth forever.
Whenever we open our mouths to speak we want to be a “true witness,” as Proverbs 14:25 indicates:
A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.
Jesus Christ made this statement: “Your word is truth. Sanctify them through your word.”
H Is it helpful?
The words that we speak should be helpful, as Romans 14:19 reminds us:
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Colossians 4:6 also offers this encouragement regarding the words we speak:
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Ephesians 4:29 reinforces the same message:
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
I Is it inspiring?
The words that we speak can build up or tear down; they can encourage or discourage. Before we speak, we should ask, “Will what I say inspire and motivate those who hear me?”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 offers these words of encouragement:
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do
Believers are also exhorted to “admonish one another” in Romans 15:14
And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
A similar expression is used in 1 Thessalonians 5:14*
And we urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men.
A Bible study from Xenos Christian Ministries explains that to admonish is to apply moral correction through verbal confrontation which is motivated by love. We should always endeavor to speak the truth in love which involves “Communication of God’s truth in love in ways that strengthen Christians to go on following God’s will.”
N Is it necessary?
Although the Scriptures encourage us to always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks, (I Peter 3:15), we may encounter situations whereby we should “hold our peace” and say nothing. Indeed, there are occasions when it may not be necessary to say what we have in mind. Indeed, Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is a time to speak and a time to refrain from speaking.
In exercising the grace of God, some believers may feel that they can say whatever they think or whenever they want to. 1 Corinthians 10:23 calls to our attention this truth:
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
In life we all may encounter situations where it may be better to say little or nothing, as we ask, “Is it necessary?”
K Is it kind?
Most remarkably, what we put into our minds is what comes out of our mouths. Colossians 3: 12-14 (AMP) exhorts us:
12 Clothe yourselves therefore, as God’s own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper].
13 Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive].
14 And above all these [put on] love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony].
If we put kindness into hearts and minds, then what we say and what we do will clothed with kindness, as we follow Paul’s exhortation in Ephesians 4:32:
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
If we are endeavoring to speak the truth in love, we can be assured that what we speak will be kind because “love is kind.” (I Corinthians 13:4)
And so we have endeavored to answer the five questions which form the acrostic based on the statement: “‘T-H-I-N-K’ before you speak.”
The essence of the message of this post is captured in this scripture memory song “Meditate on These Things” from Integrity Music:
Take one day at a time, seeking God’s direction and guidance each day. In light of the previous Verse of the Day which reminds us to number our days, as we apply our hearts unto wisdom, The Verse of the Day for January 3, 2016 shows us what we should deny or reject and what we should embrace.
Titus 2:11-12 (NLT)
For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God,
This passage brings to mind How Should We Then Live: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture, the historical documentary film series and book by theologian Francis A. Schaeffer. Originally published in 1976, the series presents Schaeffer’s view that when we base society on the Bible, on the infinite-personal God who is there and has spoken, this provides an absolute by which we can conduct our lives and by which we can judge society. This leads to what Schaeffer calls “Freedom without chaos.”
In response to the question raised by the title of the celebrate work by Schaeffer, “How should we then live?” Titus 2:12 clearly proclaims:
We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God
If we are to live meaningful lives that make a difference and impact the world in a positive way, we must understand the importance of these three vital character traits:
Wisdom
In our efforts to live lives that are pleasing in God’s sight, wisdom is essential. James 1:5 (NLT) exhorts us regarding this notable virtue:
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
As a kind of golden thread that is woven throughout the Book of Proverbs, Solomon’s advice to his son provides a priceless resource for seeking and applying the principles of wisdom. We are encouraged to pursue wisdom:
Proverbs 4:7
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.
Righteousness:
“Righteousness” is an essential aspect of our identity as Christian believers. 1 Corinthians 1:30 makes known this truth:
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
Righteousness is one of those divine attributes of God imparted unto us through Christ. Think of it as being in a right relationship with the Creator, our gracious Father. We are “all right” with God, and God is “all right” with us. We abide in a state of righteousness, not our own which is “as filthy rags” but in the righteousness of God.
Devotion:
Devotion in a spiritual context is said to be wholehearted commitment to God. The people of God are encouraged to demonstrate such commitment and dedication. Often devotion is expressed in terms of prayer or worship or some other evidence of godly behavior. Solomon in his prayer at the dedication of the Temple makes this statement:
“O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven above or on the earth below. You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion. (1 Kings 8:23)
While reflecting upon the Verse of the Day, I thought of a poem that speaks directly of wisdom and makes reference to “Christ, our righteousness,” and ends with the phrase “the fear of the Lord,” which is connected to devotion:
The Beginning of Wisdom
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. Psalm 19:9
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Proverbs 9:10
We begin and stand in absolute awe of You,
Thoroughly washed in the fountain of holiness.
The old has passed away—Behold, You make all things new:
Redeemed and justified by Christ, our righteousness.
As You search the earth, may we find grace in Your sight.
We seek to be wise but never in our own eyes.
Here we stand perfected and destined to walk upright,
Your beloved ones, whose heart Your Word purifies.
We are filled with knowledge and wisdom from above
And bound by a covenant no one can sever,
For nothing can separate us from God’s love:
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.
We are renewed in strength and upheld by God’s Word,
As we pursue wisdom, growing in the fear of the Lord.
We close with the Scripture Memory Song: Titus 2:11-12:
The Verse of the Day for October 12, 2015 comes from Proverbs 1:8-9 in the New Living Translation:
[A Father’s Exhortation: Acquire Wisdom] My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.
The Book of Proverbs offers sound advice directed toward a son who is instructed to acquire or lay hold of wisdom. The opening passage from this Book of Wisdom brings to mind the origin of wisdom, brilliantly displayed in the Book of Proverbs, where we find that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” poetically expressed in this way:
The Beginning of Wisdom
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.
Psalm 19:9
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:
and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Proverbs 9:10
We begin and stand in absolute awe of You,
Thoroughly washed in the fountain of holiness.
The old has passed away—Behold, You make all things new:
Redeemed and justified by Christ, our righteousness.
As You search the earth, may we find grace in your sight.
We seek to be wise but never in our own eyes.
Here we stand as your people destined to walk upright,
As beloved ones, whose hearts Your Word purifies.
We are filled with knowledge and wisdom from above
And bound by a covenant no one can sever,
For nothing can separate us from God’s love:
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.
We are renewed in strength and upheld by God’s Word,
As we pursue wisdom, growing in the fear of the Lord.
A perfect accompaniment of this poem is the worship song “We Choose the Fear of the Lord” by the Maranatha Music.
Proverbs 9:10 in the Amplified Bible, the Verse of the Day for October 24, 2014, makes a bold statement regarding the origin of wisdom:
The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight and understanding.
In light of the topic of wisdom, this verse brings to mind a series of teachings posted as blog entries entitled “Words of Wisdom”—a daily dose of “words to the wise.” One of the entries is modified and re-posted below:
Despite the sweet savor of past victories that we desire to linger forever or the bitter aftertaste of former times of seeming defeat that we seek to forget, each day unfolds as a new beginning, an opportunity to make a fresh start. How do we begin? We go back to the beginning. As we reflect upon wisdom, so brilliantly displayed in the Book of Proverbs, we find that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” poetically expressed in this manner:
The Beginning of Wisdom
The [reverent] fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
Psalm 19:9 (AMP)
The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight and understanding.
Proverbs 9:10 (AMP)
I begin and stand in absolute awe of You,
Thoroughly washed in the fountain of holiness.
The old has passed away—Behold, You make all things new:
Redeemed and justified by Christ, my righteousness.
As You search the earth, may I find grace in your sight.
I seek to be wise but never in my own eyes.
Here stands a perfect man, one destined to walk upright,
A beloved son, whose heart Your Word purifies.
I am filled with knowledge and wisdom from above
And bound by a covenant no one can sever,
For nothing can separate me from God’s love:
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.
I am renewed in strength and upheld by God’s Word,
As I pursue wisdom, growing in the fear of the Lord.
A perfect musical accompaniment to this blog entry is the song “The Perfect Wisdom of Our God.”
“We Choose the Fear of the Lord” by the Maranatha Music also relates to the beginning of wisdom.
Dr. J's Apothecary Shoppe 