What does the Bible say about wisdom and the fear of God?
I have been working on this post - off and on - for a while. It’s been kind of a journey I guess you could say. I came into it thinking I was going to deliver something acceptable to everyone who reads my newsletter. Then I remembered that I’m not writing for that purpose, but these are my study notes and I’m just sharing them with others. But as I progressed I was humbled to remember even further that I am not able to extract every ounce of meaning from these passages of scripture. The Holy Spirit has revealed some things to me, but if I want more I will have to return again and again. The same is true for you. This is perhaps a starting point, but by no means the full interpretation of God’s word. For that you must keep returning to the source again and again.
This post follows closely on the same subject as the last one: Learn To Fear The Lord
That post was specifically about learning how to fear God, but this one is about the wisdom that comes from actually fearing God.
Job 28:28 (ESV) And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’
In Job 28, Job asks where wisdom is. The whole chapter is about people working hard and searching for things of value but not knowing where to find wisdom - and ends with Job quoting God as saying the fear of the Lord is wisdom.
It’s like Job is describing all the busyness that people get themselves into while searching for wealth, all the while neglecting the things that are the most important in life.
It reminds me that I can often let “being busy” get in the way of my relationship with God. I justify it by telling myself that my work is important and valuable, but the things that will actually give me the most satisfaction (i.e. a good relationship with God) tend to get put on the back burner, or I wave my hands and say they are too hard/boring/etc…
Part of it is that I fear what will happen if I let go of the things I do for work and just focus on my relationship with God. Another part of it is that I am interested in my work and often get satisfaction from it - but I should not let it overshadow my devotion to God.
When I find myself devoting more time and attention to the shiny objects of this world than I am devoting to my relationship with God, then I know I have a flaw that I need to address.
Remember - if I devote yourself to God, He will give me wisdom.
God please give me the fruit of self-control so that I will not be distracted by things that are not worthy of my time and attention. Help me to focus instead on my relationship with you, and doing the work which you have prepared for me.
Psalm 25:12 (ESV) Who is the man who fears the LORD? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
David says in Psalm 25 that God instructs those who fear Him. If I need a guide, a counselor, or an advisor do I turn to God first? Honestly I tend to turn to Google or YouTube first most of the time.
How do I do this? What does that mean? How do I get there?
The ability to search through the knowledge base of humanity has become very convenient, but it is a distraction from seeking truth and wisdom from God. In the days when people had to figure things out for themselves they had to rely on God a lot more. Every Google search today would have probably been a prayer from them.
Today I struggle with things that Google can’t answer. Not questions so much as decisions. Of the opportunities available, which one should I choose? How can I find victory over the struggles I battle with? What is the best way I can serve and glorify God with my life?
When I feel like I’m lost, or not sure what to put my energy into, all I really need to do is to devote myself to God, pray for wisdom, and follow His lead. I want to follow God, and when I’m not sure how to do that, all I have to do is focus my attention and energy on Him and He will guide me.
Now I just need to get it through my head and put it into practice. Still, though, there’s part of me that thinks I know better, and wants to figure things out for myself.
Remember - if you’re not sure how to devote yourself to God, ask Him and He will guide you.
Psalm 111:10 (ESV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
When we understand something we tend to feel more confident about it. At first a person might not know what to expect from having a relationship with God. They might not know what they should do. But those who keep at it - practice it - eventually start to understand. And with that understanding comes a natural desire to praise God.
If you do step out in faith, not quite sure of what’s going to happen next, just keep trusting Him, and over time you will gain understanding. And when He turns your fear or doubt into accomplishment or victory then you will sing His praises.
Proverbs 1:7 (ESV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
This quote is from the opening paragraph of the book of Proverbs. The author of this book intended it to impart wisdom, knowledge, and insight. He says that the beginning of those is the fear of the Lord.
If you aren’t convinced that you can trust God, then at some point you are just being foolish. Like putting your fingers in your ears and closing your eyes. God says He will give you wisdom, and guide you, and that you will gain understanding. And yet, there are those who will doubt Him. They will find reasons not to follow His wisdom and instruction.
They end up learning the hard way that ignoring God leads to an unfulfilling life. I need to keep that in mind. I can’t put my relationship with God on the back burner or the rest of my very existence will suffer for it.
God please help me not to despise your wisdom and instruction, but give me faith so that I will always trust in you.
Proverbs 1:29 (ESV) Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD,
Later in the first chapter of Proverbs God is offering wisdom to everyone, but some refuse His offer. God is saying that to those who refuse His wisdom He will laugh at their calamity. So, there seems to be two choices, we either fear God or be rejected by Him.
God is driving home the point that those who do not follow Him will have a hard and unsatisfying existence. He doesn’t sugar coat it. You either live for Him, or you’re lost.
Proverbs 2:5 (ESV) then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 2 tells us that if we seek for wisdom and understanding like seeking silver or hidden treasures, then we will understand the fear of the Lord.
This means that God does not simply give us wisdom because we fear Him. It’s a two-way street, so to speak, in that we have to fear God and seek wisdom, and in turn He will give us wisdom and we will grow in our fear of Him. I interpret this to be more of a continuous cycle of growth in my relationship with God rather than a specific achievement.
Proverbs 2:1-8 (ESV) My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the **fear of the LORD** and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.
The most valuable thing we can pursue is wisdom and understanding. If we truly set our hearts on these then we will be led to God because He is the source of truth, which is where wisdom and understanding come from. To deny God is foolishness, and the true seeker of wisdom and understanding would, at some point, be forced to acknowledge that.
Once you discover that God is the source of wisdom and understanding then you will know that you have found the right path to the truth you seek.
Proverbs 9:10 (ESV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
Fearing God is the beginning of wisdom. Does that mean it’s the foundation upon which wisdom is built?
Makes me think that wisdom without the Fear of the Lord is not real wisdom, but is like a house built on sand. God is the foundation of all creation. You can’t have true knowledge and wisdom if you do not put Him at the root of it all.
Proverbs 15:33 (ESV) The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
From this passage it sounds like fearing God is the thing that imparts wisdom. Perhaps the more you learn to fear God the wiser you become. You need to be humble, though, because wisdom is imparted from God, and not something to be prideful about.
Humbly fear the Lord; humbly serve the Lord. Don’t seek honor, but accept even it with humility when it comes.
Conclusion
If you have not learned the fear of the Lord then I hope this study will give you something to start building on. So far, it has certainly enhanced the way I view my relationship with God, and there’s still a lot of ground to cover.
As always, I encourage you to dig into these passages in your Bible. Don’t just memorize them, but meditated on them.
The biggest lesson I learned from this post is that I will never be done studying God’s word. I will never extract the fullness of meaning and insight from these passages, but as I study them and struggle with them - like Jacob, saying I will not let go until you bless me - I will grow from them.
με αγαπη,
BJ