Proverbs 9:10

December 1, 2023

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

This particular passage out of the book of Proverbs was written by King Solomon who was one of the wisest kings that ever lived. Leading up to this verse Solomon goes into detail about living a life of true wisdom. We can see a contrast between a wise man versus a foolish one.

For instance:

Proverbs 9:6 “Forsake foolishness and live, and go in the way of understanding.”

Proverbs 9:7 “He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, and he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.”

Proverbs 9:9 “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.”

Here we can see in the Word of God the distinction that King Solomon is conveying when it comes to living a life of wisdom or living a life of foolishness. He is making it known to us that we need to use good judgment when using God’s Word to correct others. A person that is living in complete wickedness is harder to get through than a person that wants to live for the Lord.

People that want to gain knowledge of Holy things are more willing to hear what you have to say. God’s Word is very clear that we are to study to show ourselves approved, 2 Timothy 2:15. So, if you are a born again believer of Jesus Christ you should want to learn more about the wisdom of God which is found in the Holy Bible. Christians are consistently destroyed because of their lack of knowledge, Hosea 4:6.

In order for you to gain Godly wisdom that the Lord is commanding us to do, you have get into your Word, study it, digest it, and apply it to your daily life. God’s principles and stipulations are scattered throughout the entire Bible both in the New Testament and the Old Testament. It is to our benefit that we learn exactly what the Lord is conveying in His Word.

Let’s dive deeper into the primary Scripture that I am highlighting in the book of Proverbs. The words “the fear” being used is the Hebrew word “yir’â” which means: reverence. The words “the beginning” is the Hebrew word “tᵊḥillâ” which means: beginning, first. The words “of wisdom” being used is the Hebrew word “ḥāḵmâ” which means: wisdom (ethical and religious).

So when we compose all of these words in their context we can conclude that Solomon is disclosing to us that the first step to the foundation of wisdom is having a reverence of God. Having a fear for the Lord does not mean a fear as in being scared of Him or becoming panicked or distressed. Not even close, we have to remember that God has not given us a spirit of fear, 2 Timothy 1:7.

The fear that Solomon is referring to is having such an admiration and esteem for the Lord that we don’t want to do anything that is going to grieve Him. It is a healthy respect knowing that we serve a pure and Holy God that has no iniquity or sin in Him. In order for us to live a life that is pleasing to Him we have to gain a true understanding of God’s wisdom found in every page of the entirety of the Bible.

The Lord desires that we live a life upright and ethically moral in His eyes. He wants us to live an everlasting life with Him in heaven but when we willfully sin we risk the chance of eternal separation from Him. As Christians, it is to our benefit that we gain the knowledge of God given in His word.

When you develop such a reverence for the Lord Jesus that you want to live for Him fully submitted you will reap good results in life. It is a Biblical law. Matthew 6:33 reminds us, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

When we seek the Lord’s will for our life before trying to do things our own way, we will receive an increase. It is a Biblical stipulation. Wise counsel will always come from above and our starting point should always be to seek God in everything that we do. Get into His Word and allow the Holy Ghost to lead you so that you can really understand what God is saying to you.

The last part of the verse of Scripture that I am highlighting states, “…and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” The words “and the knowledge” being used is the Hebrew word “daʿaṯ” which means: knowledge of God (including obedience). The words “of the Holy” is the Hebrew word “qāḏôš” which means: divine name. The word “understanding” being used is the Hebrew word “bînâ” which means: understanding and discernment.

So when we analyze what King Solomon is trying to say, we can determine that obedience to the Lord’s Biblical law stems from the knowledge of God (the divine One). This is how we will gain understanding and discernment between what is right and what is wrong according to the Word of God.

As a Christian you are going to have a difficult time remaining obedient to the Lord if you don’t read the Bible. The entire guideline and instruction of how you should live your life is found in His Word. God is perfectly clear when He lets us know that obedience is better than sacrifice, 1 Samuel 15:22. God’s wisdom is the best knowledge that you will ever obtain. Make it your mission to study His Word, digest His Word, and apply it to you daily life.

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