THE FEAR OF THE LORD
Opening Prayer
Lord, help me in the coming year to lean not on my own understanding, but in all my ways submit to you, that you might make my ways straight.1
Read PROVERBS 1:1–19
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Purpose and Theme
1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2 for gaining wisdom and instruction;
for understanding words of insight;
3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
doing what is right and just and fair;
4 for giving prudence to those who are simple,[a]
knowledge and discretion to the young—
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance—
6 for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.[b]
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools[c] despise wisdom and instruction.
Prologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom
Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men
8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
9 They are a garland to grace your head
and a chain to adorn your neck.
10 My son, if sinful men entice you,
do not give in to them.
11 If they say, “Come along with us;
let’s lie in wait for innocent blood,
let’s ambush some harmless soul;
12 let’s swallow them alive, like the grave,
and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
13 we will get all sorts of valuable things
and fill our houses with plunder;
14 cast lots with us;
we will all share the loot”—
15 my son, do not go along with them,
do not set foot on their paths;
16 for their feet rush into evil,
they are swift to shed blood.
17 How useless to spread a net
where every bird can see it!
18 These men lie in wait for their own blood;
they ambush only themselves!
19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
it takes away the life of those who get it.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 1:4 The Hebrew word rendered simple in Proverbs denotes a person who is gullible, without moral direction and inclined to evil.
- Proverbs 1:6 Or understanding a proverb, namely, a parable, / and the sayings of the wise, their riddles
- Proverbs 1:7 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote a person who is morally deficient.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How would you describe your fear of God? In what ways does it affect your walk with him?
The idea of fearing God is distinctly out of fashion for many today, but I want to say something in favor of it! Proverbs, after all, is unequivocal. ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge’ (v. 7).2 Now, let me acknowledge that there is a kind of fear of God that has nothing to do with a God of love and that no Christian would want to own. I mean the cringing fear that would turn us away from God in terror and dread. This is not the fear recommended by the book of Proverbs. On the contrary, the kind of fear Proverbs has in mind would draw us toward God in reverent appreciation and awe-filled gratitude.
At its most basic, the fear of God may involve the recognition that we live our lives before a living God who will call us to account. This provides a dampener for certain courses of action and an incentive for others. Still, perhaps we need a better English word for fear when we use it in relation to God. ‘Reverence’, ‘awe’, ‘respect’, ‘wonder’, or ‘amazement’ are suitable candidates.
Whatever word we choose, we should recognize that God is Creator and we are his creatures. Such a recognition is basic to wise living. For when we are aware of our own creatureliness, we begin to see ourselves as fellow creatures with all of God’s creation. We begin to realize that we are dependent on God and on God’s world for our very existence. We begin to live more respectfully, not only toward God, but also toward all other creatures, both human and non- human. Such a mindset should keep us from the foolish, violent acts by which the wicked make a trap for themselves (vv. 7b, 10–19).
Apply
Go for a New Year’s Day walk and reflect on whether you see yourself as a fellow creature to all the other creatures of God’s world.
Closing prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for the part you give me to play in the care of your creation. Help me to carry it out in ways that are pleasing to you, in ways that honor the wonder of all you have made.
1 See Prov 3:5, 6 2 cf. Prov 9:10
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