I have given much time and thought to “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction”. Lacking maturity, I once thought fear of the Lord to mean how He would smite me for the sake of my nature to be sinful. In my foolishness, I did despise this fear and ran as far as I could get from learning anything about Him or what His word said. I have since learned the word fear was not only what I knew it to mean, but so much more. Fear also means to have reverential awe of.
As I am changed day by day, my “fear of the Lord” becomes more a wonder at His goodness. I am awestruck at His very heart for someone like me. I am in wonder at how patient He is with me to learn and grow. I am amazed by the depth of His love for me. I tremble in the revelation He has every right to pour out His justice, but chooses instead to show mercy and compassion.
My fear now is redefined, it is how lost I would be without Him. How hopeless my life would be living in the empty vanity of humanistic wisdom.
Scripture Pro 1:7