Wisdom Study Session 4: Introduction to the "fear of the Lord."

Proverbs 1:7 tells us that “fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” Proverbs 9:10 teaches that “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”  Other scripture links “fear of the Lord” to well-being. Psalms 103:11, 112:1, 115:13, and 128:3. “Fear of the Lord” is therefore a concept we need to understand.

Scripture does explicitly or comprehensively define the term in any particular passage, but it does allow us to understand it. Various Old Testament passages describe certain aspects of the concept, sometimes by giving examples and sometimes by connecting fear of the Lord to certain types of conduct. And given the importance of the concept, it’s not surprising that Jesus and the New Testament writers also stress those aspects, even though they may not explicitly call them “fear of the Lord.”

So what does it mean to  “fear of the Lord”?

Very briefly stated, it means living a truly God centered life, resulting in right relationship to God and other people.  

Each of the posts on this topic will explore one of the more specific aspects of fearing the Lord. We’ll first look at what the Old Testament says about it. Then we’ll consider how that aspect carries over into the New Testament.