Day 26

I have always tried to strive for wisdom. I have read the book of Proverbs several times and have gotten a lot out of it. I am looking forward to reading it again later this year. However, there was always one statement in Proverbs that repeated itself over and over and I didn't fully understand. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." I did not know what the fear of the Lord meant.

Job 28 verses 23 through 28 explain this. Chapter 28 is Job speaking and it is titled, "Where is Wisdom?" The first 22 verses explain where wisdom is not and how it cannot be obtained. Most of these examples are trying to find wisdom in man, but it is not there. Verse 23 and 24 say, "God understands the way to [wisdom], and He knows its place. For He looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens." He then explains what is under the heavens and how he created it before going on to say in verse 28, "...the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding."

This explains a lot to me! This is saying that only God knows and understands the way to wisdom. There is no other source of wisdom; not by man, not by earthly things, but only through God! So when it is said that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, they mean trusting in God, following Him and pursuing a close relationship with Him is the first step in obtaining wisdom from the only one who knows what wisdom truly is! One must be a follower of Christ to receive wisdom because He is the only one who is truly wise!

The only ones who have wisdom are the ones who put their faith in Christ. Man cannot be wise. Man can only put their faith in the one who is truly wise.