"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and good understanding have ail they that do his commandments: his praise enduretit forever" (Psalm 111:10).
Do you fear the Lord? The World Book Dictionary defines fear as: "the emotion or condition of being afraid; awe; reverence." It is this awe, or reverence, one should have toward the Lord. The psalmist called it the beginning of wisdom.
When one reads the book of Psalms, it is easy to see that those people did fear the Lord. Throughout the book, wisdom is said to follow closely behind fear of the Lord. "Be wise now therefore, 0 ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling" (Psalm 2:10,11). "Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; he is their help and their shieM" (Psalm 115:11). Fear and wisdom of the Lord brings about trust in Him, for one realizes that the Lord is an obedient believer's protection and blessing. "He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great" (Psalm I 15:13).
In the Christian age, more than ever, do people need to fear the Lord, to have respect and awe of Him. If we have lost anything,. ............ it is the reverence and awe for God and His power. Today people claim to have wisdom and they have no need of a god; they do not believe anything greater than themselves exists. This is really not new. People have made the same claim from before the days of Noah and will stand in judgment condemned because of their false wisdom and pride. Do not be confused by such people who claim to be wise and do not follow God. Trust in the Lord and be wise in His sight. Win the crown of eternal life by obedience to Him. As the angel said in the book of Revelation, "Fear God, and give gloo' to him; fi~r the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea and the fountains of water" (Revelation 14:7). The Lord God is the only source of true wisdom and to be in awe of Him is the beginning of wisdom!