Wisdom – the quality of having experience, knowledge and good judgment.
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“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”… So I can fear God when I know God because the reality of who He is is made a reality in me. The fear of God overcomes me as I develop knowledge of Him; as I become wise with the knowledge of Him. I can’t fear that which I don’t know… So as I immerse myself into the Word and who God is I will encounter the fear of the Lord, in me.
Categories: learn
I was reading Psalms yesterday when I stumbled upon a familiar verse that says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Ps 111:10) and decided to finally look up the origin of each word on e-sword.
My first meditations on this verse (it was familiar because it’s also on Pr 9:10 and Pr 1:7) lead me to understand that for me to have wisdom (or knowledge [particularly of God], as the other verses say) I needed to have fear of God.
But last night I found out the origin of the word “beginning” used on all three verses.
Both on Psalm 111:10 and Proverbs 1:7 the word comes from the Hebrew “ray-sheeth’” and means: “the first, in place, time, order or rank (specifically a firstfruit): beginning, chief (-est), first (-fruits, part, time), principal thing.
However in Proverbs 9:10 the word “beginning” comes from the Hebrew “tekh-il-law’” and means: “from H2490 in the sense of opening; a commencement; relatively original (adverbially originally: -begin(-ning), first(time).
and the Hebrew H2490, which is “khaw-lal’” is a primitive root meaning “to begin (as if by an opening-wedge)
so then… conclusion:
Is it then, that the fear of the Lord is a FIRSTFRUIT of wisdom and knowledge [of God] rather than a necessity for us to acquire wisdom and knowledge [of God]? Is the fear of the Lord an opening of wisdom, a commencement of wisdom rather than a consequence?
To be continued… once I gain more understanding in this. Because it all just took a freaky turn on me.
Sometimes I find myself running away from the things that I want the most.
“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jer 29.13
I know I want to find Him. I know I really want to find Him. But then it’s 11:54 at night and I’ve been putting off the search. I’ll just do this… I’ll just to that… I’m gonna finish this first… and not really because I have to.
I wonder if I’m afraid of Him…
These past week I’ve been realizing fear has become such a large part of my life I can’t actually live. I don’t enjoy.
I’ve been fighting against it. Every time I find myself saying “I’ll never do this” I make myself do it…
small, random things: take out a Boston map on the subway [and look like a tourist... this according to me.]; turn around while walking on the street because I really did want to eat at that food place I just passed by; go to the movies by myself and watch Nancy Drew; smile at a stranger… first having made eye contact with said stranger.
Duck tours, restaurants, changing my Starbucks order because I made a mistake. Generally making mistakes.
Talking about it with my theory professor I came to a simplified conclusion: it’s liberating.
Living with no regards of what other might think of you is liberating. It’s empowering. It makes you smile as you calmly make your way home after an afternoon movie at Boston’s busiest movie theater.
This is in no sense something heroic. It’s just fighting. Fightin’ mah fears, that’s it.
Then I pray that I do actually fear Him, not in the way I contemplated before. In a way that the earth trembles all around me, walls crashing down, hindrances aside and all that’s left is a broken heart surrendered to His jealous love.
“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but those who putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe” Pr 29:25
Categories: verse
