Thank you for the interpretative question on Proverbs 1:7, “According to Proverbs 1:7, what is “the beginning of knowledge”?
Proverbs 1:7 says this, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools[c] despise wisdom and instruction.”
The fear of the LORD is not just fearful of God for the “hammer” that he may bring on a person who disobeys him. As one looks at this verse, the word, LORD, is not Lord. There is a great distinction.
The word, Lord, means master which emphasizes one’s power or kingship over a country or a person. As Creator God or Ruler of the Universe, one ought to be afraid of God for what he might or can do. There should be the dread of God for the commands that he has given to his people.
The word, LORD, emphasizes his ever presence with his people. It is not so much of a dread of him but a reverential respect of God. To know that this God is with us in all of our life’s journey, watching over us for our God should cause one to be grateful to God. The LORD God is not out to “get” us but to “get us” into his kingdom.
As one listens to the Word of God, they are words of hope, not condemnation. They are words of peace, not chaos for one’s life. They are words of safety and blessings, not destruction and harm. They are words of salvation, not death. Jesus said that he has come that humans may have life and life more abundantly. The offer of eternal life and a life worth living on earth begins with a reverential fear of God.
The person who ignores God’s word and God himself finds himself trying to make his own way in this life. That person will have to design his own purpose and at the end is that truly fulfilling. The Creator God knows what human needs since he created us. To ignore his instruction is to bring harm on oneself.
Summary: Reverential fear of God is the key to a fulfilling life.
-Kingston