ESOCS Devotional 30 November 2025 – The Fear of the Lord
MEMORY VERSE: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7
TEXT: PROVERBS 1:1-19
The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
2 To know wisdom and instruction,
To perceive the words of understanding,
3 To receive the instruction of wisdom,
Justice, judgment, and equity;
4 To give prudence to the simple,
To the young man knowledge and discretion—
5 A wise man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
6 To understand a proverb and an enigma,
The words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 My son, hear the instruction of your father,
And do not forsake the law of your mother;
9 For they will be a graceful ornament on your head,
And chains about your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you,
Do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us,
Let us lie in wait to shed blood;
Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol,
And whole, like those who go down to the Pit;
13 We shall find all kinds of precious possessions,
We shall fill our houses with spoil;
14 Cast in your lot among us,
Let us all have one purse”—
15 My son, do not walk in the way with them,
Keep your foot from their path;
16 For their feet run to evil,
And they make haste to shed blood.
17 Surely, in vain the net is spread
In the sight of any bird;
18 But they lie in wait for their own blood,
They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;
It takes away the life of its owners.
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“The fear of the Lord” refers to a deep respect, awe, and reverence for God. It is not about being terrified of God but recognizing His holiness, majesty, and authority over all creation. This fear is the foundation of a relationship with God, as it leads us to humility, obedience, and a desire to live according to His will. Psalm 111:10 echoes this idea: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding.” Fear of the Lord sets the stage for acquiring wisdom because it acknowledges God as the source of all truth and understanding.
In contrast, the second part of Proverbs 1:7 warns that “fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Throughout Proverbs, the “fool” is described as someone who is proud, self-sufficient, and unwilling to listen to God or others. They reject correction and guidance, choosing to live according to their own desires rather than submitting to God’s authority. This rejection of wisdom leads to destruction, as illustrated in Proverbs 14:12: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” The fool’s refusal to fear God and seek wisdom results in disaster, both spiritually and practically.
The idea that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” also means that true knowledge, understanding life, the world, and our purpose cannot be separated from a relationship with God. Colossians 2:3 tells us that in Christ “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Without acknowledging God, we can only have a limited understanding of the world. Even the most educated minds are blind to the ultimate truths of existence if they reject God, as Romans 1:21-22 says: “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools.”
Fear of the Lord leads to wisdom because it brings us into alignment with God’s truth. It produces humility, the willingness to be taught, and the recognition that we need God’s guidance in our lives. Proverbs 3:5-6 advises: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” When we fear the Lord, we no longer rely on our limited understanding, but we trust Him to lead us in wisdom.
Furthermore, fearing the Lord leads to obedience. Ecclesiastes 12:13 concludes: “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.” Obedience to God’s commands is a reflection of wisdom, and it protects us from the harm that comes from sinful living. When we honour God, we naturally avoid the paths of destruction that the fool walks. To live wisely, we must first have a reverence for God that recognizes His authority and sovereignty.
CHALLENGES
- To have the fear of God in you, you should develop the attitude of loving Him to the extreme.
PRAYER POINT
- Father, make me an instrument in my generation and may I live per-time in your fear. Amen.
FURTHER READING: Proverbs 1:26-33; James 3:1-End; 4:1-17
ESOCS Devotional 30 November 2025
