"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments: His praise endureth forever." "Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in His commandments."
Psalm 111:10-112:1
Part 1
Today: The Fear of the Lord Is Where Wisdom Begins
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth forever” (Psalm 111:10).
“The fear of the LORD.”
The Lord is worthy of all our respect, love, and worship. He is our Creator, and we, being His creatures, owe our total allegiance to Him. This Old Testament word “fear” is the idea of “fear (of God), respect, reverence, piety” [1] (BDB). We ought to recognize what a great and mighty God He is and “fear Him” properly. That is the wise thing to do.
“And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding” (Job 28:28).
“The Hebrew idea of yir’ah (fear of Yahweh) referenced here seems to lie somewhere between ‘respect’ and ‘terror.’ Wisdom is a practically focused skill in living. Fear of God and wisdom are frequently combined and are thus viewed as synonyms. Wisdom is always connected to ethical responsibilities before God” [2] (FSB).
“True fear produces obedience and this happiness” [3] (JFB).
“Is the beginning of wisdom.”
If you desire wisdom, here’s the starting point. It begins with a proper fear of God. There is no way to get “more wisdom” until this first bit of wisdom is had.
“And hence love and fear of such a God is the chief element of true wisdom” [4] (JFB).
“It seems a safe bet to say that most people today are not much interested in wisdom. They are interested in making money and in having a good time. Some are interested in knowing something, in getting an education. Almost everyone wants to be well liked. But wisdom? The pursuit of wisdom is not a popular ideal” [5] (Boice, EWC)
“A good understanding.”
God is the preeminent being in the universe. Being everywhere present, all-powerful, and all-wise, He has created this cosmos and everything in it. Those who see and acknowledge His works and His greatness, and obey His Word, are the ones who have “a good understanding.”
Joshua reminded Israel of God’s law that was given through Moses.
“Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1:7-8).
For Israel, their prosperity and success always followed their obedience to Jehovah.
“Have all they that do his commandments.”
These words indicate that when a person keeps God’s commandments, His Word, they are blessed by Him.
“They only are wise, that fear God, and none have understanding, but they that obey His Word” [6] (Geneva).
It’s not just about knowing what is right, but doing what is right. Jesus said –
“If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them” (John: 13-17).
“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14).
“No man is wise who does not fear the Lord; no man acts wisely except as influenced by that fear. This fear will lead to repentance, to faith in Christ, to watchfulness and obedience. Such persons are of a good understanding, however poor, unlearned, or despised” [7] (Matthew Henry).
“His praise endureth forever.”
Amen. It is eternal.
“The psalmist concluded that the fear of the Lord … is the beginning of wisdom …. People who follow Him and His standards have good understanding. Worship and obedience will then be accompanied by praise that belongs to Him” [8] (BKC).
Speaking of the end of Psalm 111, Morgan said –
“The Psalm closes with words which prepare for the next, as they declare that the fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom and that such as act according to that fear have good understanding” [9] (Morgan, in EWC).
Please join us tomorrow as we look to see how blessed are the believers who fear God.
Quote: “Lord, help us to study thy works, and henceforth to breathe out hallelujahs as long as we live” [10] (Spurgeon).
[1] BDB, Brown, Driver, Briggs. Brown-Driver-Briggs’ Hebrew Definitions, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] FSB, Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ps 111:10–112:10). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[3] JFB, Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, p. 381). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[4] JFB, ibid.
[5] Boice’s quote is from EWC, the Enduring Word Commentary, the electronic version in eSword.
[6] Geneva Bible: Notes. (1560). (Vol. 1, p. 259). Geneva: Rovland Hall. I have edited this statement into modern English.
[7] Henry, M., & Scott, T. (1997). Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary (Ps 111:1–112:1). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems.
[8] BKC, Ross, A. P. (1985). Psalms. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 874–875). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books. The emphasis is theirs.
[9] Morgan’s quote is from EWC, ibid.
[10] C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, the electronic version in eSword.