“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” This is something of a motto in the wisdom literature of the Bible.

But what does it mean that fearing God is the “beginning” of wisdom?  Is the fear of God just a place to start?  Is it just a beginning stage that you eventually grow out of and then move on to other things as your wisdom matures? 

And what does it mean to “fear” God anyway?  How do we define this fear?  Stark terror?  Cringing?  Wincing?  Keeping him at arm’s length because you’re always apprehensive, nervous, and suspicious in his presence?

Let’s treat the second question first.

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