Proverbs 9:10 (KJV)

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

We often hear that wisdom begins with the "fear of the Lord," but the word "fear" in this context is not the kind of fear we usually think of. God isn’t the author of fear, confusion, or anxiety.

In the Hebrew text, the word for fear is יִרְאָה (yir'ah), which speaks more of awe, reverence, and deep respect. It’s about recognizing God’s authority and believing and accepting His Word above our own thoughts. This kind of "fear" is foundational meaning it’s the starting point for true wisdom.

True wisdom isn’t about knowing it all, it's about recognizing that we don't and believing the one who does.

Wisdom starts when we let go of our thoughts and trust in God who knows everything.

Many of us desire wisdom, but there’s often a barrier we encounter which is our own minds. We tend to trust our thoughts, our logic, and our understanding. But as finite beings, we can’t always grasp the infinite.This is why the fear of the Lord, or trusting His Word above our own reasoning, is where wisdom begins. God is asking us to respect His Word and to accept it, even when it challenges or contradicts what we think we know.

We all want wisdom, but the greatest barrier to receiving it is our reliance on our own understanding. We often approach life trying to figure things out, trying to apply logic and reason to every situation. The wisdom God offers is not something we can achieve through human intellect. We can only receive it once we throw that out and believe in all that he says.

True understanding isn’t found in figuring it out; it’s found in letting go and trusting God.

The second part of Proverbs 9:10 says that "the knowledge of the holy is understanding." This "knowledge of the holy" is pointing directly to Jesus. Jesus is the embodiment of God’s wisdom found in 1 Corinthians 1. True understanding doesn’t come from us analyzing or applying our logic—it comes from accepting Jesus as the wisdom of God. 

Many people want to understand before they accept, but God wants us to accept His wisdom even when we don’t understand it. True understanding is not about big brain analysis. It’s about humility, accepting that Jesus is the truth, the way, and the life, and that His Word is above our thoughts.

God’s wisdom isn’t complex or hard, we just have to believe it and receive it into our hearts.

If you’ve been struggling to understand everything, take a moment to release that burden to God. Trust that He knows more than you ever will and that His wisdom far surpasses human understanding. Start by respecting and accepting His Word, even when it doesn’t align with your own reasoning. True wisdom begins when you acknowledge that God’s thoughts are higher than yours.

God’s wisdom is simple, pure, and true; accept it, and His peace will come through. Bars!