Proverbs 1:7

7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
-Proverbs 1:7

There are two major ways to understand this verse, and I think both have their place. The first is that the fear of the Lord starts our path to knowing Him. In other words, we do not really know anything until we know the fear of God. The second is similar and really builds off of the first, but it is that fearing the Lord is the most basic, fundamental knowledge that we can come to. It is foolish to not fear the Lord. It is wise to fear the Lord.

The fear of the Lord is discussed regularly throughout the Proverbs and so I want to take a moment to clarify what fearing the Lord means. When we discuss the fear of the Lord, we fear Him in a very similar way to how one would fear the strike of lightning. We do not fear Him because He is mean, anymore than we would lightning because it is mean. We fear Him because we know what He is capable of. Jesus said it like this,

"4 “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!"
-Luke 12:4-5

It is wise to fear the Lord. It will serve you as guard rails to keep you on the straight and narrow. From the place of fearing the Lord, we posture ourselves in readiness for correction that we would walk in obedience to Him. However, fools despise wisdom and instruction. Let us be wise, walking in the fear of the Lord, ready to receive His instruction. It is good and it is precious.