Affectionate Reverence – The Presidential Prayer Team

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. – Proverbs 1:7

The classic C.S. Lewis story, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, tells of children entering a fantasy world where events and characters represent a biblical narrative. Their guide, a beaver, explains the place – Narnia – and mentions Aslan, the lion. The children ask if he is safe, and the beaver replies, “Of course not, but he’s good.” Lewis related Aslan to Christ. The Lord is worthy of love and reverence, but He should also be revered because He is holy and pronounces judgment to those who reject His righteousness.

Today’s verse is foundational to your acceptance of God’s Word as a whole. You can choose to believe the teachings of Scripture based on your own viewpoints, or you can have a fear (a reverential awe) of the Lord, and a humble approach to the study of His Word… a true beginning in your journey from knowledge to wisdom. Professor Bruce K. Waltke explains it this way: “What the alphabet is to reading, notes to reading music, and numerals to mathematics, the fear of the Lord is to attaining the revealed knowledge of this book.”

It is the teachable spirit, the humility of mind, that accepts, loves, and trusts the special revelation from the Lord. This affectionate reverence is a combination of believing God’s promises, loving Him, believing His warnings, and worshiping Him. Knowledge with wisdom will come to the one who maintains this vertical relationship with the Lord in the study of His Word.

Pray now for humility for those who govern this nation, that they would recognize the authority of God in their decision-making. Pray that hearts will be changed.

Today’s Verse: Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
    fools despise wisdom and instruction.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: Proverbs 1:1-7

 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

²To know wisdom and instruction,
    to understand words of insight,
³to receive instruction in wise dealing,
    in righteousness, justice, and equity;
⁴to give prudence to the simple,
    knowledge and discretion to the youth—
⁵Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
    and the one who understands obtain guidance,
⁶to understand a proverb and a saying,
    the words of the wise and their riddles.

⁷The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
    fools despise wisdom and instruction.