The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Proverbs 9:10

I have never had the pleasure of meeting someone famous. Well, maybe that is not completely true. I have met some well-known baseball players but just long enough to get an autograph along with 200 other fans. What I mean is that I have never had the opportunity to have a conversation with someone famous. There are people I would have loved to meet and discuss ideas with but none of them, I think, would render me speechless. However, this is not to say that other people would not lose their minds when meeting someone they admire. Also, it is tough to say how one would react in a given situation without actually being in that situation. So, even though I do not think I would lose my mind today, I realize that I am presently not in the company of someone famous. This means I can say whatever I want when it comes to how I would react but it might not be how I would actually respond. Would reality be different than what I imagine the encounter going? I would say more than likely. If I got to meet Jennifer Love Hewitt in 1997, I know she would have thought I was mute or lacked the correct amount of brain cells. I like to think I would behave differently today but, honestly, maybe I wouldn’t.

But what does any of this have to do with the above quote from Psalms? How is fearing the LORD related, albeit imperfectly, to meeting a celebrity? First, we often associate fear with punishment. However, we might not realize this but this can’t be true when it comes to God, why? Because all punishment for sin has already been satisfied on the cross. In his letter to Rome, Paul writes “therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus, because the Spirit’s law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death” (Romans 8:1). Also, John writes “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (1 Jn 4:18). Without punishment there is no fear. Since Jesus is perfect love the fear of punishment is driven out through Him. If His love isn’t perfect then His sacrifice isn’t perfect, and we should still live under the threat of punishment. The logic is like this: God is love, Jesus is God, therefore Jesus is love and love drives out fear. John says there is no fear in love so we have no fear in Christ. But if fear of the LORD is where wisdom begins, is Jesus driving out wisdom along with fear? But God wants us to be wise, so for God to drive out something that He would desire us to have would not make sense. James, the brother of Jesus, writes “if any of you lack wisdom you should ask God who gives generously” (James 1:5) Also, Solomon requested wisdom and God was pleased with this request (2 Chronicles chapter 1). If wisdom is a good thing to request and pursue, why would God seek to rid us of the one place where it can be found (fear of The Lord)?

Fear, as it is meant here, is not derived from punishment. This type of thinking is very egocentric and if we know anything about The Bible is that the focus should NEVER be on ourselves. Thinking that our fear comes from what will happen to me is the very idea the Bible teaches against.

Instead, this fear is the same fear we have when we meet someone we admire. Our hands get clammy, heart begins to race, we may become flushed (blush), stammer, or stay silent. Why? we are afraid we are going to do something that the person we admire will find offensive, humiliating, embarrassing, etc. We don’t want to make a fool of ourselves only because we care so much about what the other person may think. In this way fear is externally driven (what am I doing to someone else in how I act) and not internally driven (I do not want to be punished because I do not want to be in pain). No longer do we care about ourselves but we care about the one in whom we are sharing a moment.

Maybe a better way of putting it is if you were invited to a luxurious dinner where your mom, dad, someone you deeply care about, is being honored as the special guest. Everyone in the room knows you as “Sharon’s friend” or “Heather’s daughter” or “David’s son”. In this instance you are keenly aware of how your actions might affect how others see your loved one. your actions here are not just your own but they carry weight for the other person as well. In this scenario your words and actions not only could embarrass yourself but your loved one might feel shame as well. Since you love them so much you are on your best behavior so your loved one can be proud of your actions. The last thing on your mind is humiliating your loved one.

Fearing the LORD does not mean fear of punishment. Instead it is the fear that we are going to do something that would cause Him embarrassment. We are so in love with Jesus that we are afraid our actions are going to shame Him. We get so overwhelmed when we are in His presence that our heart begins to quicken, hands get clammy, breath gets short, and we fumble our words. This adoration is so outwardly focused that everything we say or do is because of who He is. To think that fearing the LORD means we should be afraid of being punished is self-centered and incorrect Biblical teaching. Fear of punishment focuses on our wellbeing, comfort, pride, and overall health. While fearing that we might do something shameful to God focuses on His holiness, prestige, fame, majesty, and love. In the end, pursuing things that would bring Him joy is the beginning of wisdom.