The Fear of the LORD

The book of Proverbs centers on a particular theme, which Solomon characterizes as a foundational reality every person at the very start, that is, the fear of the LORD. The LORD is Jehovah or Yahweh.

Proverbs is not primarily about wisdom in general, but wisdom rooted in the revelation of God, His Word, which is wisdom that is defined as the skill for living in the fear of the LORD. Solomon himself would have been immersed in the Old Testament that he possessed, so especially Deuteronomy 4:1-15.

God calls Israel to hear and do what He says (vv. 1-3), which is to cleave unto the LORD Himself (vv. 4-5). Israel's possession of God's Word is what distinguishes her from the other nations of the world (vv. 6-8), therefore, she must hold to Words of the Lord and to the memory of God at Mt. Sinai when they received His Words (vv. 9-10).

Scripture shows fear as something learned from God's revelation. God commanded that His people hear His Words so as to learn to fear Him. When God spoke, Israel did not see God. There was no form, only the Word of God. If anyone desires to learn to fear God, he will open his Bible. Deuteronomy 31:9–13 repeats this instruction of God, when Moses commanded the Levites to read the Word of God to the people at their national assembly in order "that they may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law" (verse 12). Someone does not fear God, who does not know Him to the extent that God affects His commitment to Himself. Someone knows Him like that through scripture.