In Proverbs, chapter one, verse seven, reverent awe of God’s power, majesty, and holiness produces in us a holy fear of transgressing His revealed will. Such reverence is essential to gaining a heart of wisdom. The New Testament indicates that the comfort of the Holy Spirit will accompany sincere fear of the Lord.
For example, in Acts nine, verse thirty-one, “Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea, Galilee, and Samaria, and were edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.” Luke emphasizes the formula ” to fear God” in his gospel as in the Gospel of Luke one, verse fifty, Luke eighteen, verse two, and Luke twenty-three, verse forty, and in Acts. God-fearers form the starting point for the Gentile mission in chapter ten of Acts, beginning in verses two, twenty-two, and thirty-five, then in Acts thirteen, verse sixteen, and twenty-six. The fear of the Lord produces trust and obedience and the avoidance of evil, as in Job twenty-eight, verse twenty-eight, Psalms one hundred and eleven, verse ten, and Proverbs one, verse seven.
The theme verse, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction, ” is found at the beginning of Hosea four, verse six: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” This verse applies to those who embrace this godly approach to the Almighty God. However, those who opt not to follow receive the middle portion of Hosea four, verse six, “Because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee.” The verse here doesn’t say the ungodly will not prosper or discover success, but, in the end, without God, where will it lead? Those who follow the Lord will have Him in their life, no matter the situation.