Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Hello, dear people.

The day is still forming. I thought I had a pretty good idea how it would go—but now it has changed again. Now that it has changed, I may change it more and possibly go drop a huge cedar tree that some landowners want to have milled up. I think I’ll run down and study the setting again before finalizing my take-down and processing strategies.

Have a great rest of your day.

Love, Dad/Ray.

There are some really awesome dots to connect here that contribute to an absolutely awesome Biblical worldview/theology. With the words of the FOCUS VERSE fresh in mind, let me snatch a line from Proverbs 8:27—“I, wisdom, was there when he set the heavens in place...” An overview of Scripture makes it easy to associate “wisdom” with “Your word”—then let’s take into account the opening of John’s Gospel: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:1-2). I hope the fuzzy picture is coming into clearer focus. Jesus is the Word. The Word is Jesus. Jesus is God. God is Wisdom. Oh my—I feel goose bumps coming on! Add to this the words of Jesus—“I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished” (Matthew 5:18-19). Now add to the mix Jesus’ similar words—“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35). Finally consider this awesome claim: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20). Whew! This is exhausting! What do we have here? I have to regard it as the makings of an absolutely awesome and wonderful theology/worldview—affording an awesome unfolding understanding of “the Holy One.” It’s all confirmed and affirmed right here in our reading: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).

What meaning do you gather from that phrase, “the fear of the LORD”? My take is this: Respecting the Sovereign Monarch so much that I passionately seek Him, love Him, and purpose to please Him—recognizing that in Him I live and breathe and have my being—recognizing how absolutely dependent I am on Him for everything—my origin, my growth, my sustenance, my survival, and my eternal destiny—recognizing not only how Sovereign He is, but how awesomely good, gracious, loving, and forgiving He is—recognizing that, as Maker/Designer, He has every right to determine my personal worth and purpose—recognizing that, all things considered, I have every reason to surrender to His will and be repulsed by any notion to the contrary. That’s a very long sentence, but that’s about how I understand “the fear of the LORD.” And I reason that Wisdom would have me fear NOT fearing the LORD.