The book of Proverbs is well known for its teaching on wisdom. Verse after verse, it calls us to listen, to seek, and to love understanding, and to walk in the way of wisdom. But woven through the entire book is a deeper, underlying theme: the fear of the Lord. Proverbs doesn’t just hold wisdom up as something to attain. It establishes wisdom in our very relationship with God.

The fear of the Lord is first mentioned in the opening chapter of the book. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7). And this theme is not just a passing thought. It appears 18 more times, with these words closing out the book: “A woman who fears the LORD is to be praised” (Proverbs 31:30). The book of Proverbs begins with the fear of the Lord and it ends with the fear of the Lord. It is in this fear that true wisdom grows.

If you want to learn more about the fear of the Lord, I highly recommend the book Rejoice & Tremble by Michael Reeves. Don’t like to read or short on time? Check out the pocket version: What Does it Mean to Fear the Lord? also by Michael Reeves.

Now, on to wisdom.

Wisdom belongs to our God.

It’s important to remember that wisdom does not begin with us—it belongs to God. In Job 12:13, Job declares, “With God are wisdom and might; He has counsel and understanding.” Jeremiah agreed with Job, “It is He who made the earth by His power, who established the world by His wisdom, and by His understanding stretched out the heavens.” The same God who designed the universe, purposed all of history, and orders our steps is the source of all wisdom.

What’s amazing is His wisdom is available to us. In Psalm 51, David tells us, “Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart” (Psalm 51:6). The book of Daniel shows how God gave wisdom to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (better known as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego). “God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom” (Daniel 1:17). And 1 Corinthians 1:30 reminds us that in Christ, we receive the fullness of God’s wisdom: “And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God…” 

So, how do we gain wisdom?

Proverbs 2:1-6 says,

My son, if you receive my words
    and treasure up my commandments with you,
making your ear attentive to wisdom
    and inclining your heart to understanding;
yes, if you call out for insight
    and raise your voice for understanding,
if you seek it like silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasures,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding…

First, we gain wisdom by receiving and treasuring up God’s Word. If we want to be wise, we must be people who read our Bibles.

Second, we gain wisdom by asking for it.

But don’t miss this—if you ask for wisdom and seek it diligently, God not only gives you wisdom, He gives you an understanding of what it means to fear Him. He helps you see who He really is, stirs your heart to be overwhelmed by Him, and awakens in you the awe and reverence that rightly belong to Him!

Somehow the fear of the Lord and wisdom are so wrapped up together that if you just ask for wisdom and keep asking, God doesn’t just give you wisdom, He also gives you an understanding of the fear of the Lord.

Mind blown.

What does God want from us?

Jeremiah 32:38-40 are some of my favorite verses:

“And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me.”

God wants us to fear Him. He wants us to know Him and love Him. But if you barely fear Him—if you barely know Him and love Him today. If you aren’t really overwhelmed by who He is and by what He has done, just turn your heart toward Him and ask for wisdom. He will give you a two-for-one. He will give you wisdom and the gift of fearing Him rightly.

You can start simply by asking.

Ask God daily:

“Lord, help me see you more clearly. Help me know you deeply, that I would be overwhelmed by who you are and by what you have done!”

“Lord, give me wisdom!”

Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And when we walk in that fear, we walk in true wisdom—the kind that shapes our thoughts, our actions, our very lives.

If you desire wisdom, start with your relationship with the Lord. Seek to know and love Him. Spend time in His Word and grow in the knowledge of who He is. Ask God daily to increase your fear of Him. And boldly ask Him for wisdom.