Proverbs 1:7 is considered the key verse to the Book of Proverbs and is the one I have chosen as the introduction to my daily commentary in Proverbs. Like many of the proverbs, Proverbs 1:7 is written in the form of a couplet [in this instance, a contrast between two opposing truths].
Proverbs 1:7 – “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Briefly stated, the “fear of the Lord” [lit. the worship and reverence of the LORD Who is Eternal, Self-existent, and Sovereign God] is the starting point and foundation for knowledge and wisdom. By contrast, the characteristic of a fool is that he rejects the absolute truths of God’s Word and refuses to heed or learn from instruction.
Biblical wisdom begins with being in a right relationship with the Lord. Believing there is a God and accepting He has communicated His will to us through His Word and Law. After all, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God…” (Psalm 14:1).