Proverbs 9:10. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
The book of Proverbs began with this same phrase – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (1:7). The wise person fears or honors God and holds him in the highest place in their heart. To fear God is not to be in terror of God, but to stand in awe of him. Recognizing his transcendent glory and beauty.
And his holiness.
That’s the second part of the proverb that parallels the first. The fear of the Lord mirrors knowledge of the Holy One. We can’t and won’t fear the Lord without knowing him as holy. Perfect and pure. There is no sin in God and God cannot sin. The minute we compromise on God’s perfections we begin to make a God in our own likeness. And that is the definition of a fool.
But to be fair, can such a holy God even be known? Aren’t his ways unsearchable (Rom. 11)? Isn’t God unfathomable (Job 11)? Surely he is. And yet, God wants to be known. Let that sink in. The God who is infinite, and fully satisfied in himself, wants his image bearers to know him and to know him in his holiness. In fact, Jesus defined eternal life as knowing God the Father.
John 17:3. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
Christian, God has made himself known to you in Christ. As we said yesterday, we can infinitely increase in the wisdom of God. How? By our union with Christ. Union with Christ is the fulfillment of Proverbs 9:10. In what way? The greatest revelation of the holiness of God is Christ’s death and resurrection.
How holy is God? So holy he would send his Son to take every sin upon himself and destroy them all on the cross.
How holy is God? So holy he would insist on restoring mankind to a state of perfection by his indwelling life. Now, by the indwelling life of Christ, the Holy One is knowable.
Can we actually know the Holy One? Yes. We can and we do. Through Christ and by the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:10-12. 10For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.
By the Holy Spirit, we can begin to comprehend the thoughts of God. We can understand the things freely given to us by God. What things? The things of Christ. The things of unconditional love. The things of grace and kindness. The things of forgiveness and reconciliation. The things of sacrifice and humility.
The things of holiness.
You: Are you holy? Can you explain your answer?
You in Christ: How does union with Christ give us the knowledge of the Holy One?
Christ in you: In what way is Christ in you calling you to live out his holiness?
Pray: Father, in Christ your Son, and by your Holy Spirit you have made me holy. You have given me knowledge of you, the Holy One. Lead me in the way of holiness today. Amen.
To Live is Christ 