Pearls of Wisdom   Proverbs 1:7 states, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” (NIV)   We can obviously see from this verse that no knowledge or wisdom comes apart from the fear of the Lord.  However, what can we glean from the statement that the fear of the Lord is, “the beginning”, of knowledge?  Indeed, what is meant by those words, “The Beginning”?  Three answers to that question have historically been found by those seeking wisdom.  They are:   ·        The initial starting point all who seek wisdom must begin at ·        The most excellent or principal part ·        The origin is with God   So an expanded view of the verse might have us understand something like this………               The fear of the Lord is the initial starting point all who seek wisdom must begin at              and is the most excellent and principal part of obtaining wisdom.             True wisdom and knowledge have their origins and beginnings with God.   The book of Proverbs brings understanding and wisdom to a vast array of life’s activities and situations.  However, to obtain  knowledge and the wisdom to apply truth requires that we start at the author and originator of “truth”.  The reverential fear of God, and the intense pursuit of Him and His wisdom, are where we must begin.