The new year is a time to reflect on beginnings. Many people hope to begin forming good habits–we call these “New Year resolutions.” Many of you reading this post in particular are thinking about beginning a new competition season and heading out to your first in-person tournament of the year. You’re beginning new speeches and debate cases. You might be beginning a new debate or duo interpretation partnership.
As we consider different types of beginnings, we would do well to remember what the Bible calls “the beginning of wisdom.” As explained in Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” Godly wisdom is one of NCFCA’s five core values and is the one we have listed first in our documents for a reason: Everything we do should begin with the fear of the LORD.
What does it mean to fear the LORD? Before looking at the word fear, which can be confusing, let’s look at the word that English versions of the Bible most often translate as an all-caps LORD. This word is often transliterated as “Yahweh” or “Jehovah.” It is the personal name of God first revealed to Moses when God spoke from the burning bush. Even though the English translation of the word appears to be an abstract title with an article in front of it (“the LORD”), there is no article in the Hebrew. Yahweh isn’t an abstract title that applies to a generic position like the king or the ruler. Instead, the name Yahweh–in addition to emphasizing his eternality and self-existence–reveals a personal and relational God.
Now that we know that Proverbs 9:10 is talking about the personal and relational Yahweh, let’s examine the word translated as fear. What does it mean to fear Yahweh? Most people don’t want to have a relationship with someone that they fear! This Hebrew word is transliterated as “yirah” and must, like any word in any language, be interpreted in context. Notice that in Proverbs 9:10 “the fear of the LORD” is parallel to “the knowledge of the Holy One.”
The parallelism between knowledge and fear makes more sense when we realize that many Hebrew scholars draw a connection between the words for fear and seeing since their spelling is very similar in ancient Hebrew. In this sense, to “fear” Yahweh is to see or know him and be very aware and in awe of his presence.
The word translated as knowledge in Proverbs 9:10 logically follows and parallels the fear of the LORD. This type of knowledge is not abstract and intellectual but is rather experiential and intimate. Both words–knowledge and fear–are linked to experiencing the person and presence of God. When we experience the awesome presence of Yahweh, when we see him, when we behold his glory, when we know him in an intimate way, when we are aware of his presence–we begin to gain wisdom.
As we begin this new year, it’s a good time to ask: Am I experiencing the personal and intimate presence of God in my life? Am I keenly aware that he is with me at all times, seeing and hearing everything that I do? When I struggle and suffer and hurt, he sees; he knows; he is with me. He is the lover of my soul. When I disobey him and hurt others, he sees that as well. He is the loving Father who disciplines me for my good.
The reality of God’s awesome presence should teach us wisdom in all of life, but since this is a speech and debate league, let’s apply the principle of godly wisdom to the activity of speech and debate. For competitors, how would an awareness of God’s personal and awesome presence change the way you feel after you have a really tough round or make a mistake? How might the fear of the LORD affect your behavior in a debate round or in the hang-out area with your friends? How would seeing God in his glory change the type of debate case you choose to run or the speech you choose to give? For the adults reading this, how might the knowledge of the Holy One influence your judging or interaction with others at a tournament?
If you are not currently experiencing God’s loving and holy presence in your life, reach out to someone who knows him well and ask how you can know him, too. If you already know him but are struggling to develop an intimate relationship, take time for the spiritual disciplines: prayer; worship; fasting; Scripture reading, meditation, and memory; and intimate fellowship with other believers. Remember that relationships take time. The more you spend time with someone, the more you get to know them.
We begin to gain wisdom when we begin to see, experience, and reverence Yahweh, the God who carries our sorrows and corrects our wayward hearts. There is no better way to begin a new year and a new competition season than to turn our eyes to see the Holy One and humble ourselves in his loving presence. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.
