I was discussing a person with another elder who had a characterological anger problem. The other elder remarked that it seemed the man did not have a fear of the Lord, despite being a professing Christian.

That is a significant observation because it meant the person had little to no respect for the Lord, nor was interested in changing. The person had become a biblical fool.

Defining Lord Biblically

What does fear of the Lord mean? Let’s look at a couple of Proverbs to find out.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Pro. 1:7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. Pro. 9:10

 We need to define some terms to gain a better understanding of what the two Proverbs are teaching.

The term “Lord” is the English translation for YAHWEH, sometimes rendered YHWH meaning “I AM.”  In other words, “fear I AM”, God’s personal name. To understand Proverbs is to understand fear I AM. (Walke, pg. 38)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (wisdom in Pro. 9:10 as a near synonym), which means that a person cannot have true spiritual knowledge or reference for God without a proper attitude and relationship with God. Spiritual wisdom must be centered on God and His Word.

For the Hebrew, this translates into an objective truth revealed, for example, in Psalm 19:7-9.

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;  the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;  the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.  -Psa. 19: 7-9

The person who fears, reveres, and worships the great I AM learns spiritual wisdom from God through His law, precepts, commandments, and rules, which give knowledge of the Holy One (Pro. 9:10)

Defining Spiritual Wisdom

Biblical fools despise (hold in contempt) spiritual wisdom as witnessed by their words and actions. The fool rejects instruction, hence correction, and their foolishness persists. Pro. 1:7

Walke and De Silva note in Proverbs A Shorter Commentary, that “wisdom mainly denotes the skill to navigate through the maze of life so that one conducts one’s life to the greatest benefit of oneself and community; it is the way of eternal life. Through wisdom, one is able to read circumstances and interpret situations so as to act correctly, speak properly and respond appropriately to each situation so that beneficial consequences ensue to self and community. (Walke, De Silva, pg 28)

Because the characterlogically angry person lacks self-control, they often respond to situations with angry, destructive words. Their emotions run “hot” and they usually ruin their lives.

Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. Pro. 13:3

Proverbs 4:23 explains the consequence of learning genuine heart change. The angry, spiritually unwise person needs to repent and then guard their heart with all vigilance, because the inclination of the heart (soul) determines eternal life with God. Proverbs 4:24 therefore encourages that the angry person put away evil speech.

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.  -Pro. 4:23-24

Proverbs 15:28 illustrates the changed heart as opposed to the heart that remains in sin.

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. Pro. 15:28

There is hope for the angry biblical fool. If the person is genuinely saved and confronted with Scripture, they should be convicted of their chronic sin problem and seek to change. If they are not truly saved, then their sin will continue to find them out and expose them as biblical fools. 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.  Pro. 1:7

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