The Fear of the Lord

This sermon concludes an introductory series on Proverbs by defining wisdom as knowledge applied rightly and contrasting it with the three types of foolishness: the simple, the scoffer, and the stubborn. The central theological argument establishes that God alone is the source of all wisdom, as evidenced by passages in Romans, 1 Corinthians, and Colossians. The preacher emphasizes that the 'fear of the Lord' is not mere comfort but a reverent awe of God's holiness, which serves as the necessary starting point for true understanding. This attitude of reverence leads to repentance and regeneration, where God grants a clean heart and the joy of salvation. Finally, the sermon outlines the means by which wisdom is received: through God's authoritative Scripture and by asking Him in faith, without doubt, as instructed in James.