Psalm 111:6-10

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever.” vs. 10

To “fear the Lord” is to have a sense of humility and reverence about our place in the universe. It’s a recognition that we are creatures, a part of the creation, and that we are not in charge. The psalmist says that having such an understanding is the beginning of wisdom, contrary to the loud claims of the proud and the arrogant in the world around us. Many of those contrarians, reputed to be wise in their own circles, claim that there is no God at all and that we are on our own in the universe. They say that the advances of science and technology mean that it’s no longer necessary for humans to acknowledge a Supreme Being. While there is an appeal of sorts to such a nihilistic vision, it offers little hope or guidance to those who yearn for meaning and purpose. Most of the time such a vision reveals at its core a superficial and primitive notion of God. To use the psalmist’s language, those who truly fear the Lord will put aside such arrogant notions and humbly live their lives as servants of the One who has brought all things into existence. They will search out and live by eternal values and find purpose in caring for the earth and in loving others. And on that journey of discovery, they will daily grow in wisdom and understanding.

Thought for the Day: What is the appeal of atheism?