In 2009 I visited an orphanage in Peru. While there I was given the opportunity to meet a few of the children being cared for, and among the children we met were two boys named Alex, age 11, and Charlie, age 13. Both boys had mental disabilities and had lived at the orphanage for most of their lives. The director of the orphanage told us a bit about the boys’ history. We were told Alex was brought to the orphanage after being thrown into a trash can as an infant. He was discovered in the trash by a passerby, and when they found him there were rats biting his flesh. He was nursed back to health and lives at the orphanage to this day.

Charlie was also discarded as an infant, but they did not find Charlie until three or four years later. You see, there are countless street dogs that rove the city, and Charlie was discovered as a toddler living among the dogs. He barked, crawled on all fours, and ate garbage to survive. Charlie was raised by these dogs, and the reason he was discovered was because he was biting people on the street as if he were a dog himself. There was a similar story out of Russia regarding a girl who was raised by a pack of wild dogs until the age of 5.

We all know that this world can be a cruel place. This world can be heartless, unloving, and vile. Satan, as ruler of this world (Jn 12:31; 14:30; 16:11), the evil one (1 Jn 5:19) is a murderer and a liar (Jn 8:44) who prowls about looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). There are times when we see evil things happen in this world, when we see children abused and discarded as refuse and we think, “Is there any hope?” The answer to that question is a resounding yes. There is hope, there is joy, and there is love to be found.

You see, Satan wants to steal, kill, and destroy, but the good shepherd has come so that we might have life more abundant (Jn 10:10). There are times when we all feel unwanted and unloved as if we are just garbage to be disposed of. But joy may be found in the assurance of our adoption as children of the Most High. As Romans 8:15-19, 24-25 says, “¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. ¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. ¹⁹ For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God… ²⁴ For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”

So we, as adopted children of God, can take great joy and comfort in the knowledge that although the world might treat us as garbage to be discarded, we can take comfort in our heavenly Father.

The phrase, “the fear of the Lord,” occurs fourteen times in the book of Proverbs (1:7, 29; 2:5; 8:13; 9:10; 10:27; 14:26, 27; 15:16, 33; 16:6; 19:23; 22:4; 23:17). Fearing God is one of the great themes of the book. While terror at the prospect of God’s punishment is highlighted in the Bible (1 Sam. 11:7; 2 Kgs. 17:24-28; 1 Chr. 14:17; Mt. 10:28; Acts 5:1-11; 2 Cor. 5:10-11), “fear” in the book of Proverbs most often refers to respecting God through obedience to His statutes and principles.

Knowledge and wisdom are attained by fearing the Lord. The beginning of knowledge is to look to the Lord who is the source of truth (Prov. 1:7). Wisdom is the application of knowledge to the various situations of life. Wisdom includes morality, but also goes beyond right and wrong to knowing the best option in a list of several morally right choices. God gave Solomon an understanding heart, wisdom beyond measure (1 Kgs. 3:9-12; 4:29-32). Solomon is the chief author of the book of Proverbs (Prov. 10:1; 25:1); God-inspired wisdom was given to him and a few others that penned this book (30:1; 31:1). The fear of the Lord is key to the beginning of wisdom and continued instruction in wisdom (Prov. 9:10; 15:33). Having wisdom means one’s days will not be wasted in useless suffering for foolishness.

Fearing the Lord gives one strong confidence; the Lord guides and protects those who seek after Him, delivering them from the snares of death (Prov. 14:26-27). As Psalm 19:9-13 says:

The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Fearing the Lord involves hating evil (Prov. 8:13). We are called to align ourselves with our Lord and  hate the arrogant ways of men that exalt themselves in opposition to Him (Psa. 31:6; 45:7; 97:10; 101:3; 119:104, 113, 128, 163; 139:19-22). One of the problems of our time is wickedness is not hated the way it should be. The fear of man overrules the fear of God in the hearts of many; however, we should put our trust in God, knowing that He is greater than any enemies that come our way (Prov. 29:25). God in His perfect holiness hates evil (Prov. 6:16-19). We should adopt His values.

Fearing God is the great lesson of our lives here on earth. As Solomon summarizes, “ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecc. 12:13-14).