Proverbs - Where do we learn the fear of Yahweh?

The Bible's answer is simple: fear for God is produced by the Word of God. Many modern trends boil down to self-expression. Self-expression, however wonderful it may feel, tells us nothing of God.

God's Word produces the right attitude toward Him, because His Word reveals Him, His mind and His ways to us. His Word alone gives content to our faith.

• Without content, there would be no reason to fear.
• Without content, there would be no object to fear.
• Without content, there would be no form to give to our fear.

This finds a strong echo in the words of Jesus, recorded in John 8:31-32 -

Therefore, He was saying to the Jews, who believed Him, "If you remain in My word, truly you are My students; and you will know the truth, and the truth will free you." (DJP)

Our Lord here provides both the promise and the definition of discipleship. His progression of thought is very definite:

1. To be set free, we must know the truth.
2. To know the truth, we must be students (disciples of Jesus).
3. To be disciples of Jesus, we must continue in His Word.

So we see another way in which being a God-fearer and a disciple of Jesus are parallel, both rooted fundamentally in submission to God's Lordship and commitment to His verbal self-revelation. Neither fear of Yahweh nor belief in Christ can be melted down to "a numinous sense of awe" or any other mystical bibble-babble. Biblical faith has distinct content, form, and edges.

God's Wisdom in Proverbs, Dan Phillips, Kress, 2011, pp. 72-73.