Book excerpt: The overall theme of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon is succinctly stated in Proverbs 9:10: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Concisely put, to know God is what knowledge means and such understanding should prompt fearful awe of Him. In his early years, Solomon's son learned that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Prov. 1:7). As Solomon's son advanced into the school of life, wisdom instructed him that it was foolish to live without God in the world. True wisdom is inseparable from the fear of the Lord; it is man's starting point in understanding the mind of God, which enables him to resolve questions otherwise inscrutable. Those who choose to walk in the path of godly obedience find life and blessing, and demonstrate their understanding of who God is and of His ways. Warren Henderson