Psalms 111:10

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, etc.] The fear of the Lord, whose name is revered, is not a fear of his judgments here or hereafter, but of his goodness and grace; it is a reverential affection for him, a fiducial fear of him, a fear of offending so good a Being as he is; and it includes all religious worship of him, inward and outward, private and public; and at this true wisdom begins; a man begins to be wise when he fears the Lord, and not till then; this is his highest wisdom, and this is, as it may be rendered, “the chief of wisdom” f1588, the principal part of it; (see <200910> Proverbs 9:10). A good understanding have all they that do his commandments; or “that do…”

“The fear of the Lord - Reverence for God; respect for his law, his will, his government, himself; the fear of offending him, which will lead us to do right. This fear is not that of a slave; it is not mere dread; it is not terror. It is consistent with love, and springs from it. It is consistent with calmness of mind, and promotes it. It does not produce terror, but rather delivers from it, and preserves the mind from alarms. The word here rendered “fear” is a noun of the same origin as the word rendered “reverend” in the previous verse. The suggestion to the mind of the psalmist that the “name of the Lord” was “reverend,” or was to be venerated, introduced this thought that such reverence…”

“The fear - True religion. Beginning - Is the only foundation of, and introduction to, true wisdom. Next: Psalms Chapter 112”

“111:10 True wisdom is the source of life (Prov 3:18; 9:11; Eccl 7:12); it begins with the fear of the Lord (Prov 9:10).”

“fear: Job 28:28; Pro 1:7, Pro 9:10; Ecc 12:13 a good understanding: or, good success, Psa 1:3; Deu 4:6; Jos 1:7, Jos 1:8; Pro 3:4; Ti2 3:15-17 do his commandments: Heb. do them, Joh 13:17; Rev 22:14 his praise: Mat 25:21, Mat 25:23; Joh 5:44, Joh 12:43; Rom 2:7, Rom 2:29; Co1 4:5; Co2 4:17; Pe1 1:7 Next: Psalms Chapter 112”