Proverbs 1:7 and
9:10 (NIV)
The fear of the
Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One
is understanding.
The book of Proverbs is a book about wisdom written by
King Solomon in the prime of his life some 3,000 years ago. Solomon exhorts his readers, although perhaps
he intended his main reader to be his son(s), to seek, obtain, and understand
wisdom. I’d like to quote what
GotQuestions.org writes about the practical application of the book of
Proverbs*:
There is an undeniable
practicality found in this book, for sound and sensible answers to all manner
of complex difficulties are found within its thirty-one chapters. Certainly,
Proverbs is the greatest "how-to" book ever written, and those who
have the good sense to take Solomon's lessons to heart will quickly discover
godliness, prosperity, and contentment are theirs for the asking.
The
recurring promise of the Book of Proverbs is that those who choose wisdom and
follow God will be blessed in numerous ways: with long life (9:11); prosperity
(2:20-22); joy (3:13-18); and the goodness of God (12:21). Those who reject
Him, on the other hand, suffer shame and death (3:35; 10:21). To reject God is
to choose folly over wisdom and is to separate ourselves from God, His Word,
His wisdom and His blessings.
The key or thematic verse of Proverbs is 1:7 that is
essentially repeated in 9:10. What do
these key words mean?
Fear of the Lord
To fear the Lord is to reverence or respect Him. This Hebrew word for fear (yir’ah) is used 14
times in Proverbs as well as in several other books of the Old Testament. If you wish to have wisdom, knowledge, and
understanding about God and His ways, it all begins with a healthy respect and
reverence for Him.
Beginning of knowledge
Some translations use foundation rather than beginning
which does emphasize that reverencing the Lord is indeed the foundation for all
knowledge. The word for knowledge
(da’ath) also can mean wisdom, understanding, perception, and/or skill.
Fools despise
The Hebrew word for fool, interestingly, is spelled in
English “eviyl”. Biblically, a fool is
one who despises wisdom. The Hebrew word
for despise can also mean hate and some translations use this word.
Wisdom and instruction
Chokmah is the Hebrew word for wisdom, used 149 times in
the Old Testament including 38 times in Proverbs. The word for instruction can also mean
discipline or correction. Indeed acquiring
wisdom takes years and lots of experience.
Someone has said that wisdom comes from experience and experience from a
lack of wisdom. This is also true of
good judgment. Good judgment comes from
experience and experience comes from bad judgment. Fools hate wisdom because they do not want to
learn and change from their experiences of poor choice and bad judgment. I know that Confucius was not a Christian but
I love this quote: “By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection,
which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by
experience, which is the bitterest.”
Knowledge of the Holy One
Proverbs 9:10 says that knowledge of the Holy One is
understanding. Understanding can also
mean discernment. Discernment typically
results in good judgment. The Holy One,
of course, is the Lord God. It is He who
gives wisdom and wisdom gives knowledge, understanding, and discernment.
Where do you stand?
Are you wise or are you a fool?
Admitting that you are a fool is the first valuable step toward stopping
being a fool and becoming wise. Wisdom
comes from revering God and the main way that you revere God is to believe in
who Jesus is and what He did for you.
Jesus is wisdom from God (I Cor 1:30).
His Spirit in you, when you invite Him into your heart, will enable you
to be wise.
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*http://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-Proverbs.html
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