I have a friend who agreed to walk through Proverbs with me over the month of June. We are going to each read a chapter a day and then share our thoughts about one verse from the chapter that impressed us. Here are thoughts from Proverbs, Chapter 1 on June 1.
Chase’s choice – Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
“The fear of the Lord” here to me is submission to the Lord, an open heart and mind to him. My bible states when we fear something, we either run from it or submit to it. I agree, my salvation was very similar to this as a lot of people’s may have been the same way.
Once we have the fear of the Lord, it is a healthy fear as the fear we have of electricity or parents. It is a healthy fear or respect which causes you to act appropriately. But while seeking wisdom the fear or submission unto the Lord is the controlling principle of wisdom. This principle should not be abandoned and a person cannot just fully focus on the idea that we must just acquire wisdom alone. I believe that is where the fools despising wisdom comes in. They do not begin with that respect or appropriate fear.
My choice – Proverbs 1:5 “let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.” and Proverbs 1:33 “but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”
On proverbs 1:7 you made a wise choice. I always picture God’s awesome majesty, holiness, and righteousness when I consider “the fear of the Lord”. Romans 3:23 says that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”. That being the case, we all have reason to fear the judgment that we correctly deserve. The hope of favor with God can then begin to make us desire to walk right and submit. When we combine His majesty, holiness, and righteousness with His love, mercy, and grace – we have the awesome combination that causes us to joyously submit.
My verse was verse 5, “let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.” The last verse, verse 33, also echoes the theme. In verse 33 it is wisdom itself speaking saying, “but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.” Verse 5 tells us what we are to do. Verse 33 tells us what the results will be. Wisdom is the correct and consistent application of knowledge. I have met many very intelligent people who weren’t really very wise. They struggled with making the correct application of the vast knowledge they possessed. I love knowledge, but I have learned that I would rather be wise than just smart.
The common thread in these two verses is listening. It’s funny, but I spent a lot of my younger married years listening to experts about things, but I spent the majority of my time with my wife and family telling rather than listening. The Lord has shown me that my wife and even my children can be excellent dispensers of truth and wisdom. That doesn’t take away from trying to learn from experts, but it means that I should not overlook or despise the sources of wisdom the Lord will use close to me.
One more thought that you may have also heard. God gave us two ears versus only one mouth. Wisdom is using this reminder that we are to listen twice as much as we are to talk. I haven’t studied it so thoroughly as to say if it is exactly 67% listening to 33% talking, but I know the general rule is true.
Be blessed today and be a blessing.
