THE FEAR OF THE LORD

Proverbs 1:1-7 / Keywords 1:7

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

 

Purpose and Theme

1:1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

2 for gaining wisdom and instruction;

    for understanding words of insight;

3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,

    doing what is right and just and fair;

4 for giving prudence to those who are simple,[a]

    knowledge and discretion to the young—

5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,

    and let the discerning get guidance—

6 for understanding proverbs and parables,

    the sayings and riddles of the wise.[b]

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

    but fools[c] despise wisdom and instruction.

Footnotes

a. Proverbs 1:4 The Hebrew word rendered simple in Proverbs denotes a person who is gullible, without moral direction and inclined to evil.

b. Proverbs 1:6 Or understanding a proverb, namely, a parable, / and the sayings of the wise, their riddles

c. Proverbs 1:7 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote a person who is morally deficient.

1. This passage introduces the theme of Proverbs. It was written by King Solomon, David’s successor, who asked God for wisdom to shepherd his people. God blessed him with wisdom, and he was known as the wisest man on earth. Solomon shares his godly wisdom in Proverbs.

 

2. Godly wisdom helps us to live prudent and righteous lives. We need godly wisdom to be able to rise above our sinful nature and worldly trends and ideologies. The simple tend to be young people who are wide open in their minds and hearts. Without wisdom, they can fall into a pit or trap. The simple need prudence to channel their lives and to behave in a right and just way. Godly wisdom protects people to live discreetly.

 

3. If you don’t know what to do, study Proverbs to gain wisdom. Those who are wise can add to their wisdom. Those who are discerning can have keener insight. We all – young and old – need wisdom. The secret to and beginning of wisdom is the fear of God. Then, when we fear God and honor God as God in our lives, we can have his Spirit to guide us with wisdom. The mark of a fool is that he despises godly wisdom and instruction. The fool follows his own faulty understanding and thinks he knows what is best.

 

Prayer Father, thank you for giving us wisdom when we fear you and seek from you what is right.

One Word Fear God and receive wisdom