PROVERBS

Proverbs 1:5-6 (KJV): "A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: 6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings."

Proverbs 1:7(KJV): "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Thoughts for the Day

The book of Proverbs is referred to as the book of wisdom in the Bible. God caused Solomon to pen these great truths. He had learned wisdom, as we must all learn it -- by listening to and heeding the Words of God. We must ask God for ears to hear what the Lord is speaking. Some people complain that they cannot understand the Bible. Actually none of us can understand the sum total of the Bible, because it comes from a God who is unfathomable. However, when we come to God, and acknowledge Jesus as our savior, we are given new insight. We begin our journey of learning about our new Father and His ways. As we study His Book, the Holy Spirit gives us the understanding that brings us into wise counsel and we can increase our learning of the Almighty God.

After forty-eight years of studying the Bible, I am still in awe when I read a verse that I have read many times and never understood it and suddenly I am enlightened and can "understand a proverb" or that "dark saying." I realize this comes because of my relationship with the One who inspired the Bible in the first place. He has given me something of His heart or mind and my love for Him is deepened. We should always be grateful when God allows us revelation of His Word and, when we do not understand it at the moment, that is when we are called to trust Him. Perhaps, at a later time, as we mature and grow in Him, we can receive that understanding that we have asked Him for. In the meantime, we can certainly walk in the light of the Words we do understand.

According to this scripture one must have "the fear of the Lord" to attain knowledge. Since this is true, we need to know what it means to "fear the Lord," as most of us desire to attain knowledge. In this verse, the "fear of the Lord" actually means "to be alarmed due to what could happen, if we disrespect or show lack of reverence to the Lord's Words." A good example of this would be if a young person respects the words of his father, he will heed those words and not disobey, as he knows the consequence of doing wrong will bring the father's disfavor and punishment. This same thing applies to our heavenly Father. If we really respect and believe the Words of God we will not disobey them, as we know there will be a penalty for doing so. We resist sinning as we fear the consequences. The acknowledgement of this one truth truly is the gateway to attain the knowledge of God.

People that have no "fear of God" go about breaking the laws of God, as if nothing will ever happen to them. The Bible refers to these people as foolish. Fools are those who are rebellious and despise the wisdom and instruction of God. Because our God is a merciful, sometimes people do not immediately pay for the consequences of their sins, but in time, all of us will reap what we sow, as that is what the Word of God says in Galatians 6:7: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." The only way the reaping and sowing process can be stopped is through repentance of our sins. When we accept Jesus as our savior, because He paid the penalty for our sin on the cross, we do not have to pay for it. We escape hell and all of its consequences. How wonderful this is. It can be compared to having someone who comes and plows up a field of sin where the weed seed we planted would sprout in time. Instead, through Christ's love for us, we are now given a clean plowed field, so that we can plant a good crop. One that we can enjoy and even have an abundant harvest to bless others.