Proverbs 1:7 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.
This is the most important passage in the book of Proverbs and it is key not only to understanding this book, but in every aspect of our relationship to God and our desire to seek eternal salvation in Jesus Christ.
Fearing God leads to loving God
Everything starts with “Fear the Lord.” And that seems odd to us in a religious climate that is quick to embrace the idea that “God is love” (which is true!) and that “perfect love casts out fear” (also true, 1 John 4:18) So how can we argue that fearing the Lord is more important than love?
Not more important. More foundational. It is the beginning of every other aspect of our relationship with God – including love! Because when we know the full extent of God’s power and authority – that He created the entire universe, that everything around us is God’s to do with as He wishes, and that our own understanding and strength is meaningless in comparison to God’s – and we then see that such an almighty God as He chose to redeem us through the blood of His son, forgiving sin for those who are willing to follow His commands in faith, how can that not inspire love?
Fearing God calls me to listen to God
The only true wisdom in life begins with a true and accurate understanding of my place in it – and when I understand that I have a God who created me and has given me purpose in this life, that ought to inspire me to listen to what He tells me to do. That would be the wise thing to do.
But foolishness also comes into play, and Solomon shows in the first three chapters how our own foolishness attempts to silence the voice of wisdom, that is crying out to us from the street, as he says in v. 22: “How long will you keep ignoring my voice?” (Prov. 1:22)
Foolishness wants to follow my own path, live my own life according to my own purpose, whatever that might be! And what’s worse is that foolishness in the eyes of a mortal man usually seems like wisdom! How many times have we told ourselves, “It seemed like a good idea at the time!”
Worldly wisdom always seems right at the moment. It often brings short term benefits, and in many cases more than short-term! It brings me pleasure, companionship with other people who also want to live worldly lifestyles and ignore God’s wisdom.
Solomon warns: Don’t follow those people. Don’t embrace relationships with people who are determined to ignore wisdom and follow foolishness! “They will eat the fruit of their way and be glutted with their own schemes. For the apostasy of the inexperienced will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. (Prov. 1:31-32)
Fearing God leads me to true wisdom – if I want it!
God’s wisdom is not hard to find, Solomon writes – anyone can attain it. It’s crying out for each of us, if we’re looking in the right place. “If you respond to my warning,, then I will pour out my spirit on you and teach you my words.” He isn’t talking about miraculous revelation here, he’s referring to the wisdom that’s easily available in God’s word – in the law during Solomon’s time, and in the gospel message that accompanied the “pouring out” of God’s Spirit in Acts 2. We can know God’s will, because God has told it to us.
But Solomon points out that wisdom isn’t effective unless we’re willing to listen to it and to do what it calls us to do! God’s word corrects us (1:22), and we don’t always like to be corrected. We want to be reassured. We want to be vindicated in the choices we’ve already made!
God’s wisdom doesn’t tell you to keep doing what you’re doing – it calls for change, for repentance from sin and a willingness to follow regardless of what the world is doing around you.
The only reason I’m going to listen to that message is if I see more value in it than I see in the wisdom that the culture around me embraces. God’s word changes people who truly see its value, who pursue it at all costs. We tend to follow advice more closely the more trust we place in the advisor – and if our faith is truly in God who created us, who precious should God’s instruction be to us?
Solomon writes in Proverbs 2:3-6
Furthermore, if you call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
God’s wisdom has to be valued above all else if we want to receive it and apply it in our lives.
Do we fear God enough to listen to Him?
In Proverbs 2:12-15, Solomon writes:
(Wisdom) will rescue you from the way of evil— from anyone who says perverse things, from those who abandon the right paths to walk in ways of darkness, from those who enjoy doing evil and celebrate perversion, whose paths are crooked, and whose ways are devious.
The question is: Do we truly want to be rescued from those things? Are those aspects of our culture and our world that we want to escape? Or are we trying to find ways to fit them into our covenant relationship with God?
Solomon makes his appeal in chapter 3:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight. Don’t be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
Do we fear the Lord enough to listen to what His word is trying to teach us? Do we fear the Lord enough to put those things into practice in our lives every day, even if it calls us to change the way we see ourselves, our friends, our careers, and our purpose?
