TEXT : Prov. 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.  1:23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.  2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.  3:2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.  3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  3:8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.  3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:  3:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

 

THEME : WISDOM /THE FEAR OF THE LORD

 

It may surprise some that following the LORD requires discipline and correction. Yet, this is the case for all who will follow the LORD. The life of a Christian, that is, a true Christian - one born of the Spirit of God, is a life of frequent correction. Since you are flesh and blood, you need continual training in the ways of the LORD. That means, you must be taught how to think, speak, and behave according to His laws of life. The lessons can be hard to receive or learn. Yet, they produce the fruit of God's Spirit - love, joy, peace etc.

 

"Those who read David's psalms, especially those towards the latter end, would be tempted to think that religion is all rapture and consists in nothing but the ecstasies and transports of devotion; and doubtless there is a time for them, and if there be a heaven upon earth it is in them: but, while we are on earth, we cannot be wholly taken up with them; we have a life to live in the flesh, must have a conversation in the world, and into that we must now be taught to carry our religion, which is a rational thing, and very serviceable to the government of human life, and tends as much to make us discreet as to make us devout, to make the face shine before men, in a prudent, honest, useful conversation, as to make the heart burn towards God in holy and pious affections. In this chapter we have,  I. The title of the book, showing the general scope and design of it (Pro_1:1-6).  II. The first principle of it recommended to our serious consideration (Pro_1:7-9).  III. A necessary caution against bad company (Pro_1:10-19).  IV. A faithful and lively representation of wisdom's reasonings with the children of men, and the certain ruin of those who turn a deaf ear to those reasonings (Pro_1:20-33)." [Matthew Henry]

 

All true wisdom begins with a reverence toward the LORD that is not given to all people. That is, you view God as He should be seen. His attributes of Omnipotence, Omnipresence, Omniscience, etc. and so forth transmits awe. Yet, some do not have this knowledge. Thus, it is necessary to know there is a God, and that He is a rewarder of them that fear Him. This, is the first step in becoming wise. Wisdom builds her house on the foundation. Further, the fear of the LORD remains the main support of all learning.

 

"The fear of the Lord - In the preceding verses Solomon shows the advantage of acting according to the dictates of wisdom; in the following verses he shows the danger of acting contrary to them. The fear of the Lord signifies that religious reverence which every intelligent being owes to his Creator; and is often used to express the whole of religion, as we have frequently had occasion to remark in different places. But what is religion? The love of God, and the love of man; the former producing all obedience to the Divine will; the latter, every act of benevolence to one's fellows. The love of God shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Spirit produces the deepest religious reverence, genuine piety, and cheerful obedience. To love one's neighbor as himself is the second great commandment; and as love worketh no ill to one's neighbor, therefore it is said to be the fulfilling of the law. Without love, there is no obedience; without reverence, there is neither caution, consistent conduct, nor perseverance in righteousness.

 

This fear or religious reverence is said to be the beginning of knowledge; ראשית  reshith, the principle, the first moving influence, begotten in a tender conscience by the Spirit of God. No man can ever become truly wise, who does not begin with God, the fountain of knowledge; and he whose mind is influenced by the fear and love of God will learn more in a month than others will in a year." [Adam Clarke]

 

When Jesus began His ministry, His first message was - "Repent." [Mat_4:17  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. /Mar_1:15  And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." The word "repent" means to - 1) to change one's mind, i.e. to repent; 2) to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins. [Thayer] Thus, you must "turn" around and begin to think differently. That is, you must think God's way. His Word instructs you how to think about life and all of its dynamics, and how to respond to both Himself and others according to His design.

 

"The teaching of Divine Wisdom is essentially the same as that of the Divine Word Joh_7:38-39. "Turning," repentance and conversion, this is what she calls the simple to. The promise of the Spirit is also like His Joh_14:26. And with the spirit there are to be also the "words" of Wisdom. Not the "spirit" alone, nor "words" alone, but both together, each doing its appointed work - this is the divine instrumentality for the education of such as will receive it." [Albert Barnes]

 

Once you "turn," you begin to understand and learn. This is true knowledge. It is the beginning, but not the end. As mentioned, because you are flesh and blood you need constant training in the way God wants you to handle everything you meet in life. This is a lifelong project for you and God. Thus, your training never ends in this world. It is open-ended, always going on to the next lesson as the LORD teaches you. Yet, in the meantime, you ever learn the fear of the LORD and become wise.

 

Psa 119:98  Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. Psa 119:99  I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. Psa 119:100  I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. Psa 119:101  I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. Psa 119:102  I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me. Psa 119:103  How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psa 119:104  Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

 

Proverbs 2:5

 

"Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord,.... The grace of fear, and the exercise of it: which is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge, and is a treasure itself, Pro_1:7. By means of the Gospel the Lord works it in the hearts of his people by his Spirit; and by the same leads them into the riches of his special grace and "goodness", which they are influenced by to "fear", and the Lord for the sake of it: and particularly they are led hereby to the pardoning grace and mercy of God, which is with him, that he may "be feared"; and it is the Gospel which induces and encourages a true filial fear of God, by which men "depart from evil"; for that teaches them to deny all manner of sin, and to live a godly life and conversation: so that through a diligent search after the knowledge of the Gospel, and an attaining it, men come to have a spiritual, experimental, and practical understanding of the fear of God as a grace; and also, as it includes the whole worship of God, by means of Gospel light, they come to understand what sort of worship that is God is to be worshipped with; that it is pure, spiritual, and evangelical, suited to his nature and will: what the ordinances of divine service are; and that these are to be kept as they were delivered, and in the exercise of faith, from a principle of love, and with a view to the glory, of God, without trusting to them or depending on them for salvation. And this is the advantage arising from a diligent search after the doctrine of wisdom, or the Gospel, and a knowledge and understanding of it; and is used as an argument encouraging to it; and another follows;

 

and find the knowledge of God; such a knowledge of God as is not to be found by the light of nature, in the whole volume of the creatures, and in all the writings of the philosophers; no, nor in the law of Moses; for though much of God and his perfections may be seen and known by the things that are made, and much of the will of God by the law he gave; yet by neither of these is the knowledge of God in Christ, which is "life eternal". This only is to be found in the Gospel, and by means of it; here only it is brought to light; and through this men not only find it, but increase more and more in it: herein is a glorious display of his persons and perfections, of his counsels and purposes, of his covenant and promises, of his mind and will, with respect to doctrine and worship; and of the way of peace, life, and salvation, by Jesus Christ; which must serve greatly to engage and excite persons to a diligent search and pursuit after it. And all that is here said is designed to encourage a diligent search after divine things; for, as the poet (n) says, there is nothing so difficult but by searching may be found out." [John Gill]

 

TRUTH FOR TODAY : "LIFE IN CHRIST MEANS FREQUENT CORRECTION!"

 

A halfhearted effort will not do. You can only make progress with a full effort. That is, you will truly forge ahead when you love the LORD with all the heart, and all the soul, and all the mind. True wisdom requires a total effort. Nothing else will do. However, when you give your all, the reward is beyond measure. You see life as the LORD designed it - without sin, and you appreciate the gift of eternal life more than ever. You will see sin for what is - not only the transgression of the Law, but a pure selfishness, invested in nothing. Use that definition when think of the word "sin." It is an acronym - S.elfishness I.nvested [in] N.othing. It is a simple term, but full of suggestion.

 

Sin is pure self-centered energy, devoted to meaningless, purposeless, and senseless ambitions, that in the end has only eternity in Hell to look forward to. You can think of Hell as the junkyard of the universe. It was created by God for the Devil and his angels who had forfeited their purpose and design through rebellion against the LORD's plan and purposes. Unfortunately, all men and women who follow them will have the same end. Namely, they will be cast into the great garbage dump of the universe having lost their purpose. Thus, you must trust in the LORD with all your heart, and never consult or prop yourself up on your own understanding, which happens to be a gross "misunderstanding" if you do not know the LORD.

 

Proverbs 3:5

 

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart,.... Not in a creature, the best, the holiest, and the highest; not in any creature enjoyment, as riches, strength, and wisdom; nor in any outward privilege, arising from natural descent and education; not in a man's self, in his own heart, which is deceitful; nor in any works of righteousness done by him; not in a profession of religion, or the duties of it, ever so well performed; not in frames, nor in graces, and the exercise of them; no, not in faith or trust itself: but in the Lord, the object of all grace, and in him only; in Jehovah the Father, as the God of nature and providence, for all temporal blessings; and as the God of all grace, for all spiritual blessings, and all the needful supplies of grace; and for eternal happiness, which he has provided, promised, and freely gives. Trust in him at all times; in times of affliction, temptation, and darkness: there is a great deal of reason for it; all power and strength are in him to help; his love, grace, and mercy, move him to it, and are always the same: the consideration of what he has done for others that have trusted in him, and for ourselves in times past, should induce and encourage to it; as also the happiness of those that trust in him, who enjoy peace and safety; and his displeasure at those that show any diffidence of him, or distrust him. Trust in Jehovah the Son; in his person for acceptance; in his righteousness for justification; in his blood for pardon; in his fulness for supply; in his power for protection and preservation; and in him alone for salvation and eternal life. Trust in Jehovah the Spirit, to carry on and finish the work of grace upon the heart; of which a saint may be confident that where it is begun it will be completed. And this trust in Father, Son, and Spirit, should be "with all the heart", cordial and sincere. The phrase denotes not so much the strength of faith as the sincerity of it; it signifies a faith unfeigned; it is not saying, or professing, that a man believes and trusts in the Lord; but it is with the heart, and with his whole heart, that he believes unto righteousness, if he believes aright; see Rom_10:10;

 

and lean not unto thine own understanding; or trust not to that; for it stands opposed to trusting in the Lord. Men should not depend upon their own wisdom and understanding, in the conduct of civil life, but should seek the direction and blessing of Providence, or otherwise will meet with disappointment; and, when they succeed, should ascribe it not to their own prudence and wisdom, but to the goodness of God; for "bread" is not always "to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding", Ecc_9:11; and much less should men lean to their own understanding in matters of religion; a natural man has no understanding of spiritual things, of the things of the Gospel, nor indeed any practical understanding of things moral, Rom_3:11, Jer_4:22. The understanding of man is darkened by sin; yea, is darkness itself; it is like the first earth, covered with darkness, till light is let into it, and therefore not to be leaned unto and depended on, Eph_4:18. There is a necessity of a new heart and spirit, of an understanding to be given, in order to understand spiritual and divine things, Eze_36:26; for though these are not contrary to the reason and understanding of men; yet they are above them, and cannot be discovered, reached, comprehended, and accounted for by them, Mat_16:17. Nay, there are some things in the Gospel, which, though plain to an enlightened understanding by the word of God, yet the manner how they are cannot be apprehended: as the doctrines of a trinity of Persons; of the generation of the Son of God; the procession of the Spirit; the union of the two natures in Christ; the resurrection of the dead, &c. In short, not our reason and understanding at best, and much less as carnal and unsanctified, but the word of God only is our rule of judgment, and the standard of our faith and practice; and to that we should have recourse and be directed by it, and not lean to our own understandings." [John Gill]

 

Proverbs 3:7-12

 

Thus, life in Christ means frequent correction. You must not let your own self-satisfaction or self-importance take over. Let Christ teach you even though the lessons are hard at times. Keep in mind, the LORD only chastens and corrects those He loves! Therefore, to be taught of the LORD is a great encouragement. It means you will not be condemned with the world!

 

1Co_11:32  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

 

"There is not a greater enemy to the fear of the Lord in the heart, than self-conceit of our own wisdom. The prudence and sobriety which religion teaches, tend not only to the health of the soul, but to the health of the body. Worldly wealth is but poor substance, yet, such as it is, we must honour God with it; and those that do good with what they have, shall have more to do more good with. Should the Lord visit us with trials and sickness, let us not forget that the exhortation speaks to us as to children, for our good. We must not faint under an affliction, be it ever so heavy and long, not be driven to despair, or use wrong means for relief. The father corrects the son whom he loves, because he loves him, and desires that he may be wise and good. Afflictions are so far from doing God's children any hurt, that, by the grace of God, they promote their holiness." [Matthew Henry]