bible_study/Devotionals/07-01-23.md

> [!Bible]- [Proverbs 1:1-33 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/20/1/)
> 1. The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
> 2. To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight,
> 3. to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;
> 4. to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth —
> 5. Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,
> 6. to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.
> 7. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
> 8. Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching,
> 9. for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.
> 10. My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
> 11. If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason;
> 12. like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
> 13. we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder;
> 14. throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse” —
> 15. my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths,
> 16. for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.
> 17. For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird,
> 18. but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives.
> 19. Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.
> 20. Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice;
> 21. at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
> 22. “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?
> 23. If you turn at my reproof,  behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.
> 24. Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
> 25. because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,
> 26. I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you,
> 27. when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.
> 28. Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
> 29. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD,
> 30. would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof,
> 31. therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices.
> 32. For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them;
> 33. but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”


3. ([Proverbs 1:7](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lsb/pro/1/7/s_629007)) The foundation of all wisdom.

The fear of the Lord _is_ the beginning of knowledge,  
_But_ fools despise wisdom and instruction.

a. **The fear of the Lord _is_ the beginning of knowledge**: The Book of Proverbs focuses on practical life wisdom more than theological ideas. Yet it is founded on a vital theological principle — that true **knowledge** and wisdom flow from **the fear of the Lord**.

i. This **fear of the Lord** is not a cowering, begging fear. It is the proper reverence that the creature owes to the Creator and that the redeemed owes to the Redeemer. It is the proper respect and honoring of God. Several writers give their definition of **the fear of the Lord**:

- “But what is **the fear of the Lord**? It is that affectionate reverence by which the child of God bends himself humbly and carefully to his Father’s law.” (Bridges)
- “A worshipping submission to the God of the covenant.” (Kidner)
- “‘The fear of the Lord’ ultimately expresses reverential submission to the Lord’s will and thus characterizes a true worshiper.” (Ross)
- “_The fear of the Lord_ signifies that _religious reverence_ which every intelligent being owes to his Creator.” (Clarke)

ii. God should be regarded with respect, reverence, and awe. This proper attitude of the creature toward the Creator is **the beginning of knowledge** and wisdom. Wisdom cannot advance further until this starting point is established.

iii. If true wisdom can be simply gained by human effort, energy, and ingenuity (like the rare and precious metals of the earth), then the **fear of the Lord** is not essential to obtaining wisdom. But if it comes from God’s revelation, then right relationship with Him is the key to wisdom.

iv. “What the alphabet is to reading, notes to reading music, and numerals to mathematics, the fear of the Lord is to attaining the revealed knowledge of this book.” (Waltke)

b. **The beginning of knowledge**: Solomon probably meant **knowledge** here mostly in the sense of _wisdom_. The idea that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom is also found at [Job 28:28](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lsb/job/28/28/s_464028), [Psalm 111:10](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lsb/psa/111/10/s_589010), [Proverbs 9:10](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lsb/pro/9/10/s_637010), and [Ecclesiastes 12:13](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lsb/ecc/12/13/s_671013).

i. **Beginning** has the sense of “the first and controlling principle, rather than a stage which one leaves behind; cf. [Eccl. 12:13](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lsb/ecc/12/13/s_671013).” (Kidner)

ii. “The fundamental fact, then, is that in all knowledge, all understanding of life, all interpretation thereof, the fear of Jehovah is the principal thing, the chief part, the central light, apart from which the mind of man gropes in darkness, and misses the way.” (Morgan)

iii. “The fall of man was a choosing of what bid fair ‘to make one wise’ ([Gen. 3:6](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lsb/gen/3/6/s_3006)) but flouted the first principle of wisdom, the fear of the Lord.” (Kidner)