When we think about the book of Proverbs in the Bible, we can all too often pass it off as a book full of catchy little sayings and a litany of dos and don'ts. If we view this book so casually, we can miss so much spiritual wisdom that is drawn from a wealth of knowledge and experience.
Remember that the author, Solomon, received from God great wisdom and wealth when all he asked for was a discerning heart (1 Kings 3:5-14) as he was about to become Israel's king. He lays out the purpose of this book---for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding the words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and direction to the young--let the wise listen and add to their learning and let the discerning get guidance (Proverbs 1:2-5). Can any self-help book or pop culture psychologist offer all of that?
Solomon goes on to lay the foundation for this treasure of wisdom in verse 7: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. To fear the Lord is to honor and respect God, to obey his Word and to live in awe of his power. To put our full faith and trust in Him---the One who truly does know it all---is where we experience the beginning of knowledge.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment