Proverbs for Life
Proverbs 1:7 - "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
In the book of the Proverbs, a proverb is often presented in two lines, providing either a comparison or contrast. In Proverbs 1:7 we find a truth of contrast. While the fear of the Lord is presented as the foundation for godly knowledge, the spiritually foolish are presented as fighting against godly wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7 - "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
In the book of the Proverbs, a proverb is often presented in two lines, providing either a comparison or contrast. In Proverbs 1:7 we find a truth of contrast. While the fear of the Lord is presented as the foundation for godly knowledge, the spiritually foolish are presented as fighting against godly wisdom and instruction.
Interpretation (Content)
However, Proverbs 1:7 does not present a perfectly parallel contrast. In the structure of the verse, "the fear of the Lord" is placed in a position of contrast with the "fools." Yet the fear of the Lord is a characteristic of heart, whereas fools are a category of people. Thus it is necessary for us to ponder the implications of this contrast. The implication is that the characteristic of the fear of the Lord is directly in contrast to the characteristic of spiritual foolishness, and that the characteristic of spiritual foolishness is that which causes the category of fools to be Biblically defined as spiritual fools.
In addition, Proverbs 1:7 does not present a perfectly parallel contrast in that it reveals what the fear of the Lord is, whereas it reveals what the spiritually foolish do. The heart-characteristic of the fear of the Lord is the beginning (the foundation) for all true, spiritual knowledge (including the knowledge of "the donctrine which is according to godliness," the knowledge of daily fellowship with our Lord, the knowledge of how to walk in righteousness, the knowledge of how to resist temptation, etc.). Indeed, all spiritual growth in godliness must be built upon the characteristic of the fear of the Lord. Yet spiritual fools despise (resist, reject, and rebel against) godly wisdom and instruction, specifically because they refuse the characteristic of the fear of the Lord.
Finally, Proverbs 1:7 presents a defining comparison, in that it places true, spiritual "knowledge" in parallel to godly "wisdom and instruction." Thereby we are able to understand that true, spiritual knowledge can be defined with the two-fold description of godly wisdom and godly instruction. Yea, growing in true, spiritual knowledge requires that we develop the righteous character and conduct (wisdom) that is taught through God's Holy Word, and that we be governed by the godly correction and direction (instruction) that is delivered by God's Holy Word. Yet spiritual fools despise the righteous character and conduct (wisdom) that is taught through God's Word and the godly correction and direction (instruction) that is delivered by God's Word. In fact, this characteristic of despite against godly wisdom and instruction from God's Word is that which defines them and reveals them as spiritually foolish.
Integration (Context)
Yet what does it mean to walk in the fear of the Lord, and what does it mean to despise godly wisdom and instruction? To some extent, the answers to these two questions may be found within the very context of Proverbs 1. In Proverbs 1:20-21 the wisdom of God's Word is personified as a virtuous woman who calls unto the inhabitants of the earth. In Proverbs 1:22-23 her message is specifically delivered unto the spiritually simple, foolish, and scornful, that they must turn at her reproof. Yet many refuse to heed this call from the personified Wisdom of God's Word. Thus Proverbs 1:24-32 reveals the consequences of such a refusal.
In the midst of this report concerning the consequences of refusal, the personified Wisdom of God's Word states in Proverbs 1:29-30, "For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: they would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof." Thus we learn that the characteristic of the fear of the Lord is a matter of personal choice. Furthermore, we learn that despising godly wisdom and instruction means to make one's choice against the fear of the Lord. Finally, we learn that we make our choice against the fear of the Lord when we reject the counsel of God's Word and rebel against the reproof of God's Word; whereas we choose to walk in the fear of the Lord when we receive the counsel of God's Word for our lives and repent at the reproof of God's against our lives.
Instruction (Contact)
Even so, if we desire to walk aright before our Lord, we must examine our hearts and lives spiritually, whether we are walking in the way of spiritual foolishness by despising any counsel or reproof from God's Word.
Furthermore, we must study God's Word diligently concerning the characteristic of the fear of the Lord, in order that we might understand it Biblically and walk therein faithfully. (Remember - Not walking in the fear of the Lord is to walk in the way of spiritual foolishness.)
Finally, we must daily pusue a walk in the fear of the Lord, receiving the counsel of God's Word with faithful obedience and repenting at the reproof of God's Word with humble submission.
However, Proverbs 1:7 does not present a perfectly parallel contrast. In the structure of the verse, "the fear of the Lord" is placed in a position of contrast with the "fools." Yet the fear of the Lord is a characteristic of heart, whereas fools are a category of people. Thus it is necessary for us to ponder the implications of this contrast. The implication is that the characteristic of the fear of the Lord is directly in contrast to the characteristic of spiritual foolishness, and that the characteristic of spiritual foolishness is that which causes the category of fools to be Biblically defined as spiritual fools.
In addition, Proverbs 1:7 does not present a perfectly parallel contrast in that it reveals what the fear of the Lord is, whereas it reveals what the spiritually foolish do. The heart-characteristic of the fear of the Lord is the beginning (the foundation) for all true, spiritual knowledge (including the knowledge of "the donctrine which is according to godliness," the knowledge of daily fellowship with our Lord, the knowledge of how to walk in righteousness, the knowledge of how to resist temptation, etc.). Indeed, all spiritual growth in godliness must be built upon the characteristic of the fear of the Lord. Yet spiritual fools despise (resist, reject, and rebel against) godly wisdom and instruction, specifically because they refuse the characteristic of the fear of the Lord.
Finally, Proverbs 1:7 presents a defining comparison, in that it places true, spiritual "knowledge" in parallel to godly "wisdom and instruction." Thereby we are able to understand that true, spiritual knowledge can be defined with the two-fold description of godly wisdom and godly instruction. Yea, growing in true, spiritual knowledge requires that we develop the righteous character and conduct (wisdom) that is taught through God's Holy Word, and that we be governed by the godly correction and direction (instruction) that is delivered by God's Holy Word. Yet spiritual fools despise the righteous character and conduct (wisdom) that is taught through God's Word and the godly correction and direction (instruction) that is delivered by God's Word. In fact, this characteristic of despite against godly wisdom and instruction from God's Word is that which defines them and reveals them as spiritually foolish.
Integration (Context)
Yet what does it mean to walk in the fear of the Lord, and what does it mean to despise godly wisdom and instruction? To some extent, the answers to these two questions may be found within the very context of Proverbs 1. In Proverbs 1:20-21 the wisdom of God's Word is personified as a virtuous woman who calls unto the inhabitants of the earth. In Proverbs 1:22-23 her message is specifically delivered unto the spiritually simple, foolish, and scornful, that they must turn at her reproof. Yet many refuse to heed this call from the personified Wisdom of God's Word. Thus Proverbs 1:24-32 reveals the consequences of such a refusal.
In the midst of this report concerning the consequences of refusal, the personified Wisdom of God's Word states in Proverbs 1:29-30, "For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: they would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof." Thus we learn that the characteristic of the fear of the Lord is a matter of personal choice. Furthermore, we learn that despising godly wisdom and instruction means to make one's choice against the fear of the Lord. Finally, we learn that we make our choice against the fear of the Lord when we reject the counsel of God's Word and rebel against the reproof of God's Word; whereas we choose to walk in the fear of the Lord when we receive the counsel of God's Word for our lives and repent at the reproof of God's against our lives.
Instruction (Contact)
Even so, if we desire to walk aright before our Lord, we must examine our hearts and lives spiritually, whether we are walking in the way of spiritual foolishness by despising any counsel or reproof from God's Word.
Furthermore, we must study God's Word diligently concerning the characteristic of the fear of the Lord, in order that we might understand it Biblically and walk therein faithfully. (Remember - Not walking in the fear of the Lord is to walk in the way of spiritual foolishness.)
Finally, we must daily pusue a walk in the fear of the Lord, receiving the counsel of God's Word with faithful obedience and repenting at the reproof of God's Word with humble submission.
Posted in Proverbs for Life, Word of God, Spiritual Growth, Walk in Righteousness, Repentance of Sin
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