The third in our series on King Suleyman's book of proverbs. View the second article here.
The Beginning of Knowledge
King Suleyman's hope for all of us reading this book of Proverbs is that we'd grow wise, grow in understanding and knowledge.
The knowledge he's talking of is more than academic; it's more than book-smarts and the ability to recite ancient Greek philosophers. Knowledge, for Suleyman, is a spiritual matter, a concept that involves more than the mind, that encompasses the spirit of man.
He explains in a characteristically succinct manner where all this knowledge begins:
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
There is very little point in moving through the rest of the proverbs before this idea is grasped in all its fullness.
Fear
The fear of the Lord.
Without it we display unmitigated arrogance. Without it our knowledge progresses at a tangent to all things righteous and sacrosanct. Without it our wisdom puffs up, divides and offends.
But what does it mean to fear the Lord? As a concept throughout the Bible it is used to describe
- A genuine faith
- A reverent awe
To fear the Lord means to believe and trust in Him completely, and to approach Him with respect and humility.
Acknowledging the Source
This posture of total trust in God and total humility before Him is the key to godly knowledge and wisdom. It is what allows us to receive the wisdom and instruction that fools despise.
As we continue this exploration of Suleyman's proverbs, let us all submit ourselves to God, acknowledge Him as the source of all wisdom and knowledge, and commit to discovering and following His way over our own.