Thoughts From Proverbs 1

Proverb 1:7

⁷ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
    fools despise wisdom and instruction.

This is the last trip through Proverbs.  So these are some things to make our way most fruitful.

This verse is the key to Proverbs.  There are truths that are necessary from it.

1.       “Fear of the Lord” is equal to faith in the One, True, God.  That being so, this right relationship with God is primary to all true understanding of the world and its workings.  Faith in Christ does not make an M.D., or not even a good M.D.  But a good M.D. who is a believer is better for having saving faith.

2.      The second part of this verse is an absolute.  It is always—every time—everywhere.  The genius of any person does not prevent 1:7B from being true.  The great genius, Stephen Hawkings, recently died.  His moral infidelity, and his lack of loyalty, and his commitment to no one but himself were insights into his folly.  His hatred of God and truth were so deeply ingrained in his thinking that it influenced all that he taught.  But he was not unique, just another illustration of human folly.  Cf Hebrews 11:6