Below, are 3 verses that describe what the fear of the Lord and the knowledge of God, and wisdom can bring into our lives, along with a sobering statement about the loneliness of being a scoffer.
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 9:11 For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you.
Proverbs 9:12 f you are wise, you are wise for yourself, And if you scoff, you will bear it alone.
The verse about the Fear of the Lord comes right after a few verses which talk about scoffers who won't listen to God's counsel, and wise men who will.
Solomon is describing the Fear of the Lord in 9:10, it's the beginning of wisdom. And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
So, to break those down just a little.....To fear God is the starting place of wisdom, or skill in living, be it in battle, or the daily affairs of life, the spiritual life we live, and or having skill in matters of what is right and what is wrong.
Understanding, is to have insight, to be able to discern and distinguish what is right and wrong.
Both wisdom and understanding come from God, and our relationship with Him, our knowledge of Him. To know Him, is to have these things in our lives, they are some of the fruit that He brings to us.
We can have a long and fruitful life because of our association with God, and our knowledge of God, or we can not.
Scoffing, and scoffers are mentioned many, many times in the Book of Proverbs.
To scoff is to mock, it is to talk arrogantly, it is to be inflated with oneself, it is to deride others, ( act contemptuously towards others, to ridicule, to mock, to jeer, to sneer, taunt, disdain, denigrate, disrespect, insult, lampoon, and be satirical )
The truth in Proverbs, is that if you are a scoffer, ( one who will not really listen to wisdom when they should ) that you will incur it's penalty. You will be alone. You will find yourself cut off from others, you will not be growing in fellowship with others etc, etc......
So, God's wisdom is for us to live in the fear of the Lord ( Respecting God and letting that respect show up in the way we live. ) God's wisdom is for us to know Him personally, intimately, consistently, and to gain His understanding about life, and to be blessed in our lives with His blessings. We can enjoy the fruit of a relationship with God.......
Thank You Lord for the Book of Proverbs.
In Jesus name, amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Senior Pastor, Calvary Chapel Visalia
Application/Promises.
1. We can walk in the fear of the Lord.
2. We can know the Lord.
3. God invites us to both of these things above.
4. There are wonderful consequences to be had.
5. God can keep us from our foolishness.
6. He wants to bless you.
7. The choice is up to us, day by day.
8. His Spirit will fill us day by day.
9. Keep Jesus central one day at a time.
P.S.....A question and an answer.
ReplyDeleteHow can I learn the fear of the Lord, and how can I begin to walk in it........?
Answer and promise from the Lord.....Ps 34:11* Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
God will teach us .....we can ask Him to teach us, He will lead, He will guide, He will reveal, He will minister to us through His Word.........
Lord, help me to live wisely by walking in awareness of & reverence for You today.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bob -- these daily nuggets are such a blessing.
James 3:17-18, tells us this..."The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace"...That's always the test in our lives as to whether we are walking in God's wisdom, the world's wisdom, or our own...Is there purity, mercy, peace, gentleness and a willingness to yield and not to insist on my own way? Is the fruit of the Holy Spirit evident in my life? Am I displaying love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control to others? These things are all the manifestations of our walking in the wisdom of God...James 3:13, says, "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom"...Lord, You are wisdom...and we gain understanding by knowing you better...Lord, show us Your ways.
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