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.
