The fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:1-7)




Read Proverbs 1:1-7


The book of Solomon was written to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young and to make wise men wiser (see Proverbs 1:5). It is a "How to "book on living wisely. Our text is an introduction and sets the tone for the book.  We can expect to see more of the contrast between the wise and the fool, but especially about the fear of the Lord. Verse seven shows a stark contrast between those who fear the Lord and the fool that despises wisdom and discipline. Discipline is immediately set out as a good thing, something we should seek (Proverbs 1:2-3). We can see that the fear of the Lord is going to be a prominent theme throughout the book. Solomon tells us that serving the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Therefore, those who do not fear the Lord can not attain even the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7). This tells us that not only is the book going to tell us how to live, but how to live in the fear of the Lord. We can read the book of Proverbs with these thoughts in mind; seek the Lord, seek wisdom, trust that discipline is good for us, and listen to the wise.  

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