Wisdom Study Session 4: Introduction to the "fear of the Lord."

Proverbs 1:7 tells us that “fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” Proverbs 9:10 teaches that “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”  Other scripture links “fear of the Lord” to well-being. Psalms 103:11, 112:1, 115:13, and 128:3. “Fear of the Lord” is therefore a concept we need to understand.

Scripture does explicitly or comprehensively define the term in any particular passage, but it does allow us to understand it. Various Old Testament passages describe certain aspects of the concept, sometimes by giving examples and sometimes by connecting fear of the Lord to certain types of conduct. And given the importance of the concept, it’s not surprising that Jesus and the New Testament writers also stress those aspects, even though they may not explicitly call them “fear of the Lord.”

So what does it mean to  “fear of the Lord”?

Very briefly stated, it means living a truly God centered life, resulting in right relationship to God and other people.  

Each of the posts on this topic will explore one of the more specific aspects of fearing the Lord. We’ll first look at what the Old Testament says about it. Then we’ll consider how that aspect carries over into the New Testament. 

Wisdom Study Session 3--We should always seek more wisdom.

“Let the wise listen and learn yet more” Proverbs 1:5, (NJB)

This verse tells us that we should never stop seeking wisdom, even if God has already given us some.  There is always more to learn, and God will teach us if we keep striving to learn.

We see that principle in other verses from wisdom literature.  Proverbs 9:9 tells us that “a wise man… will be still wiser,” and that a righteous man will “increase in learning” if he to opens himself to further instruction.   Sirach 6:18 similarly teach that we can still find wisdom, even after we have “gray hair.”        

Jesus also told us about that principle. In Matthew 13:12 he taught that ”to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance[.]”  That precept is repeated throughout the Gospels. See, Matthew 25:29; Mark 4:24-25, Luke 8:18,  John 15:2.

So how do we do that? Three things come to mind.     

First, make good use of the wisdom God has already given you. God will further bless those who make good use of what he has already given them, but we are unlikely to get more wisdom if we don’t bear fruit with what we already have. Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 19:12-26, John 15:2.

Second, we must be humble, accept that there is a LOT that we don’t know. We have to open our selves to that, recognize that there is more to learn.  Maybe that was what Solomon was getting at when he wrote “let the wise hear.” Proverbs 1:5 (ESV).  In other words, we have to get over ourselves. See Proverbs 11:2, Matthew 23:12, Luke 7:36-50, Luke 18:9-14

Third, we have to make a conscious, intentional, effort to learn; be on the alert for insights from God.  Jesus told us to “pay attention to what you hear.” Mark 4:24. Accord, Luke 8:18 (“Take care then how you hear”). One way to do that is to keep thinking about a particular scripture throughout the day. See, Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-2; Philippians 4:8. It is amazing what God will teach you if you keep “chewing on’” a particular part of His word.

Wisdom Study Session 2—Proverbs 1:1-6: wisdom comes from outside us

The language of Proverbs 1:1-6 makes it clear that wisdom is something beyond our self, that it is something we do not innately possess. Verses 2 and 3 speak of us “gaining” and “receiving” wisdom and instruction. In other words, of us obtaining something we don’t already have. Verse 4 speaks of the Proverbs “giving prudence … knowledge and discretion to” someone, likely someone that does not already have those things. Verse 5 tells us to “listen” and “discern,” implying that the teaching to come comes from outside us.

That is consistent with the rest of Proverbs and the other wisdom books.Proverbs 2:1-5, 4:5-9, 8:17, 32-34; Wisdom 6:12 & 17, 8:2; and Sirach 14:20-27 discuss wisdom as something that we need to acquire, seek after. Proverbs 1:20-23, 8:1-6, 9:4-6; Wisdom 6:12-13, and 16 ; Sirach 4:17-19; 15:2-5, and 24:19 describe wisdom as something outside ourselves that calls to us or guides us. Proverbs 2:6, Wisdom 8:21, and Sirach 1:1 speak of wisdom as something given to us by God.

That is also consistent with Jesus’ teaching. He stated that we cannot really comprehend Him or incorporate Him into our lives on our own, but can only do so through the intervention of the Holy Spirit. John 3:1-8, John 13:8, John 16:12-14. See also John 15:4. Although Jesus did not use the term “wisdom” in those statements, the concept is the same: that we do not innately have what we need to properly walk in God’s ways. Further, Jesus was speaking of our need for Him in those passages and other parts of scripture state that Jesus is wisdom itself. 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30.

Scripture as a whole  reinforces the fact that we do not innately possess true wisdom by contrasting what we do innately possess (human wisdom) with true wisdom. See Isaiah 29:13-14, Jeremiah 8:9-10, Matthew 11:25, 1 Corinthians 1:20-21, James 3:14-19

So how do we respond to that reality? Two ways come to mind

First, we should actively look for, seek after, wisdom. We need it, but don’t have it, so we ought to humbly seek it. Scripture makes it very clear that we can obtain it—God wants to give us wisdom. Proverbs 8:1-6, 9:1-6; Wisdom 6:12-13, 16 ; Sirach 15:2-5, 24:19; Isaiah 55:1-7; Matthew 7:7-11 ; Luke 11:9-13; John 6:34-35, 7:37, James 1:5.

Second, we need to beware of false, worldly, wisdom. True wisdom is always consistent with scripture, so we should measure what we are learning against scriptural principles. See 1 John 4:1

Wisdom Study Session 1: Why study Wisdom

There are multiple reasons to study wisdom. 

First, it is one of the primary ways God “deliver[s] us from evil.” The scriptures tell us that wisdom protects us from evil & evil folks. Proverbs 1:33, 2:12-19, 4:6, 14:26; Ecclesiastes 7:12 and Sirach 15:4, 24:22. Scripture also tells us that wisdom helps us avoid mistakes & missteps. See Proverbs 3:21-26, 4:11-12.

Second, wisdom is a key way that God delivers blessings. Scripture tells us that wisdom. It helps our health. Proverbs 3:1-3 , 13-16, 4:10; Sirach 1:18. It gives us peace & patience. Proverbs 1:33, 3:17-18, 19:11, 29:8; Ecclesiastes 8:1; Sirach 1:18, 6:28, 15:4; James 3:17. It gives us hope. Proverbs 24:14; Ecclesiastes 8:1. It gives us dignity. Proverbs 3:35; Sirach 11:1. It strengthens our families. Proverbs 10:1, 14:1, 15:20, 23:24, 24:3, 29:3. It makes us more effective in what God calls us to do.1 Kings 3:5-12; Proverbs 21:22, 24:5; Ecclesiastes 7:19, 9:16-18; Wisdom 9:11-10. It helps us help others. Proverbs 11:30, 12:18, 14:35, 15:7, 21:11; Ecclesiastes 9:14-15. It helps us deal with the powerful. Ecclesiastes 8:4-6; Sirach 11:1

Third, it is available even if we have messed up. It is comforting to know that wisdom is available to folks who have been unwise, foolish, in the past. Proverbs 1:20-23, Proverbs 8:1-6, Proverbs 9:4-6

So how do we get wisdom? Look at the verbs in Proverbs 8:32-36 & Proverbs 9:4-6 and do those things. Keep thinking about, “chewing on,” scripture throughout the day. See, Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:1-2; Philippians 4:8

God in the Ordinary

Two times in the last month God has let me unambiguously experience His acting in otherwise ordinary circumstances. Let me describe them and try to explain what I think the lesson is.

Several weeks ago I was coming home from work and came across a disabled fellow parishioner whose car had broken down on a busy road at a time when his cell phone wasn’t working. I was able to push his car to the berm and we used my cell phone to get AAA on the case. That had to be God—one member of His body at the right time and place with the right resources to help another.

Today Dave, one of the guys that rotates as a teacher in our adult Sunday school class, was teaching. It was my week off, so I did not prepare and in fact slept in too late to pray/read the Bible before class.  But God got Dave and I into a groove that could only be the work of His Holy Spirit. Dave would make a point in his lesson, and I would be lead to a verse that dealt with the same concept in a just different enough way to perfectly complement Dave’s point. And to top it off, we had a full house, including several new folks.  That too had to be God.

So what’s my point?

I’m not totally sure, but I think it shows how God gets things done and how we should react.  He unexpectedly, but unmistakably, uses us to deliver very good things in otherwise ordinary circumstances, and then life moves on. No burning bush,  no pillar of fire, no blinding light, just God’s good stuff being delivered in ways that are unmistakably beyond our own plans or abilities. I guess we just need to open our eyes and realize it’s happening.

Work session & Bible Study this Saturday Morning, April 20

We’ve got a lot of weeds to pull, and an appropriate Bible passage to study—the parable of the Wheat & the Weeds (Matthew 13:24-30 & 36-43).  There is a study on that passage here if you would like to get a head start.

As usual, we’ll start working at 9:00 AM and start the study at 10:30 AM.

Feel free to just come for the study if that’s all you have time for. We’ll be in the prayer room inside the Mill Run Church.  Come to the side door on the south (garden) side of the building.

See you there!