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Living Wise: The Beginning of Wisdom

Proverbs 1:1-7
Cascades Fellowship CRC
January 27, 2002

I come from a culture full of homespun wisdom. Both my mom and her mother

are full of pithy little sayings for teaching about life. One of my favorites growing up

goes like this:

Love is like lightning – it would just as soon strike an outhouse as a

mansion.

Mom would often use this to remind her boys that love doesn’t always follow the rules of

logic. It comes when it is unexpected and turns the heart in love toward unlikely

companions. My mom and grandmother have a seeming endless supply such sayings.

Some of them border on the crude and certainly cannot be repeated here, but all of them

provide insight into real life experience.

The use of short, comparison statements to teach has been a long-standing practice

in human society. From Confucius to Ben Franklin, the use of short, compact sayings

have a long pedigree as a tool for passing on the accumulated knowledge of previous

generations. The Hebrews used this tool with great proficiency. So it is no surprise that

we find a book like Proverbs in the midst of Scriptures.

Last Sunday we talked about being salt and light in the world – testifying to the

grace of Jesus Christ through what we say and how we live. This Sunday we begin

talking about the nuts and bolts of the righteous life. So that we can glean the most out of

our study of this practical guide to living the good life, there are a few things we need to

look at in our passage for this morning.

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The first thing that we need is to take a closer look at v.1 of our text. What is a

proverb? What is its scope or how do we apply its message? Once we know what a

proverb is and how we should hear it, then we need to know what is the purpose of a

proverb. We find the answer to this question in vv. 2-6. Then we are going to look at the

basis for every proverb in the Scriptures. Proverbs 1:7 offers us the dynamic necessary

for the rest of the Book of Proverbs to have its desired effect.

It seems like a silly question to ask – what is a proverb? After all, we have a

number of proverbs today that get a wide range of use. “Give a man a fish and you feed

him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” “A penny saved is a

penny earned.” “There are only two things in life that are certain: death and taxes.”

Proverbs are laced throughout our life, so why bother with the question “What is a

proverb?”

If we were simply talking about the proverbs from thinkers such as Confucius or

Mark Twain the question could be summed up easily – a proverb is a pithy or short,

compact statement normally used to instruct us about life. It normally comes in the form

of a comparison and relates an observation. But we are not simply talking about the

average proverb on the street – we are talking about the proverbs we find within the

Word of God. We consider all Scripture inspired and useful for teaching. How do the

Proverbs fit into our belief concerning inspiration? How do we hear them as God’s

Word?

The temptation is to take the Proverbs as promise or assurances. That is to say, if

we follow the advice a proverb offers, then this will be – indeed must – the result. But to

make such claims for the Book of Proverbs is not only wrong, it ignores the nature of
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Proverbs. There are certain things to bear in mind when you read the Proverbs in order to

gain the most from them.

The first thing is that just because these proverbs find their place in the inspired

word of God does not mean that they are changed in the their nature as literature. Much

like the Book of Chronicles is still a book of history regardless of its place in Scripture,

so the Book of Proverbs is still … well a book of proverbs. We are still to understand the

message of Proverbs in the terms we understand other proverbs – as words of guidance

on how we should live. The Book of Proverbs offers us general observations concerning

life – the way things normally go. In other words, if we live in accordance with the

advice of Proverbs, most likely the outcome expressed in the Proverbs will be the

outcome we experience. But that does not preclude any exceptions.

The second thing that we must recognize to understand Proverbs is the terms in

which they speak. Although there is the over-arching theme of the righteous life in

opposition to the life of the wicked, often the discussion is between living wisely and

living foolishly. The reason we need to make this distinction is because not all of the

proverbs written here teach us morally. Some teach us about things that we might do that

are not incredibly wise, but not necessarily morally wrong or evil. An example would be

Proverbs 24:27.

Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready; after that, build your
house.

It would be unwise for me to start putting up the interior walls for an addition to our

house without first preparing the foundation, framing the exterior and laying out the

electrical – in other words, doing the “outside work first,” but it would not be evil. So
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some of the proverbs we will run across in this book do not necessarily keep us from evil,

but rather keeps us from doing stupid things – things that when we realize how incredibly

short-sighted we were, we are tempted to respond in wicked manner.

So the nature of a proverb is really to teach us to live wisely. It’s scope and

intention is to instruct us in living well. And since these instructions for living well come

in the context of God’s Word, the implication is by teaching us to live well, they also

teach us to live righteously.

Okay, proverbs are compact statements or observations about life that teach us to

live wisely. That tells us what a proverb is, but it also seems to be getting into what is the

purpose of a proverb. What else can we say then about the purpose of Proverbs? Well

fortunately, Solomon did not leave us guessing here. Take a look at vv. 2-6 of our text.

for attaining wisdom and discipline;

for understanding words of insight;
for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,
doing what is right and just and fair;
for giving prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young—
let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance—
for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.

At first blush, one would be tempted to say that vv.2-6 were simply a

compounding of synonyms for wisdom – a way of restating the purpose over and over

again to make sure that the reader gets the picture. If that is how you have read these

verses in the past, then you have only been half-right. While it is true that we have a

listing of synonyms, they do more than simply restate the purpose, they nuance the

purpose.
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For example in v.2, take note of the word “discipline.” Swish that word around in

your mind a little. Let all the inferences wash over you. The proverb is for attaining

wisdom and discipline. What do we gain from discipline? In the Hebrew culture, the

word would have conjured up two images.

The first is that of a fetter or restraint. The picture is one of controlling incredible

power or force through the use of some form of restraint. In the same way that the bit

serves to restrain the horse from running wild, discipline checks our passions, our desires

and permits us to focus our energies. A practical outcome of the discipline gained

through the proverbs is the curbing of our tongue. James in his epistle warns against the

dangers of the tongue – how an unbridled tongue can shipwreck a life. Just as an entire

forest can be lost in flames because of one stray spark, so the whole course of a life can

be set toward corruption by the unrestrained tongue.

The second image that would have come to the Hebrew mind would have been

one of intense training – training that epitomizes the saying “No pain, no gain.” It is not

the sort of lax, on again/off again training most of us undertake. It is the type of training

that prepares a person to run marathons, win super-bowls, become Nobel Prize winners in

the fields of science and literature. This type of training requires sacrifice, it requires us

to relinquish other pleasures that we might gain the prize.

Be honest, have you ever thought of wisdom in those terms? Restraint and

sacrifice. The purpose of the proverbs is so that we can gain the firmness of mind and

heart which enables us to truly give ourselves completely to the ultimate passion – the

service and worship of our God, the Lord Jesus Christ. People of God, this heady stuff!

And we haven’t even made it past the first stanza of the couplet in v.2.
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The second stanza of the couplet offers us another picture – gaining understanding

of words of insight. The picture here is sort of like the stamp readers at amusement

parks. When you leave a park for lunch, they will stamp your hand with ink that can only

be read clearly by exposing it to ultra-violet light. Until you expose the stamp to the

reader, it just looks like a yellow blob of ink on the back of your hand. But under the

ultra-violet light of the reader, it takes distinct shape and communicates a message.

Proverbs helps us to discern the meaning behind insightful sayings. In other

words, it helps us to recognize wisdom when we see it. In the words of Solomon in 1

Kings 3:9, we become able to discern between good and evil.

The next four verses, vv. 3-6, really expand upon the message of v. 2 – these

verses reveal the practical outcome of the wisdom, discipline, and understanding gained

from the Book of Proverbs. Although a great deal of time could be spent here fleshing

out what it means to attain a disciplined and prudent life, or giving prudence to the simple

or even adding to the wisdom of the wise, let me summarize these verses so that we can

get to the meat of this passage, v.7.

Basically what is gained through the proverbs is an ability to make good decisions.

I know that sounds kind of basic, but bear with me. Through the instruction of the Book

of Proverbs, by paying attention to the observations and images presented to us in

Proverbs, we become equipped to discern wise path from the foolish path. Can you

imagine the pain, the embarrassment, the distress we could avoid if we were better

equipped to make wise decisions? People of God if all pastors and councils followed the

example of Billy Graham, we would have a lot fewer divisions in the body of Christ.
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Billy Graham credits much of his success in ministry to a practice of reading a chapter of

Proverbs a day. He counts the wisdom gained through this practice invaluable.

I am not saying that if we read a chapter of Proverbs a day, we will all become

like Billy Graham. There is lot more to Billy Graham’s success than just the Proverbs.

But what I am saying is that the Proverbs can equip us to live lives that are marked by a

wisdom and maturity rarely found in our world. Lives that would be winsome to those

around us – would cause others to stop and take notice.

How is it that the Book of Proverbs can have such a profound impact on a person’s

life? What is it about the material of Proverbs that grants it the power to shape lives?

We find the answer in v. 7

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,

but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

The phrase “the fear of the Lord” has known no shortage commentary and explanation.

For years theologians have been fixating on these words trying to wrangle the exact, inspired

meaning out of them. What is interesting is that you can normally tell where someone stands on

the theological landscape by the way they try to explain this text. Those who tend more toward

the “where sin abounds, grace all the more” school like to read “fear” as “respect.” I don’t know

about you, but in translating “fear” into “respect” I feel like I lose something. The “respect” of

the Lord sounds cheap to me.

The other the other hand, those from the “Work out your salvation with fear and

trembling” – with an emphasis on the “work” – side, like to read “fear” as abject terror. Again,

this seems to miss the mark. It seems much too one-dimensional – it hollows out “fear” to mean

less than it should.

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The “fear” that the author has in mind is more in the line of reverence or awe.

Okay, we’ve all heard this definition before, but let’s think this through a minute. When

we speak in terms of reverence and awe, we are not speaking in static terms. There is

always a dynamic implied, there is always a relationship involved. In this case the

relationship is a person’s relationship to the Lord. So the real question becomes how to

we reverence the Lord?

The first answer that pops to mind is that we obey him. This is part of what it

means to “fear.” We obey his commands because of are in awe of who he is – the

Creator and Lord of all. We obey him because we love him for who he is – our Savior

and Redeemer. We obey him because we are grateful for what he has done – while we

were yet sinners, he died for us. He created us in his image and when we had distorted

that image through sin, he didn’t abandon us – rather he provided grace sufficient that we

might live.

The second answer that comes to mind is that we worship him. This also is part of

what it means to “fear.” We worship God because he alone is worthy to be worshipped.

He is awesome in power and great in deeds. We worship God because he so loved the

world he gave his one and only Son. We worship God because he indwelt us by his Holy

Spirit – our guarantee that what God began, he will finish.

Obedience and worship, these are just two facets of how we relate to God. Both

imply – as do all the facets – real terror of the power of God, true love for the grace and

mercy of the Lord, and abiding peace because of the presence and companionship of the

Lord. So in a very real sense, what Proverbs 1:7 is pointing toward as the beginning of
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knowledge is coming into relationship with the Lord. Something we know to be possible

only through the person of Jesus Christ.

Now, before we get too carried away, let’s take a moment to understand what the

proverb means by “the beginning.” You see, we tend to think in linear terms. So by

beginning, we think “Start here, and then begin acquiring greater knowledge. What is

actually meant by beginning is the essence of knowledge. In other words, it is the first

and controlling principle of knowledge. You don’t just start there and then move onto

another stage – like maturing. It is more like this is the foundation that is laid for all true

knowledge. Anything that is not first and foremost built upon our relationship to God is

foolish.

People of God, what this means is that if we take Proverbs 1:7 as the motto or the

guiding principle of Proverbs – which, by the way, is the proper way to understand it –

then the way of wisdom which Proverbs seeks to teach us is how to live our life well

before the face of God. Living wisely, then, is living a life that is pleasing in the sight of

God – and Proverbs helps understand practically how that is done.

Folks, this is big. We may not come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ through the

Book of Proverbs, but as those already in Christ we can be instructed on how to live a

Christ-like life that others can see because the foundation for wisdom found within its

pages is one’s relationship to God.

My mom and grandma are full of all kinds of homespun wisdom, but nothing like

you find in the Book of Proverbs. One can learn a great deal from sayings like, “Don’t

let you alligator mouth outrun your hummingbird tail.” But that’s nothing compared to,

“The memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot” or
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“Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.” These are words not only

to live by, but also words that can draw others to the life we know in Jesus Christ.

As we begin our study in Proverbs, start a study of your own. Read Proverbs

slowly and deliberately. Ask questions; search out this wonderful store of wisdom God

has provided for us. You will find that as you do, you will become better equipped for

living wisely.