By Tom Pace, Senior Pastor

Proverbs 1:1-7
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2 For learning about wisdom and instruction,
    for understanding words of insight,
3 for gaining instruction in wise dealing,
    righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 to teach shrewdness to the simple,
    knowledge and prudence to the young—
5 let the wise also hear and gain in learning,
    and the discerning acquire skill, wi
6 to understand a proverb and a figure,
    the words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
    fools despise wisdom and instruction. 

Reflection:

  • “When you point one finger at someone else, four fingers are pointed at you.”
  • “A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.”
  • “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”
  • “Wake up and smell the coffee.”
  • “She is so heavenly minded that she is no earthly good.”

Ah, these practical proverbs become images that help us make basic decisions for each day.

Dr. Alice McKenzie is a professor of homiletics (preaching) and Old Testament at Perkins School of Theology at SMU, and her field of expertise is the wisdom literature. Wisdom literature in the Jewish Bible, our Old Testament, includes five books: Job, part of Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. Wisdom literature focuses on the formation of character as it is applied to daily life and real-world decisions. It is all about openness to the leadership of God. Dr. McKenzie describes the book of Proverbs as like “a long car ride with your mother in law.” (Disclaimer: my own mother in law was not prone to offering advice, but was an excellent listener.) 

The proverbs begin with a basic concept: open your mind and life to God’s leadership. Never stop learning, never stop growing, never stop becoming. Dr. McKenzie defines scriptural wisdom as “being flexible enough to be led by God.” The thesis statement of the book of Proverbs is found in verse 1:7 – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Fear of the Lord does not mean being afraid because God might strike you with calamity. Rather, fear of the Lord is in Scripture is a broad term for a willingness to make God sovereign in your life. Wisdom does not come from simply following an internal compass; wisdom is formed in an ongoing journey in which one hears and follows the teachings of the creator of the universe. Throughout Proverbs, the wise are contrasted with fools. Sometimes, fools are those who think they are the smartest people in the room. Other times, fools are those who are aware they don’t know it all, but nonetheless are not open to hearing, learning, or acquiring wisdom.

My favorite part of this passage is verses 5 and 6, in which he speaks of the continual learning of the wise, seeking to understand “the riddles.” There are so many things in life I have been unable to comprehend, but I will still open my mind and wrestle with the mysteries of God and the teachings of God’s Word. 

So, as we begin a new year today, let me ask you four questions:

  • What new things will you learn today?
  • From whom will you learn them?
  • What steps will you take right away to start that learning?
  • What difference do you hope that instruction will make in your life.

Prayer:
God of all knowledge, we confess that too often, we think we know all we need to know to live well, and so we become hardened to your instruction. You send us friends, colleagues, family, and brothers and sisters in Christ to help develop character, and instruct us in practical ways to faithfully do life. Forgive us our hard hearts and stiff necks, that we might be shaped by your teaching through them. Amen.