Devotions

The Beginning of Knowledge

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Knowledge is increasing all around us but knowledge alone isn’t enough for a successful and blessed life. It is worth reading 2 Timothy 3:1-7 to understand the state of our world, but verse, 7 says “always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth”. It isn’t that God isn’t speaking, He is. And it isn’t that knowledge can’t be understood, there are people that are understanding and there are people that have wisdom and are able to make wise decisions even in our uncertain times. The problem is the world starts in the wrong place. The world starts with the creation and tries to discover how it operates. Wisdom though comes from God. Reverence for God, recognizing that he is the source of wisdom and knowledge is the place to begin. God has opened the way for us and simply says in Proverbs 1:23 (LEB) “May you turn to my argument! Behold, I shall pour out my spirit upon you; I will make my words known to you”. Wisdom, the Spirit of God, is speaking. Are we listening? 

The Beginning of Knowledge

Proverbs 1:1-7

This prologue, this beginning, this focus and attentiveness to know “wisdom and instruction” in Proverbs 1:2 and in

Proverbs 1:3 (LEB) to gain insightful instruction, righteousness and justice and equity,

is not just gaining knowledge but also “to understand” in Proverbs 1:6 because this wisdom helps “the one who understands gain direction” in Proverbs 1:5. This is all based on one thing, the “fear of Yahweh” in

Proverbs 1:7 (LEB) Fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; wisdom and instruction, fools despise.

It isn’t fear as in cowering away and hiding from someone seeking to destroy you, it is “reverence, fear, i.e., a state of piety and respect”1 that causes you to attentively listen and seek to understand the good that God intends for you, the “fountain of life” that flows from the Lord in

Proverbs 14:27 (LEB) The fear of Yahweh is a fountain of life, in order to turn from the snares of death.

Even people that don’t know God understand that there is value in wisdom and “The proverb, according to barbarian philosophy, is called a mode of prophecy, and the parable is so called, and the enigma in addition. Further also, they are called wisdom … “teaching to direct judgment” … the result of training”.2

Keep Your Father’s Instruction

Proverbs 1:8-19 

Wisdom Calls Out in the Streets

Proverbs 1:20-25

The word of the Lord, the voice of the Lord, the Spirit of the Lord calls out to everyone that will listen. God is not hiding anything from humanity. His plan has been revealed and open for centuries. The Lord has been speaking out in every generation as it says in

Proverbs 1:20–21 (LEB) Wisdom calls out in the streets, in the squares she raises her voice. 21 On a busy corner she cries out, at the entrances of the gates in the city, she speaks her sayings:

We have far more technologies for communicating today. There are far more translations of the Bible. Yet, many people are still indifferent to the message, and sometimes even indignant that you would speak the name of Jesus Christ to them. Gods response today is the same as it has been in

Proverbs 1:22 (LEB) “How long, O simple ones, will you love simplicity? And how long will scoffers delight in their scoffing, and fools hate knowledge?

There is just one thing the Lord asks “turn to my argument”. The Lord simply wants us to listen and hear what he has to say and when we do, He can teach us and even more, “poor out my spirit on you” as he says in

Proverbs 1:23 (LEB) May you turn to my argument! Behold, I shall pour out my spirit upon you; I will make my words known to you.

They Shall Eat From the Fruit of Their Way

Proverbs 1:26-33

 

Then You Will Understand

Proverbs 2:1-10

Understanding comes after doing something. The Lord says, “if you will receive my sayings” in Proverbs 2:1, “if you seek her like silver and search her out like treasure” in Proverbs 2:4, there will be a certain result in

Proverbs 2:5–6 (LEB) then you will understand the fear of Yahweh, and the knowledge of God you will find. 6 For Yahweh will give wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

and in

Proverbs 2:9–10 (LEB) Then you will understand righteousness and justice and uprightness—every good course— 10 for wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasing to your soul.

Before that can happen though, there is our first action to “receive” and in hearing what God has to say we can begin to “apply”, in

Proverbs 2:2 (LEB) in order to incline your ear toward wisdom, then you shall apply your heart to understanding.

Those Who Are Upright Will Dwell in the Land

Proverbs 2:11-21

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Proverbs 1:1-33
  • Proverbs 2:1-22

References

  • 1. Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
  • 2. Wright, J. R. (Ed.). (2005). Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon (p. 2). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Psalm 65:9–13
You care for the land and water it; you greatly enrich it. The stream of God is filled with waters. You provide their grain, for so you have established it. You drench its furrows, penetrating its ridges. With rains you soften it; its growth you bless. You crown the year with your bounty, and your wagon paths drip with richness. They drop on the pastures of the wilderness, and the hills gird themselves with joy. The pasturelands put on flocks, and the valleys clothe themselves with grain. They shout in triumph; they even sing.