During the next five weeks let’s look at the Book of Proverbs, a book that doesn’t get a lot of attention, yet in it we’ll find practical thoughts and advice from God. And the first thought is: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is insight” (ESV: Proverbs 9 vs10).
It’s happened to you: someone snuck up to you from behind and yelled, “Boo!” The reaction they got from you brought them a good laugh but, their surprise made you jump out of fear… like, jump right out of your socks! I hate when that happens.
The Bible’s book called Proverbs is essentially Israelite wisdom and it teaches that, far from cowering in dread or surprise before the Lord, the person who fears the Lord clings to Him. In other words, when we “fear” God, He’s not laughing at us and we have nothing of which to be afraid.
And “fear of the Lord” is a key concept that is closely related to trust in God because we can truly respect and revere God only when we believe that He is truly everything that His Word says He is. An important passage tells us: “But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared.”
Another, “I sought the Lord and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears… The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and delivers them.” Prov. 130:4; 34:4 and 7.
But there’s another word that should get your attention, “wisdom.” Lots of people have lots to say about wisdom. Just Google “wisdom” and you’ll get an eye full. Some see wisdom as mere facts and figures; others see it as having common sense, and that’s all true.
But we want to contain our thoughts to God’s Word and the Psalmist declares: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding” (Psalm 111 vs.10)
In other words, to be wise is to know what God thinks and says and to follow that. It means to think as God thinks, to talk as God talks, and to act as God acts—to be God-like in all our ways or as we say, to be Christ-like. And wisdom proves itself in the practice of living by faith.
Of course, none of us comes close to being Godlike. It’s not in our nature and we fall short by the sins we commit. We daily sin much! We foolishly think our thoughts and plans are better than God’s and our ways will make us happier than doing what God says. We like to be in control and therefore godly wisdom can be the farthest thing from us. And the irony of this is that we want to “get smart” but, without God, we can’t come close to getting smart where it really counts.
Yet surprisingly God is His wisdom (and love and power) can do what is impossible for us. He can make us wise! And He does. He does this through His Son, Jesus Christ, whom the divinely inspired Scriptures call: “The Wisdom of God.”
And this is made real for us in that Jesus suffered and died for our sins including the sins of our foolish ways. Through Him, we have forgiveness, life, and eternal salvation, given to all who believe on His name. And through Him we can begin to walk in true wisdom as St. James declares, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith with no doubting” (James 1vs 5).
May God the Holy Spirit always keep you connected by faith to the true source of wisdom –Jesus Christ our Savior.
Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. This week our contributor is Reverend Dean Rudloff, Life In Christ Lutheran Church in Grand Marais.
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