The Road of the Wise(2)

Imasdovnin Jampan

 

Proverbs 1:7-19

 

The word wise in Hebrew is Hakeem. In the Middle East, even today we call a physician Hakeem. Also we call wise those who are instructors and who give counsel.

 

Knowledge is power. Today people pay money to know things. We pay to go to school. We pay to buy a newspaper. We pay for commercials on TV to be able to hear the news. In espionage, spies do everything to know the secrets. Also some use illegal means like the person who sold Apple’s new iphone in order to know the secrets. Knowledge is important. The Book of Proverbs has knowledge and instructions.

 

“To know wisdom and instruction,
        to understand words of insight,

 Jana[yl zimasdov;ivn yv zqrad

    Zimanal zpans hanjaro31 (the first sentence ever translated into Armenian in the 5th Century)
 to receive instruction in wise dealing,
        in righteousness, justice, and equity;
 to give prudence to the simple,
       knowledge and discretion to the youth—
 Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
       and the one who understands obtain guidance,
 to understand a proverb and a saying,

       the words of the wise and their riddles. (vs 2-6)

 

To know wisdom; to know instruction; to understand words… This means we are in the process of learning. Learning wisdom is an intellectual activity that requires study and reflection. But the purpose of this learning is not academic achievement. “The teaching function of Proverbs should be understood as a work of formation that brings the demands of the intellectual life together with concerns for moral character and faithful relationship with God.”1

The Book of Proverbs eventually should shape our character.

 

 

How?

1. Be ready to be taught. Be receptive to the teaching.

 

“…to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth.”

 

Lindsay Lohan was one our family’s favorite actresses 10 years ago. We loved to watch her movie “Parent Trap”.

What happened to her? Detained, rehab center?  A victim of being a young celebrity? She did not know what to do with fame?

I don’t know, but I feel sorry for such a talented girl to be in this situation. The question the media asked is, “Can Lindsay Lohan be saved?”

 

Of course she can be saved.

 

Children need direction; youth need direction; we all need direction; we all need to shape our character.

An important lesson we can learn is willingness to receive instruction. A wise person is a person that never stops from learning.  “Let the wise hear and increase in learning.” (vs. 5) There is no graduation in the process of learning.

 

We cannot do this without discipline. What do I mean?
“…to know wisdom and instruction…”(vs.2) Three times the word instruction occurs in five verses. I looked to the Hebrew word, mousar, which means:

“discipline, correction of children by parents, nations by kings, and men by God.”

“My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline 
       and do not resent his rebuke,

    because the LORD disciplines those he loves, 
       as a father the son he delights in.” (3:11-12)

 

2. Fear of Yahweh the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom

I believe this verse is the essence of the entire book.

It is not just acknowledgment of our Lord; it is not just how grateful we are that we have a Lord; it is not just how enthusiastically we worship our Lord; it is the fear of the Lord.

We should acknowledge our Lord, we should love, worship, and be thankful, those are also biblical instructions; but our verse directs us that if one wants to be instructed in wisdom, it starts by fearing the Lord.

 

What does it mean to fear the Lord?

This fear is not the fear caused by panic and anxiety which paralyses us.

Another word for fear is awe, or reverence. This means you look at your Creator with high respect and humility. Whatever you do, you should not displease your Maker and Lord. It is like a relationship with your dad; you respect him and you do not want displease him.

Let me describe how we should worship God with awe:

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire’”. (Heb.12:28-29)

How majestic is our Lord and Creator?

God is consuming fire. This is not a joke. This is serious matter; let us approach Him with reverence, humility and awe.

 

Here is the key. The fool rejects the wisdom of God. The fool will not submit to instructions; will not acknowledge the higher authority.

Examine people who do not have the fear of the Lord, like dictators, abusers, or even those who reject God. 

Only when we have the attitude of acknowledging who God is, and having that fear, the awe and respect. This is not one time thing, It is a process of learning.

 

This theme, the fear of the Lord is all over the Book of Proverbs. In fact, the second to last chapter of the book ends like this: “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”(Prov. 31:30)

 

Conclusion:

 

We live in a society that tries to teach us to avoid the consequences of our actions. Try to hide your problems, ignore them, they will go away, they will disappear.

Instead, the Word of God teaches us to make choices that don’t lead us to the consequences which we will regret.

The Book of Proverbs will teach us how we can live in a healthy environment. We will face the temptations and trial of life, yet God will help us, will instruct us to go through them.

Yes we are on the road, do we read road signs?

Do we obey to the instructions?

 

 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

 

Amen

 

 

1.     The NIV Applications Commentary, Proverbs, page 64.

2.      Gesenius's Lexicon.