“… rebuke the wise and they will love you. Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.”
- Proverbs 9:8b-11
One who is wise is one who has or shows experience, knowledge, and good judgment in all matters of life. If a wise man is rebuked for some reason, they will become all the wiser and love the one who has been faithful to rebuke. Those that have no hidden agenda or ulterior motive present their reprimand from a pure heart and are blessed by God for their obedience in doing so.
Solomon’s Proverbs are meant to instruct and guide us into a deeper understanding of the finer points of God. They speak to our needs and refresh us with council. We are to take heed and not merely skim through them as if it were a race or obligation. We are to read them slowly and let them soak into our heart, mind and soul. If we allow it, they can and will change us from the inside out.
“Fear of the Lord” repeats a sentiment that is first laid out in Proverbs 1:7. Here, as with the first reference, fear is not being afraid, but rather having an attitude of awe and reverence towards God out of respect for who he is. It is accepting as reality the abstract belief that though not seen in a physical sense, God is real and is to be worshipped. Solomon is telling us in essence that wisdom begins and ends with God. The beginning is when we bow down to him and allow the spirit of God do his work in us. Once we receive Christ into our lives our understanding begins to grow and expand. We must pay attention so as not to miss any nugget of truth expressed within the book. Reading the Bible in a meditative state of mind is most helpful in gleaning knowledge. Being in a hurry makes reading nothing more than an exercise; however, reflecting on what is being said will nourish our soul. Reading and remembering is vital to our spiritual well-being. We can understand a passage yet not remember what we read thirty minutes before. God can help us with all that if we have the proper mindset to be taught. A willing and teachable spirit is required to get anything out of the scriptures in general and out of the Proverbs in particular.
Walk with the King today and be a blessing!!
