PROFITING FROM PROVERBS

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased” (Proverbs 9:10-11 KJV).

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” This is where it all starts.

“. . . and the knowledge of the holy is understanding,” begin to learn what God thinks about life. The important thing—the knowledge of the holy. In the Old Testament the Law was holy and just, the Tabernacle, the Priesthood—those were holy things. The priests ministered about the holy things, the shewbread, the Holy Place, the Most Holy Place.

In the New Testament we have a Holy Bible “. . . and the knowledge of the holy is understanding,” in other words, this Book right here will give you understanding, but you have to read it. The Holy Spirit is Holy. Knowledge of Him and by Him will give you an understanding of the New Testament. “And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding” (Job 28:28 KJV).

So, we get understanding from two places. Number one, stay away from what’s wrong, and number two, learn all you can about what is right.

“For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased,” again, wisdom is talking. The years of a man’s life in the Old Testament were how long? “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away” (Psalms 90:10 KJV). If a fellow were to make it past 70, there would be troubles.

Verse 11 is an Old Testament promise of longevity.

Let’s read a chapter of Proverbs a day and see what God might have for us. As the Lord leads, share with us what God has shown you in a special way and by His grace let us build up a devotional repository. Let’s keep our knives and forks handy for some daily bread!

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It’s not the servile fear of a slave who is only afraid of punishment, it’s the filial love of an adopted son who’s afraid of offending God.

Likewise, you first have to acknowledge when you’re caught in a sin, that your main concern is that your imperfections that been revealed, and you’ve been caught. After you acknowledge that, you can move on up to being concerned with how your relationship with God has been damaged, how you have offended God, and you can become truly sorry for your sins, and resolved never to sin again.

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