The Source of True Knowledge
Proverbs 1:1–7 (NLT)
The Purpose of Proverbs
These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.
2 Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline,
to help them understand the insights of the wise.
3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives,
to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple,
knowledge and discernment to the young.
5 Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser.
Let those with understanding receive guidance
6 by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables,
the words of the wise and their riddles.
7 Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
King Solomon is accredited with being the wisest man who ever lived. Jesus even acknowledges the credentials of Solomon when he proclaimed, “Matthew 12:42 (ESV)
42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.”
Solomon wrote most of the proverbs found in the book by that name and he clearly states the purpose: “to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise,, to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just and fair.” So, if these things appeal to you, then Proverbs should be a daily read in your life.
Proverbs are observations and conclusions drawn from observing and listening to the wisest of his time. They are not predictions or promises, but rather, sound advice for a disciplined and successful life.
Solomon ends the opening paragraph with this observation: “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Fearing God is understanding the total awesomeness of who he is, that he is all powerful, all-knowing, all-seeing. That He IS wisdom and knows everything and views then end of a thing from before its beginning. The good news is, not only is God all these things, but He loves you more than you love yourself and he desires good things for His children. Therefore, He can be trusted to guide my life and my decisions. He can be trusted to discipline me, to correct my harmful behavior. If I met you on the highway in the dead of night and flagged ou down and told you not to proceed because the bridge has been torn in two and if you continue on this road you will plummet to your death, you would be a fool to ignore my warning. God through the book of Proverbs, is flagging you down in the middle of the night. He’s not trying to ruin your trip or delay your passage. He is saving your life! Don’t be a fool! Heed His Words!