January 3, 2026 • 47 mins
Ready to slow down and let Scripture read you back? We’re kicking off 2026 by studying Proverbs 1:1–7 and tracing five clear purposes that turn wisdom from a concept into a daily practice.
The link above directs you to questions that align our study.
Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s hungry for practical wisdom, and leave a review with the one purpose you’re putting into practice this week.
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Episode Transcript
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Kristen (00:06):
Welcome everybody to a servant's heartbeat.
My name is Kristen.
Thank you for listening and fortaking the time to allow me to
share my heartbeat for thekingdom of God with you.
So, starting back our podcasthere in 2026, I was bound and
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determined.
It was my goal to get this backand going.
And sure enough, the week thatI decide I am going to record, I
come down with a cold of somesort, and my voice is going in
and out.
But I am determined to startthis back.
So I apologize ahead of timefor my voice.
All right.
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So the topic that we are goingto start with will really be, I
think, a series.
Um, so my my heartbeat hasreally been on Proverbs lately.
I uh recently heard somethingthat just encouraged me to dig
into Proverbs, not just to readit from cover to cover, so to
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speak, but to take a veryreflective approach to it.
And as I had begun to do this,I thought, man, this is this may
be good to share with others.
So here we are.
I don't know as far as how manyepisodes, if you will, will be
in this series on Proverbs, butwe'll we'll give it a go and
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just see where it takes us.
So I uh I'm sure you've heardthis before, but I've heard
somebody say that you knowProverbs has the 31 chapters
because you could read a chaptera day and cover the month.
So it gives you one chapter aday.
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If you would just do that, howmuch help that could be.
Another person I've heard saythat if they had to pick just
one book, not to say that anyone book is better than the
other, but if they could onlypick one that they were able to
keep with them all the time, itwould be Proverbs, because of
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all of the life lessons andprinciples that are in every
chapter.
There's there's so much withinthis that can be applied in our
day-to-day life.
And I think that this approachcould be taken with any book,
not just Proverbs.
But I recently, the same personthat kind of gave me the nudge
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about Proverbs studying, Irecently heard someone say that
they felt challenged to read thebook of Proverbs, not just read
it, but to think about it inthe sense of how this book was
received.
So, how did the hearers of thattime receive and respond to the
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wisdom that was written?
Now, I would like to think thatI can be a good listener at
times.
I'm not much of a talker,believe it or not, as I'm
recording a podcast, but I liketo think I'm a good listener.
But I I began to ask myself thequestion okay, kid, you're a
good listener, but are you agood responder?
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How do you respond to what youhave read?
How how do you respond to whatyou've heard?
And I've I've read through thebook of Proverbs many times.
I've heard things preached andtaught out of it.
I've read it in various Bibletranslations, but have I really
taken the time to let this bookread me and search me and to let
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the wisdom within this bookbegin to shine some light on
some things.
And what has my response beenwhen this book begins to point
some things or reveal somethings to me that may need to
change?
So, as I stated before, I'm notsure how how many of these will
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be in the series, but here wego, kicking it off with Proverbs
chapter one particularly.
This will cover verses onethrough seven.
And basically that focus is onthe purpose.
Why?
Why take the time to read andstudy this book?
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So that's gonna be our goal forthis time we have today.
So what is a proverb?
Proverbs chapter one, verse onesays the proverbs of Solomon,
the son of David, king ofIsrael.
Well, a proverb is a concisesaying that communicates a point
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or a concept, a principle.
It's just a concise saying.
And depending on the context ofthat or where that that saying
is, it could be considered awise saying or something that is
used to make an illustratedpoint of some sort.
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And while this may seem alittle off-topic, I think it's
still important to keep in mind,but many proverbs have a poetic
nature to them.
And sometimes it can be hardfor us to catch that given the
language barrier going fromHebrew to English.
You know, we we might not catchevery poetic use that is
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presented here.
But I think our our takeawayfrom that can be with this book
having a poetic nature, I don'twant to approach reading this
book with a rapid read, but Iwant to have a reflective read.
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So when you think about how youapproach poetry today and our
culture, you know, you it's notsomething you just read through
very quickly from start tofinish, but there is a very
reflective approach, line byline, to what is being said.
And that's the same approach Iwant to come with with the book
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of Proverbs.
So, what did the people thinkabout these proverbs of Solomon?
Now, thinking back to the timeframe that this would have been
communicated, you know, I wantto consider how how did people
view wisdom?
How did people view Solomon'swords?
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You know, what kind of value orattention was given to these
sayings?
Now, while Israel, you know,didn't always follow the ways of
wisdom throughout theirhistory, sound wisdom was still
important to them, and not justto Israel, but to other nations
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of that time.
So, for example, the Queen ofSheba.
Think about how far shetraveled just to hear Solomon.
Now, from just looking andtrying to study this out, at
minimum, many say that it was aminimum of 1,500 miles or more
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that she traveled.
And this wasn't in a minivan,you know, this was donkey and
all the other stuff they had touse back then.
But when you consider thedistance she was willing to
travel, it shows the value thatthat wisdom had, again, not just
to Israel, but to other nationsas well.
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Wisdom was important.
So when I consider thesesayings, when I consider the
value that would have beenplaced on these Proverbs, on
this wisdom.
Again, I don't want to justread through Proverbs for it to
be just another page turnerbook.
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You know, we we've all readthose books that, man, you just
can't wait to get to the endbecause it's it's such a good
story.
And you just, you know, it'sit's a rapid read.
But again, it's it's aline-by-line approach where I
chew on something rather thanbeing so quick to move on to the
next sentence.
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So again, a reflective read,not a rapid read.
Okay, so the first purpose ofProverbs is in Proverbs 1, verse
2.
And it says, to know wisdom andinstruction.
And I'm gonna pause therebecause that's our first
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purpose.
So the purpose here is for usto know.
Proverbs kicks it right off andsays, To know wisdom.
But where do you find wisdom?
This exact question is asked inJob chapter 28, verse 12, and
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it says, But where shall wisdombe found?
And where is the place ofunderstanding?
Just to continue on here inthat same same section, man
knoweth not the price thereof,neither is it found in the land
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of the living.
The depth said, It is not inme, and the sea said, It's not
with me.
It cannot be gotten for gold,neither shall it be weighed for
the price thereof.
It cannot be valued with thegold of Ophir, but the precious
onyx or the sapphire, the goldand the crystal cannot equal it,
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and the exchange of it shallnot be for jewels of fine gold.
No mention shall be made ofcoral or of pearls, for the
price of wisdom is above rubies.
The topaz of Ethiopia shall notequal it, neither shall it be
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valued with pure gold.
Now, this is several versesthat make the point clear as
mud.
You can't set a price on wisdomand understanding.
The most valuable stones andmaterial of that time could not
be exchanged for wisdom.
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So if I can't get this withsilver, gold, or rubies, then
where do I get this wisdom andunderstanding?
Well, verse 20, ask thequestion again.
Job twenty eight and twentysays, Whence then cometh wisdom,
and where is the place ofunderstanding?
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Skipping down to Jobtwenty-eight, twenty-three, God
understandeth the way thereof,and he knoweth the place
thereof.
God understands the way, and heknows the place.
So, with this first purpose ofProverbs being to know wisdom
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and instruction, you may beasking, How do I know wisdom?
How do I even start?
Where do I find wisdom?
I think the point becomes wellestablished by looking at what's
said here in Job.
God understands the way and heknows the place.
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So looking briefly at some ofthe key words that are in this
verse, to know.
So this is just something thatis meant for me to learn.
My eyes are open when somethingis revealed.
So a purpose in Proverbs can beto help me learn some things.
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It can reveal and open my eyesto things.
Wisdom.
This this is beyond just myintellect or my smarts or my IQ.
My job is testing IQ.
You know, it's it's it's morethan about my level of
education.
The wisdom that this isreferring to is a skill or
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experience that is applied inlife with God's will or purpose
in view.
So when I begin to think aboutpeople in my life who I see as
having wisdom, it's not becausethey're a genius.
It's because I see how theyapply this the skills and
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experiences to navigate life'ssituations.
And that navigation is directedby God.
So, you know, I know a lot ofpeople who have a lot of skills,
but there's a difference in howthat skill or experience is
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applied when God is the one whois able to navigate and direct.
Now, instruction.
This isn't just a how-totutorial on a new skill or the
how-to on how to navigatesomething, but this instruction
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includes discipline andcorrection.
When I begin to look at howthis Hebrew word for instruction
is translated in other placesin the Bible, it's also
chastening, correction, anddiscipline, just to name a few.
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So as an example, Job again.
Job 517 says, Behold, happy isthe man whom God correcteth.
Therefore, despise thou not thechastening of the Almighty.
And, you know, in all honesty,it can be a struggle for some
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people, self-included, whensomething is pointed out that
reveals that I was wrong, or Idid something wrong, or I I've
done something that needscorrecting.
And I want to be able to get tothe place where I know that the
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Lord's instruction is notcoming from a place of attack.
It's it's not coming at me asan attack or I I got you, I
caught you doing this.
And and I'm sure we all know orhave all had that experience
with that person who is all tooready to pounce on any
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opportunity to find fault andcorrect someone.
But that's not how my God is.
But his instruction is comingfrom a place of love.
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So we might get to this laterin Proverbs 3, but Proverbs 3.11
says, My son, despise not thechastening, the loving
instruction of the Lord, neitherbe weary of his correction.
I I can take you to the place,probably several places I have
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been sitting when I I've startedto feel a level of correction
or being chastened from theLord.
And it's kind of like thislight is turned on in a
particular area of life, andsome things are revealed.
And in some moments, that hasbeen something that has crushed
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me.
It's it's like it hit me.
Oh man, I've I've I've beenwrong.
But looking back, those momentshave genuinely been a landmark
for me and my walk with Godbecause it's it's been a time
where it's helped me to realizejust how much I need him.
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You know, they're just maybe inour humanity, maybe it's just
me.
I don't know.
But I guess I'll just say me.
There are times where I try tohandle things in a very
independent way.
Sometimes it's not easy for usto ask for help or to realize
that we have been in the wrongon something.
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And when left to my own ways, Ican really make a mess of
things.
And it don't always feel goodwhen you tell me I made a mess,
you know.
But but here's the thing that Ifeel like is so beautiful in a
walk with God.
His instruction and correctionis not separate from his love.
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So that correction and thatinstruction is coming from a
place of love.
Yeah, kiddo, you made a mess.
Let me help you.
I want to show you a betterpath, a better way.
So can correction hurt or canand this instruction and
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discipline hurt sometimes?
Sure.
But my my takeaway from thisand knowing the purpose of what
I'm going to be reading here inProverbs is that this is coming
from a place of love.
Again, I can't separate thatinstruction from his love.
All right, purpose number two,to perceive.
So Proverbs 1, 2, still in thatverse, to perceive the words of
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understanding.
Now, there are a lot of voicesthat we have the opportunity to
listen to today.
I mean, there's access toeverything with phones and
internet, computers, and youname it.
And I'm sure that we have allbeen in a conversation with
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somebody as they're talking.
And sometimes you realize, man,yeah, that's wisdom.
And then sometimes you realize,yeah, I don't know about that.
Well, a purpose of Proverbs isto help us listen with
discernment.
So words can influence mydecisions, and that influence
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contributes to how I weigh outcertain choices.
So if I'm going to spend timelistening to something or
someone, I want to be able totell or perceive when someone is
speaking from a place ofunderstanding.
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So if you'll recall when weread in Job 28, 20, when it
asked, where is the place ofunderstanding?
Job 28.23 said, God understandsthe way and he knows the place.
So if my discernment radarain't beeping like it needs to
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be, Proverbs has some things tohelp me to perceive, to discern
those words of understanding.
All right, purpose number threeto receive.
So this is Proverbs.
Proverbs one and three toreceive the instruction of
wisdom, justice, and judgmentand equity.
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Now, this almost seems like arepeat from Proverbs 1-2, where
it mentions wisdom andinstruction.
And now here in Proverbs 1, 3,it mentions the instruction of
wisdom.
Well, what's the difference?
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So the Hebrew word forinstruction in both of those
verses is actually the same inboth verses.
But it's a different Hebrewword for wisdom.
So let's look at a couple ofverses that maybe carry that
same underlying meaning therethat could help us understand
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this difference here.
So Joshua chapter 1, verse 8says, This book of the law shall
not depart out of thy mouth,but thou shalt meditate therein
day and night, that thou mayestobserve to do according to all
that is written therein, forthen thou shalt make thy way
prosperous, and then thou shalthave good success.
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Joshua was receivinginstruction of wisdom.
In other words, Joshua, ifyou'll receive this instruction
of wisdom I'm giving you, you'llhave good success.
The end of that verse in Joshua1 8, have good success, carries
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that same underlying meaning asthe instruction of wisdom.
So another example, 1 Samuel18, 14, and David behaved
himself wisely in all his ways,and the Lord was with him.
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That same underlying Hebrewword, behaved himself wisely, is
the same as wisdom ofinstruction.
So to receive wisdom, or sorry,to receive instruction of
wisdom is really about how toconduct yourself, how to behave,
the habits that can help youprosper in life.
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Not according to the standardof somebody who's made it big in
the world or whatever, butaccording to God's standard.
Here are some things that canhelp me prosper and have good
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success.
It's those things that Proverbswill help me receive, or teach
me how to receive.
So the other part of this saysjustice and judgment and equity.
So just very briefly what thoseencompass.
Justice, what is right, orrighteousness, judgment, what is
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just, or just according to thelaw.
And equity, it's uprightdealings, fairness or integrity.
So when I think about all ofthat, and all of these really go
hand in hand, but those wordsare used to describe our conduct
or our character.
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And the overarching point hereis that Proverbs is to receive
instruction in our relationshipwith others.
So, in other words, theinstruction that I receive can
be applied and shown in the wayI handle myself and my
relationships with other people.
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So if I want to develop right,upright, and healthy
relationships, then Proverbs hassome guidance or something to
say about that if I am willingto receive that instruction.
All right.
Purpose number four, to give.
And this is in Proverbs 1,verse 4.
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So to give subtility to thesimple, to the young man,
knowledge and discretion.
Now the focus here is on thesimple and the young.
The simple being the one whomay not have a large level of
experience.
They are inexperienced.
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You know, basically, you don'tknow what you don't know, you
know.
So because of that, this personcould be easily influenced by
others or could be moresusceptible to wrong influences.
And then you've got the youngperson or the young man it
speaks of here.
Well, young is a person who isyoung in age.
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This could be a teenage person,but uh Genesis 41 refers to
Joseph as a young man.
And in that chapter, it tellsus that he was 30.
So there's a range here.
It's not just those who are intheir teen age, but young adults
here as well.
So looking at the meaning ofsubtility, this is prudence,
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discernment, or insight.
You know, if I'm starting fromsquare one and I feel like, you
know, I don't know anythingabout this, then Proverbs has
something to give me, to teachme.
If there are situations that Ineed to navigate and choices I
need to make, I and I feel likeI'm simple here.
I don't, I don't know much.
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I don't have the experience.
In other words, I don't have tostay in this state of being a
gullible person that goes withevery wind of whatever is said
and goes along with the crowd.
But proverbs can give me theability to evaluate my decisions
and consider the influences inmy life.
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Now, looking at knowledge anddiscretion, it's that growth and
awareness about some things inlife.
And as this begins to developeven more, it expands my
capacity for understanding.
So with a young person or witha young adult, they can have a
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world of choices before them.
But it's that knowledge anddiscretion that allows them to
weigh out all of those choicesand decisions.
Proverbs can help us learn tolook beyond just this is the
surface level decision, theright now.
And it helps me to consider theend of the matter or the
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outcome or the effects of thatdecision that maybe I can't see
right now, but I've got toconsider what could be the
long-term outcome of somethings.
All right.
Purpose number five tounderstand.
So Proverbs five, sorry,Proverbs 1, verse 5 and 6 says,
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A wise man will hear andincrease learning, and a man of
understanding shall attain untowise counsels to understand a
proverb and the interpretation,the words of the wise and their
dark sayings.
So there's a lot to this one.
So let's try to go piece bypiece here.
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So the in general, this nextpurpose is about understanding.
Part of the purpose of Proverbsis to set me on the path to
understand, because God knowsthe place of understanding.
This is a teachable spirit.
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And I think an important pointto point out here, that sounds
repetitive, but this book isn'tjust for the simple and the
young, but even the wise havesomething to gain, to learn
here.
So I don't want to get to thepoint where I think I know what
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I need to know.
And I just, I just know.
You know, I've been in this joblong enough, I've been in this
position long enough.
I've been in this church longenough.
I got this.
I I don't want to have thatmindset or approach.
I want to come to this with theidea of being a lifelong
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learner.
Lord, teach me.
You know, I don't want to getto the place where I feel like
my age and gray hairs means Idon't still need some teaching
to hear that instruction.
No, Lord, I still need you toteach me.
Now, the uh other thing to notehere that I think will take a
little bit of time to explain,because I feel like is, well, at
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least to me, it feels veryimportant.
But that word here, it's Shemain Hebrew.
And it just so happens thatPastor actually recently taught
about this word and how it's notjust about listening or
hearing, but this also carriesthe idea of obedience with it.
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So Deuteronomy 6 and 4 says,Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God
is one Lord.
Well, that's that's that sameHebrew word, here, Shema.
And this wasn't just a call tohearing alone, but for Israel to
listen or hear and obey.
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So a wise person will hear, notjust listen, but there's some
obedience that goes with that.
The other alternative would bethat you listen, but then you
tune something out or youdismiss it and think, ah, I
already know that.
Now, along the lines of whatwe're talking about here, this
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this wise person will hear.
I want to think about what'sthe response of a wise person?
You know, so so something toconsider as as I begin to study
and read about the wisdom orthings that a wise person would
do, I want to look at me andthink, how do I respond to what
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I have just read or what I hear?
How do I respond to someonegiving me instruction and
correction?
Do I hear and make no change?
Or do I hear and I have ateachable spirit that causes me
to increase learning?
And one of the purposes here inProverbs 1.5, a wise man will
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hear and increase learning.
Now, if you haven't listened tothe Bible project or seen kind
of some of the things that theythey do to illustrate um some
things from the Bible, it ispretty cool.
But one of the things that I Ilearned from that in trying to
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study about this word for hereor Shema is that in ancient
Hebrew there's not a separateword for obey.
So when here was used or Shema,it carried the meaning of
listen and obey.
And knowing this, I I thinkabout how Proverbs talks about
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the wise and the fool.
Well, that's not revolvingaround their intellect, but
their response.
How did they respond to whatwas being said?
All this wisdom that's written,everything that is being
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communicated here, how am Igoing to respond to it?
Because there is a responsethat aligns with wisdom, and
there is a response that alignswith the fool.
But I really got to considerhow my habits, my conduct, my
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actions are aligning with whatI'm reading.
Am I just thinking, oh, well,that that sounds good.
I hear it, but I don't comewith a teachable spirit that is
ready to listen and obey.
And looking at the phrase, manof understanding shall attain
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unto wise counsels.
Well, life is often referred toas a journey.
Some people refer to it as awalk or the road of life.
The Bible often talks about thepath that we are on or the way
that we take.
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So with this idea of life beinglike a journey, we need
direction for this journey.
And in search for thatdirection, we may go to somebody
for counsel and ask, hey, whatdo you think about this?
And that counsel may steer mein one way or another.
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And in thinking about this andstudying it, I found it
interesting that the Hebrew wordthat was used for wise counsel
has a connection to the Hebrewword that was used for rope.
And when you consider that arope can be used to tie or bind
something that then can bepulled, it kind of gives a
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picture of what counsel can looklike.
So when I tie or bind myself toany counsel, being a group of
people or a person of influence,there is a pull that's
involved.
So a certain group of friendsmay pull or steer me in a
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particular direction.
A wise person gets that.
And they don't want to just tiethemselves to any old counsel,
but they want to attain untowise counsel, knowing that that
pull, that that steering ofdirection, they need to keep
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them on the right path.
That next part in verse sixsays to understand a proverb and
the interpretation, the wordsof the wise and their dark
sayings.
In other words, the purpose ofProverbs is to understand the
meaning and significance of whatis said.
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It's an understanding beyondthe shallow end.
Now, that phrase dark sayingshas always kind of puzzled me a
little bit.
But in studying this, itdoesn't mean something that's
darker in the sense that it'sbad, but it means it's a riddle,
or it could be a hard questionor a hard saying.
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So the wise and understandingperson approaches these things
that may riddle or puzzle themwith a teachable spirit that the
Lord is able to help themunderstand when they come with
that response of Lord, show me,teach me.
So one example that I thinkkind of helps illustrate this
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point or connect this point isin Matthew 13, where Jesus has
just spoken to the crowd inparables.
Specifically, this example isthe parable of the sower.
And his disciples later askhim, Why speakest thou unto them
in parables?
In other words, why deliver itin that way?
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Why, why, why not just spell itout?
What you're trying to say.
And something to consider hereis that parables, being stories
or illustrations and riddles,were a part of the entertainment
of that time period.
So you think, you know, theydidn't have the sources of
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entertainment that we havetoday.
They didn't have phones andapps and things like a good
audiobook or an audio drama.
So when when they wanted to beentertained, it was stories.
It was an illustration.
It was a riddle, something thatwould get their mind to
thinking.
So by speaking in parables, itwas like it created or a
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separation, if you will, fromthose who were in the crowd just
for entertainment.
I just want to hear anotherstory.
I just want to hear another,another illustration or riddle,
something that can puzzle me alittle bit because I like I like
that.
It separated from those, fromthe others who wanted to hear,
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maybe not quite grasping it all,but were willing to obey.
And it's those who were willingto hear and obey that later
came to him with the teachablespirit and found themselves
saying, Lord, teach me.
Help us understand the meaning.
So later in that same chapterin verse 37, the disciples asked
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Jesus to explain the meaning ofthe parable to them, and he
did.
So using that to bring us backto Proverbs, the purpose is to
bring about an understanding.
It may seem a little difficultto understand on the surface,
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but for those who are willing tolisten and obey to where the
Lord leads and in the way theLord leads, He will give us
understanding.
So the last verse.
Each of these purposes so farthat we've talked about have all
been leading to this principlething, the fear of the Lord.
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Proverbs 1:7 says, The fear ofthe Lord is the beginning of
knowledge, but fools despisewisdom and instruction.
Now we've we've we come acrossthis statement, the fear of the
Lord, several times in theBible, and just a handful of
examples here.
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Psalms 19:9 says the fear ofthe Lord is clean, enduring
forever.
Psalms 111.10 says the fear ofthe Lord is the beginning of
wisdom.
Proverbs 8.3 says the fear ofthe Lord is to hate evil.
Proverbs 14, 26 and 27, in thefear of the Lord is strong
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confidence.
The next verse talks about thefear of the Lord is a fountain
of life.
Isaiah 33, 6 says, the fear ofthe Lord is his treasure.
So looking at Proverbs 1:7, thefear of the Lord is the
beginning of knowledge.
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We begin various things inlife.
You know, we are beginning anew year right now.
And sometimes when you beginsomething, there are stages you
move through.
Maybe there's a beginningstage, and then there's an
intermediate stage, and then youprogress to an advanced stage.
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But the fear of the Lord isn'ta stage I begin and then I
graduate from and move on tosomething else.
The fear of the Lord is myfoundation.
This is what everything isbuilt upon.
This is what it all comes backto.
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The fear of the Lord.
Now we may see that word fearused in different contexts, not
just in the Bible, but in somecontexts where it communicates
this idea of being afraid.
And I've heard it explainedthis way that the fear of the
Lord isn't being afraid of him,but it's a reverence or an honor
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or an awe of him.
And in studying this out, Icame across how one person
described it.
And this is this has reallyhelped me to think about how I
apply living out what the fearof the Lord looks like.
And it was described in thisway The fear of the Lord is
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everyday conduct that sees eachmoment as the Lord's time, each
relationship as the Lord'sopportunity, each duty as the
Lord's command, and eachblessing as the Lord's gift.
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So going back to the fear ofthe Lord, it's not a stage I
move through, but it's thefoundation for my everyday
conduct.
Seeing each moment of Lord,this is your time.
Seeing each relationship asLord, this is your opportunity.
As seeing each duty as, Lord, Iwant to do it unto you.
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It's the Lord's command.
Seeing each blessing that Ireceive as, Lord, this is a gift
from you.
When I look at it that way, thefear of the Lord is all
intertwined with my relationshipwith Him, basically considering
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Him in everything I do.
Isn't there something inProverbs about in all thy ways,
acknowledge him?
So the fear of the Lord, again,is it's not just where I start.
The fear of the Lord is where Iwant to live.
Proverbs 14, 27, we read thisearlier.
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The fear of the Lord is afountain of life.
This is where I want to live.
So wrapping things up here,we've we've come to the
conclusion of the purpose ofProverbs, walking through verses
1 through 7.
We started off earlier with thequestions from Job 28, but
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where shall wisdom be found, andwhere is the place of
understanding?
Well, we find the answer in Job28, 28, where it says, And unto
man he said, Behold the fear ofthe Lord, that is wisdom, and
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to depart from evil isunderstanding.
Wisdom, knowledge,understanding, it all has its
foundation in the fear of theLord.
And there's a contrast here atthe end of this purpose where it
talks about the fool whodespises wisdom and instruction.
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And we talked about at thebeginning as well, how you know
I want to approach Proverbsconsidering how did the original
hearers receive and respond toProverbs, and then take a good
look at how I am responding towhat I'm learning as I study
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this.
So, with this in mind, Proverbsdescribes the response, the
actions of primarily fourdifferent people or characters,
however you want to look at it.
You've got the wise we've mettoday.
You've got the simple, we readabout them today as well, the
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scorner, and then the fool ismentioned here at the end of
this purpose in Proverbs.
And we'll come to know abouteach of these, I think, as we
progress our way through thisbook.
But the point that I want tomake here is that when one of
these are mentioned, it alsohelps me consider the actions or
their response.
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So even here in thisintroduction of Proverbs, in
just seven verses, we're alreadybeginning to see a picture of
the actions and responses that awise person would make.
And then here at the end, wesee that's in contrast to the
response of the fool.
And I don't want to be quick inmy assumptions and
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automatically think I'm not afool.
That's not me.
I'm not doing foolish things.
But to really stop and consideris what I'm doing or are my
habits aligning with the foolishaction that's described here.
In the case of this verse wherethe fool despises wisdom and
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instruction, are there areas inmy life where I resist or
despise that chastening orcorrection?
I want to be sensitive enoughto let the Lord deal with me, to
step on my toes when needed,and help me to realize when my
actions aren't aligning withwisdom.
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I need his help.
And I think it's just thatProverbs can be a book that is
full of help if we will we willtake the time to approach it
with that reflective read andlook at some of these hard
sayings that we may come acrossand think, all right, Lord, help
me understand.
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Lord, teach me.
So I don't know how long thisepisode is.
I'm not looking at the timer,but I think we've covered quite
a bit today.
Hopefully my voice wasn't toobad.
Um, but in the next episode, myplan is to pick up where we
left off here.
So starting with Proverbs 1.8and see where that takes us.
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Uh but between now and then,there is a link in the
description of this episode uhthat links you to questions that
align with this section ofscripture that we talked about,
and then also some of the thingsthat were mentioned.
So until next time, thank youso much again for listening and
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take some time to grow in thefear of the Lord.
Welcome everybody to a servant's heartbeat.
My name is Kristen.
Thank you for listening and fortaking the time to allow me to
share my heartbeat for thekingdom of God with you.
So, starting back our podcasthere in 2026, I was bound and
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determined.
It was my goal to get this backand going.
And sure enough, the week thatI decide I am going to record, I
come down with a cold of somesort, and my voice is going in
and out.
But I am determined to startthis back.
So I apologize ahead of timefor my voice.
All right.
(00:50):
So the topic that we are goingto start with will really be, I
think, a series.
Um, so my my heartbeat hasreally been on Proverbs lately.
I uh recently heard somethingthat just encouraged me to dig
into Proverbs, not just to readit from cover to cover, so to
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speak, but to take a veryreflective approach to it.
And as I had begun to do this,I thought, man, this is this may
be good to share with others.
So here we are.
I don't know as far as how manyepisodes, if you will, will be
in this series on Proverbs, butwe'll we'll give it a go and
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just see where it takes us.
So I uh I'm sure you've heardthis before, but I've heard
somebody say that you knowProverbs has the 31 chapters
because you could read a chaptera day and cover the month.
So it gives you one chapter aday.
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If you would just do that, howmuch help that could be.
Another person I've heard saythat if they had to pick just
one book, not to say that anyone book is better than the
other, but if they could onlypick one that they were able to
keep with them all the time, itwould be Proverbs, because of
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all of the life lessons andprinciples that are in every
chapter.
There's there's so much withinthis that can be applied in our
day-to-day life.
And I think that this approachcould be taken with any book,
not just Proverbs.
But I recently, the same personthat kind of gave me the nudge
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about Proverbs studying, Irecently heard someone say that
they felt challenged to read thebook of Proverbs, not just read
it, but to think about it inthe sense of how this book was
received.
So, how did the hearers of thattime receive and respond to the
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wisdom that was written?
Now, I would like to think thatI can be a good listener at
times.
I'm not much of a talker,believe it or not, as I'm
recording a podcast, but I liketo think I'm a good listener.
But I I began to ask myself thequestion okay, kid, you're a
good listener, but are you agood responder?
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How do you respond to what youhave read?
How how do you respond to whatyou've heard?
And I've I've read through thebook of Proverbs many times.
I've heard things preached andtaught out of it.
I've read it in various Bibletranslations, but have I really
taken the time to let this bookread me and search me and to let
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the wisdom within this bookbegin to shine some light on
some things.
And what has my response beenwhen this book begins to point
some things or reveal somethings to me that may need to
change?
So, as I stated before, I'm notsure how how many of these will
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be in the series, but here wego, kicking it off with Proverbs
chapter one particularly.
This will cover verses onethrough seven.
And basically that focus is onthe purpose.
Why?
Why take the time to read andstudy this book?
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So that's gonna be our goal forthis time we have today.
So what is a proverb?
Proverbs chapter one, verse onesays the proverbs of Solomon,
the son of David, king ofIsrael.
Well, a proverb is a concisesaying that communicates a point
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or a concept, a principle.
It's just a concise saying.
And depending on the context ofthat or where that that saying
is, it could be considered awise saying or something that is
used to make an illustratedpoint of some sort.
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And while this may seem alittle off-topic, I think it's
still important to keep in mind,but many proverbs have a poetic
nature to them.
And sometimes it can be hardfor us to catch that given the
language barrier going fromHebrew to English.
You know, we we might not catchevery poetic use that is
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presented here.
But I think our our takeawayfrom that can be with this book
having a poetic nature, I don'twant to approach reading this
book with a rapid read, but Iwant to have a reflective read.
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So when you think about how youapproach poetry today and our
culture, you know, you it's notsomething you just read through
very quickly from start tofinish, but there is a very
reflective approach, line byline, to what is being said.
And that's the same approach Iwant to come with with the book
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of Proverbs.
So, what did the people thinkabout these proverbs of Solomon?
Now, thinking back to the timeframe that this would have been
communicated, you know, I wantto consider how how did people
view wisdom?
How did people view Solomon'swords?
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You know, what kind of value orattention was given to these
sayings?
Now, while Israel, you know,didn't always follow the ways of
wisdom throughout theirhistory, sound wisdom was still
important to them, and not justto Israel, but to other nations
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of that time.
So, for example, the Queen ofSheba.
Think about how far shetraveled just to hear Solomon.
Now, from just looking andtrying to study this out, at
minimum, many say that it was aminimum of 1,500 miles or more
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that she traveled.
And this wasn't in a minivan,you know, this was donkey and
all the other stuff they had touse back then.
But when you consider thedistance she was willing to
travel, it shows the value thatthat wisdom had, again, not just
to Israel, but to other nationsas well.
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Wisdom was important.
So when I consider thesesayings, when I consider the
value that would have beenplaced on these Proverbs, on
this wisdom.
Again, I don't want to justread through Proverbs for it to
be just another page turnerbook.
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You know, we we've all readthose books that, man, you just
can't wait to get to the endbecause it's it's such a good
story.
And you just, you know, it'sit's a rapid read.
But again, it's it's aline-by-line approach where I
chew on something rather thanbeing so quick to move on to the
next sentence.
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So again, a reflective read,not a rapid read.
Okay, so the first purpose ofProverbs is in Proverbs 1, verse
2.
And it says, to know wisdom andinstruction.
And I'm gonna pause therebecause that's our first
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purpose.
So the purpose here is for usto know.
Proverbs kicks it right off andsays, To know wisdom.
But where do you find wisdom?
This exact question is asked inJob chapter 28, verse 12, and
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it says, But where shall wisdombe found?
And where is the place ofunderstanding?
Just to continue on here inthat same same section, man
knoweth not the price thereof,neither is it found in the land
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of the living.
The depth said, It is not inme, and the sea said, It's not
with me.
It cannot be gotten for gold,neither shall it be weighed for
the price thereof.
It cannot be valued with thegold of Ophir, but the precious
onyx or the sapphire, the goldand the crystal cannot equal it,
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and the exchange of it shallnot be for jewels of fine gold.
No mention shall be made ofcoral or of pearls, for the
price of wisdom is above rubies.
The topaz of Ethiopia shall notequal it, neither shall it be
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valued with pure gold.
Now, this is several versesthat make the point clear as
mud.
You can't set a price on wisdomand understanding.
The most valuable stones andmaterial of that time could not
be exchanged for wisdom.
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So if I can't get this withsilver, gold, or rubies, then
where do I get this wisdom andunderstanding?
Well, verse 20, ask thequestion again.
Job twenty eight and twentysays, Whence then cometh wisdom,
and where is the place ofunderstanding?
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Skipping down to Jobtwenty-eight, twenty-three, God
understandeth the way thereof,and he knoweth the place
thereof.
God understands the way, and heknows the place.
So, with this first purpose ofProverbs being to know wisdom
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and instruction, you may beasking, How do I know wisdom?
How do I even start?
Where do I find wisdom?
I think the point becomes wellestablished by looking at what's
said here in Job.
God understands the way and heknows the place.
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So looking briefly at some ofthe key words that are in this
verse, to know.
So this is just something thatis meant for me to learn.
My eyes are open when somethingis revealed.
So a purpose in Proverbs can beto help me learn some things.
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It can reveal and open my eyesto things.
Wisdom.
This this is beyond just myintellect or my smarts or my IQ.
My job is testing IQ.
You know, it's it's it's morethan about my level of
education.
The wisdom that this isreferring to is a skill or
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experience that is applied inlife with God's will or purpose
in view.
So when I begin to think aboutpeople in my life who I see as
having wisdom, it's not becausethey're a genius.
It's because I see how theyapply this the skills and
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experiences to navigate life'ssituations.
And that navigation is directedby God.
So, you know, I know a lot ofpeople who have a lot of skills,
but there's a difference in howthat skill or experience is
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applied when God is the one whois able to navigate and direct.
Now, instruction.
This isn't just a how-totutorial on a new skill or the
how-to on how to navigatesomething, but this instruction
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includes discipline andcorrection.
When I begin to look at howthis Hebrew word for instruction
is translated in other placesin the Bible, it's also
chastening, correction, anddiscipline, just to name a few.
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So as an example, Job again.
Job 517 says, Behold, happy isthe man whom God correcteth.
Therefore, despise thou not thechastening of the Almighty.
And, you know, in all honesty,it can be a struggle for some
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people, self-included, whensomething is pointed out that
reveals that I was wrong, or Idid something wrong, or I I've
done something that needscorrecting.
And I want to be able to get tothe place where I know that the
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Lord's instruction is notcoming from a place of attack.
It's it's not coming at me asan attack or I I got you, I
caught you doing this.
And and I'm sure we all know orhave all had that experience
with that person who is all tooready to pounce on any
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opportunity to find fault andcorrect someone.
But that's not how my God is.
But his instruction is comingfrom a place of love.
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So we might get to this laterin Proverbs 3, but Proverbs 3.11
says, My son, despise not thechastening, the loving
instruction of the Lord, neitherbe weary of his correction.
I I can take you to the place,probably several places I have
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been sitting when I I've startedto feel a level of correction
or being chastened from theLord.
And it's kind of like thislight is turned on in a
particular area of life, andsome things are revealed.
And in some moments, that hasbeen something that has crushed
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me.
It's it's like it hit me.
Oh man, I've I've I've beenwrong.
But looking back, those momentshave genuinely been a landmark
for me and my walk with Godbecause it's it's been a time
where it's helped me to realizejust how much I need him.
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You know, they're just maybe inour humanity, maybe it's just
me.
I don't know.
But I guess I'll just say me.
There are times where I try tohandle things in a very
independent way.
Sometimes it's not easy for usto ask for help or to realize
that we have been in the wrongon something.
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And when left to my own ways, Ican really make a mess of
things.
And it don't always feel goodwhen you tell me I made a mess,
you know.
But but here's the thing that Ifeel like is so beautiful in a
walk with God.
His instruction and correctionis not separate from his love.
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So that correction and thatinstruction is coming from a
place of love.
Yeah, kiddo, you made a mess.
Let me help you.
I want to show you a betterpath, a better way.
So can correction hurt or canand this instruction and
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discipline hurt sometimes?
Sure.
But my my takeaway from thisand knowing the purpose of what
I'm going to be reading here inProverbs is that this is coming
from a place of love.
Again, I can't separate thatinstruction from his love.
All right, purpose number two,to perceive.
So Proverbs 1, 2, still in thatverse, to perceive the words of
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understanding.
Now, there are a lot of voicesthat we have the opportunity to
listen to today.
I mean, there's access toeverything with phones and
internet, computers, and youname it.
And I'm sure that we have allbeen in a conversation with
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somebody as they're talking.
And sometimes you realize, man,yeah, that's wisdom.
And then sometimes you realize,yeah, I don't know about that.
Well, a purpose of Proverbs isto help us listen with
discernment.
So words can influence mydecisions, and that influence
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contributes to how I weigh outcertain choices.
So if I'm going to spend timelistening to something or
someone, I want to be able totell or perceive when someone is
speaking from a place ofunderstanding.
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So if you'll recall when weread in Job 28, 20, when it
asked, where is the place ofunderstanding?
Job 28.23 said, God understandsthe way and he knows the place.
So if my discernment radarain't beeping like it needs to
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be, Proverbs has some things tohelp me to perceive, to discern
those words of understanding.
All right, purpose number threeto receive.
So this is Proverbs.
Proverbs one and three toreceive the instruction of
wisdom, justice, and judgmentand equity.
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Now, this almost seems like arepeat from Proverbs 1-2, where
it mentions wisdom andinstruction.
And now here in Proverbs 1, 3,it mentions the instruction of
wisdom.
Well, what's the difference?
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So the Hebrew word forinstruction in both of those
verses is actually the same inboth verses.
But it's a different Hebrewword for wisdom.
So let's look at a couple ofverses that maybe carry that
same underlying meaning therethat could help us understand
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this difference here.
So Joshua chapter 1, verse 8says, This book of the law shall
not depart out of thy mouth,but thou shalt meditate therein
day and night, that thou mayestobserve to do according to all
that is written therein, forthen thou shalt make thy way
prosperous, and then thou shalthave good success.
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Joshua was receivinginstruction of wisdom.
In other words, Joshua, ifyou'll receive this instruction
of wisdom I'm giving you, you'llhave good success.
The end of that verse in Joshua1 8, have good success, carries
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that same underlying meaning asthe instruction of wisdom.
So another example, 1 Samuel18, 14, and David behaved
himself wisely in all his ways,and the Lord was with him.
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That same underlying Hebrewword, behaved himself wisely, is
the same as wisdom ofinstruction.
So to receive wisdom, or sorry,to receive instruction of
wisdom is really about how toconduct yourself, how to behave,
the habits that can help youprosper in life.
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Not according to the standardof somebody who's made it big in
the world or whatever, butaccording to God's standard.
Here are some things that canhelp me prosper and have good
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success.
It's those things that Proverbswill help me receive, or teach
me how to receive.
So the other part of this saysjustice and judgment and equity.
So just very briefly what thoseencompass.
Justice, what is right, orrighteousness, judgment, what is
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just, or just according to thelaw.
And equity, it's uprightdealings, fairness or integrity.
So when I think about all ofthat, and all of these really go
hand in hand, but those wordsare used to describe our conduct
or our character.
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And the overarching point hereis that Proverbs is to receive
instruction in our relationshipwith others.
So, in other words, theinstruction that I receive can
be applied and shown in the wayI handle myself and my
relationships with other people.
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So if I want to develop right,upright, and healthy
relationships, then Proverbs hassome guidance or something to
say about that if I am willingto receive that instruction.
All right.
Purpose number four, to give.
And this is in Proverbs 1,verse 4.
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So to give subtility to thesimple, to the young man,
knowledge and discretion.
Now the focus here is on thesimple and the young.
The simple being the one whomay not have a large level of
experience.
They are inexperienced.
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You know, basically, you don'tknow what you don't know, you
know.
So because of that, this personcould be easily influenced by
others or could be moresusceptible to wrong influences.
And then you've got the youngperson or the young man it
speaks of here.
Well, young is a person who isyoung in age.
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This could be a teenage person,but uh Genesis 41 refers to
Joseph as a young man.
And in that chapter, it tellsus that he was 30.
So there's a range here.
It's not just those who are intheir teen age, but young adults
here as well.
So looking at the meaning ofsubtility, this is prudence,
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discernment, or insight.
You know, if I'm starting fromsquare one and I feel like, you
know, I don't know anythingabout this, then Proverbs has
something to give me, to teachme.
If there are situations that Ineed to navigate and choices I
need to make, I and I feel likeI'm simple here.
I don't, I don't know much.
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I don't have the experience.
In other words, I don't have tostay in this state of being a
gullible person that goes withevery wind of whatever is said
and goes along with the crowd.
But proverbs can give me theability to evaluate my decisions
and consider the influences inmy life.
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Now, looking at knowledge anddiscretion, it's that growth and
awareness about some things inlife.
And as this begins to developeven more, it expands my
capacity for understanding.
So with a young person or witha young adult, they can have a
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world of choices before them.
But it's that knowledge anddiscretion that allows them to
weigh out all of those choicesand decisions.
Proverbs can help us learn tolook beyond just this is the
surface level decision, theright now.
And it helps me to consider theend of the matter or the
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outcome or the effects of thatdecision that maybe I can't see
right now, but I've got toconsider what could be the
long-term outcome of somethings.
All right.
Purpose number five tounderstand.
So Proverbs five, sorry,Proverbs 1, verse 5 and 6 says,
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A wise man will hear andincrease learning, and a man of
understanding shall attain untowise counsels to understand a
proverb and the interpretation,the words of the wise and their
dark sayings.
So there's a lot to this one.
So let's try to go piece bypiece here.
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So the in general, this nextpurpose is about understanding.
Part of the purpose of Proverbsis to set me on the path to
understand, because God knowsthe place of understanding.
This is a teachable spirit.
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And I think an important pointto point out here, that sounds
repetitive, but this book isn'tjust for the simple and the
young, but even the wise havesomething to gain, to learn
here.
So I don't want to get to thepoint where I think I know what
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I need to know.
And I just, I just know.
You know, I've been in this joblong enough, I've been in this
position long enough.
I've been in this church longenough.
I got this.
I I don't want to have thatmindset or approach.
I want to come to this with theidea of being a lifelong
(28:40):
learner.
Lord, teach me.
You know, I don't want to getto the place where I feel like
my age and gray hairs means Idon't still need some teaching
to hear that instruction.
No, Lord, I still need you toteach me.
Now, the uh other thing to notehere that I think will take a
little bit of time to explain,because I feel like is, well, at
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least to me, it feels veryimportant.
But that word here, it's Shemain Hebrew.
And it just so happens thatPastor actually recently taught
about this word and how it's notjust about listening or
hearing, but this also carriesthe idea of obedience with it.
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So Deuteronomy 6 and 4 says,Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God
is one Lord.
Well, that's that's that sameHebrew word, here, Shema.
And this wasn't just a call tohearing alone, but for Israel to
listen or hear and obey.
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So a wise person will hear, notjust listen, but there's some
obedience that goes with that.
The other alternative would bethat you listen, but then you
tune something out or youdismiss it and think, ah, I
already know that.
Now, along the lines of whatwe're talking about here, this
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this wise person will hear.
I want to think about what'sthe response of a wise person?
You know, so so something toconsider as as I begin to study
and read about the wisdom orthings that a wise person would
do, I want to look at me andthink, how do I respond to what
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I have just read or what I hear?
How do I respond to someonegiving me instruction and
correction?
Do I hear and make no change?
Or do I hear and I have ateachable spirit that causes me
to increase learning?
And one of the purposes here inProverbs 1.5, a wise man will
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hear and increase learning.
Now, if you haven't listened tothe Bible project or seen kind
of some of the things that theythey do to illustrate um some
things from the Bible, it ispretty cool.
But one of the things that I Ilearned from that in trying to
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study about this word for hereor Shema is that in ancient
Hebrew there's not a separateword for obey.
So when here was used or Shema,it carried the meaning of
listen and obey.
And knowing this, I I thinkabout how Proverbs talks about
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the wise and the fool.
Well, that's not revolvingaround their intellect, but
their response.
How did they respond to whatwas being said?
All this wisdom that's written,everything that is being
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communicated here, how am Igoing to respond to it?
Because there is a responsethat aligns with wisdom, and
there is a response that alignswith the fool.
But I really got to considerhow my habits, my conduct, my
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actions are aligning with whatI'm reading.
Am I just thinking, oh, well,that that sounds good.
I hear it, but I don't comewith a teachable spirit that is
ready to listen and obey.
And looking at the phrase, manof understanding shall attain
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unto wise counsels.
Well, life is often referred toas a journey.
Some people refer to it as awalk or the road of life.
The Bible often talks about thepath that we are on or the way
that we take.
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So with this idea of life beinglike a journey, we need
direction for this journey.
And in search for thatdirection, we may go to somebody
for counsel and ask, hey, whatdo you think about this?
And that counsel may steer mein one way or another.
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And in thinking about this andstudying it, I found it
interesting that the Hebrew wordthat was used for wise counsel
has a connection to the Hebrewword that was used for rope.
And when you consider that arope can be used to tie or bind
something that then can bepulled, it kind of gives a
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picture of what counsel can looklike.
So when I tie or bind myself toany counsel, being a group of
people or a person of influence,there is a pull that's
involved.
So a certain group of friendsmay pull or steer me in a
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particular direction.
A wise person gets that.
And they don't want to just tiethemselves to any old counsel,
but they want to attain untowise counsel, knowing that that
pull, that that steering ofdirection, they need to keep
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them on the right path.
That next part in verse sixsays to understand a proverb and
the interpretation, the wordsof the wise and their dark
sayings.
In other words, the purpose ofProverbs is to understand the
meaning and significance of whatis said.
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It's an understanding beyondthe shallow end.
Now, that phrase dark sayingshas always kind of puzzled me a
little bit.
But in studying this, itdoesn't mean something that's
darker in the sense that it'sbad, but it means it's a riddle,
or it could be a hard questionor a hard saying.
(35:30):
So the wise and understandingperson approaches these things
that may riddle or puzzle themwith a teachable spirit that the
Lord is able to help themunderstand when they come with
that response of Lord, show me,teach me.
So one example that I thinkkind of helps illustrate this
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point or connect this point isin Matthew 13, where Jesus has
just spoken to the crowd inparables.
Specifically, this example isthe parable of the sower.
And his disciples later askhim, Why speakest thou unto them
in parables?
In other words, why deliver itin that way?
(36:15):
Why, why, why not just spell itout?
What you're trying to say.
And something to consider hereis that parables, being stories
or illustrations and riddles,were a part of the entertainment
of that time period.
So you think, you know, theydidn't have the sources of
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entertainment that we havetoday.
They didn't have phones andapps and things like a good
audiobook or an audio drama.
So when when they wanted to beentertained, it was stories.
It was an illustration.
It was a riddle, something thatwould get their mind to
thinking.
So by speaking in parables, itwas like it created or a
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separation, if you will, fromthose who were in the crowd just
for entertainment.
I just want to hear anotherstory.
I just want to hear another,another illustration or riddle,
something that can puzzle me alittle bit because I like I like
that.
It separated from those, fromthe others who wanted to hear,
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maybe not quite grasping it all,but were willing to obey.
And it's those who were willingto hear and obey that later
came to him with the teachablespirit and found themselves
saying, Lord, teach me.
Help us understand the meaning.
So later in that same chapterin verse 37, the disciples asked
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Jesus to explain the meaning ofthe parable to them, and he
did.
So using that to bring us backto Proverbs, the purpose is to
bring about an understanding.
It may seem a little difficultto understand on the surface,
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but for those who are willing tolisten and obey to where the
Lord leads and in the way theLord leads, He will give us
understanding.
So the last verse.
Each of these purposes so farthat we've talked about have all
been leading to this principlething, the fear of the Lord.
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Proverbs 1:7 says, The fear ofthe Lord is the beginning of
knowledge, but fools despisewisdom and instruction.
Now we've we've we come acrossthis statement, the fear of the
Lord, several times in theBible, and just a handful of
examples here.
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Psalms 19:9 says the fear ofthe Lord is clean, enduring
forever.
Psalms 111.10 says the fear ofthe Lord is the beginning of
wisdom.
Proverbs 8.3 says the fear ofthe Lord is to hate evil.
Proverbs 14, 26 and 27, in thefear of the Lord is strong
(39:14):
confidence.
The next verse talks about thefear of the Lord is a fountain
of life.
Isaiah 33, 6 says, the fear ofthe Lord is his treasure.
So looking at Proverbs 1:7, thefear of the Lord is the
beginning of knowledge.
(39:36):
We begin various things inlife.
You know, we are beginning anew year right now.
And sometimes when you beginsomething, there are stages you
move through.
Maybe there's a beginningstage, and then there's an
intermediate stage, and then youprogress to an advanced stage.
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But the fear of the Lord isn'ta stage I begin and then I
graduate from and move on tosomething else.
The fear of the Lord is myfoundation.
This is what everything isbuilt upon.
This is what it all comes backto.
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The fear of the Lord.
Now we may see that word fearused in different contexts, not
just in the Bible, but in somecontexts where it communicates
this idea of being afraid.
And I've heard it explainedthis way that the fear of the
Lord isn't being afraid of him,but it's a reverence or an honor
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or an awe of him.
And in studying this out, Icame across how one person
described it.
And this is this has reallyhelped me to think about how I
apply living out what the fearof the Lord looks like.
And it was described in thisway The fear of the Lord is
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everyday conduct that sees eachmoment as the Lord's time, each
relationship as the Lord'sopportunity, each duty as the
Lord's command, and eachblessing as the Lord's gift.
(41:32):
So going back to the fear ofthe Lord, it's not a stage I
move through, but it's thefoundation for my everyday
conduct.
Seeing each moment of Lord,this is your time.
Seeing each relationship asLord, this is your opportunity.
As seeing each duty as, Lord, Iwant to do it unto you.
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It's the Lord's command.
Seeing each blessing that Ireceive as, Lord, this is a gift
from you.
When I look at it that way, thefear of the Lord is all
intertwined with my relationshipwith Him, basically considering
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Him in everything I do.
Isn't there something inProverbs about in all thy ways,
acknowledge him?
So the fear of the Lord, again,is it's not just where I start.
The fear of the Lord is where Iwant to live.
Proverbs 14, 27, we read thisearlier.
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The fear of the Lord is afountain of life.
This is where I want to live.
So wrapping things up here,we've we've come to the
conclusion of the purpose ofProverbs, walking through verses
1 through 7.
We started off earlier with thequestions from Job 28, but
(43:00):
where shall wisdom be found, andwhere is the place of
understanding?
Well, we find the answer in Job28, 28, where it says, And unto
man he said, Behold the fear ofthe Lord, that is wisdom, and
(43:20):
to depart from evil isunderstanding.
Wisdom, knowledge,understanding, it all has its
foundation in the fear of theLord.
And there's a contrast here atthe end of this purpose where it
talks about the fool whodespises wisdom and instruction.
(43:41):
And we talked about at thebeginning as well, how you know
I want to approach Proverbsconsidering how did the original
hearers receive and respond toProverbs, and then take a good
look at how I am responding towhat I'm learning as I study
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this.
So, with this in mind, Proverbsdescribes the response, the
actions of primarily fourdifferent people or characters,
however you want to look at it.
You've got the wise we've mettoday.
You've got the simple, we readabout them today as well, the
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scorner, and then the fool ismentioned here at the end of
this purpose in Proverbs.
And we'll come to know abouteach of these, I think, as we
progress our way through thisbook.
But the point that I want tomake here is that when one of
these are mentioned, it alsohelps me consider the actions or
their response.
(44:43):
So even here in thisintroduction of Proverbs, in
just seven verses, we're alreadybeginning to see a picture of
the actions and responses that awise person would make.
And then here at the end, wesee that's in contrast to the
response of the fool.
And I don't want to be quick inmy assumptions and
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automatically think I'm not afool.
That's not me.
I'm not doing foolish things.
But to really stop and consideris what I'm doing or are my
habits aligning with the foolishaction that's described here.
In the case of this verse wherethe fool despises wisdom and
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instruction, are there areas inmy life where I resist or
despise that chastening orcorrection?
I want to be sensitive enoughto let the Lord deal with me, to
step on my toes when needed,and help me to realize when my
actions aren't aligning withwisdom.
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I need his help.
And I think it's just thatProverbs can be a book that is
full of help if we will we willtake the time to approach it
with that reflective read andlook at some of these hard
sayings that we may come acrossand think, all right, Lord, help
me understand.
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Lord, teach me.
So I don't know how long thisepisode is.
I'm not looking at the timer,but I think we've covered quite
a bit today.
Hopefully my voice wasn't toobad.
Um, but in the next episode, myplan is to pick up where we
left off here.
So starting with Proverbs 1.8and see where that takes us.
(46:26):
Uh but between now and then,there is a link in the
description of this episode uhthat links you to questions that
align with this section ofscripture that we talked about,
and then also some of the thingsthat were mentioned.
So until next time, thank youso much again for listening and
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take some time to grow in thefear of the Lord.
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