Today we begin the God is a Good Father Series with this Bible promise: James 1: 5, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” God loves to give good gifts to his children, and if we ask for wisdom, he will not rebuke us or find fault in our request. He honored Solomon, the son of King David in the Bible, who asked for wisdom and later wrote most of the book of Proverbs, along with other wise men.
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You can learn if you did not grow up with a father or mother who taught you God’s wisdom! God is a good father and provides a checklist for us to develop skills to live more abundant, happy, and peaceful lives.
The book of Proverbs uses ” wisdom” 54 times in the KJV. But I have a question. Where do you get your wisdom? From a single Mother who loves God? From a doting father who provides guidance and direction to help you navigate life? From your friends at school or work? Television? What if you didn’t have a father growing up like me?
The book of Proverbs teaches us that God is the ultimate source of all wisdom and knowledge. God makes a list available. Proverbs’ aphorisms are short, pithy, and concise sayings similar to a pilot’s checklist. Listen carefully to the following verses, especially for the alliteration of “S” in the King James Version.
The Proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
The book of Proverbs is part of the Poetical books of the Bible, consisting of Job, Psalm, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon. God’s word teaches us that we can read His instruction, allow His wisdom to flow into our hearts and minds, and act on His recommendations. The first verse tells us who wrote most of the book of Proverbs: Solomon, the son of King David. The second teaches us the beauty of obtaining wisdom as a skill and understanding, which includes teaching, correction, and discipline. Discipline is not fun but prepares us to battle against temptation and make excellent decisions.
In verse three, the word wisdom in Hebrew differs from verse two. The connotation is like the skill needed for a successful life. Prudence includes the right action according to God’s standard and inferring to being Just, Fair, Upright, and having Good Judgment.
Verse four employs the word Simple, which denotes a naive, easily deceived person. Some scholars believe this includes infancy to young adulthood. But for people who did not grow up with a good moral compass and role model, this could refer to all ages. It is always possible to learn!
In verse five, a person who diligently seeks wise counsel will read and hear God’s Word, increase learning and discernment, and seek Godly counsel like a gold digger digging for treasure.
Verse six uncovers the Dark Sayings or Riddles we will discover later in Proverbs 2:4: a wise person will seek Wisdom and search for the hidden things in Scripture. Once mined, these hidden Parables and allusive sayings will reward seekers.
The last verse, seven, is my memorization verse for today. Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” It wasn’t until I discovered the Hebrew meaning of Fear—Reverence, Piety, Submission to the Lord, and His revelation, did I feel comforted by this verse.
God’s gift of wisdom and checklist for daily living provides us the resource to embrace learning, surrender to God’s generous love and grace, and live a happier and more secure life.
