Book Of Proverbs - Part 6

Just a little more about the fear of the Lord and wisdom....

Proverbs 1:7 is the central statement that summarizes all of the wisdom books. It is the thesis of the wisdom literature in the Bible:

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The "fear of the Lord" is mentioned nearly 20 times in Proverbs alone. Again, by "fearing" God, I am not talking about cowering and recoiling from Him, but rather adjusting the whole way we think about Him and act towards Him in our whole lives. Correct fear of the Lord lays the foundation for every aspect of our relationship with Him, and all people.

When Solomon says that the fear of the Lord is the "beginning," he is not saying that this concept is the first and then we progress from it to other things. Rather, he is is saying that this is the primary foundation. We never move away from the fear of the Lord, as it is needed at every step into wisdom and good judgment in every field of life for all of our days. The fear of the Lord must be woven into the fabric of our character, and affect every-day life and all-day living. Wisdom is a life-long pilgrimage.

We never progress from the fear of the Lord, 

we must continually grow in the fear of the Lord.

The wisdom that God lays out for us is distinct from wisdom found in other cultures and ages because of the personal relationship with the Lord that is required in correctly "fearing the Lord." It is through relationship that we grow in wisdom and understanding - not through the acquiring of human knowledge or skills. Therefore, the greatest wisdom of the universe is available to the simple minded, the poor, the broken and sick, the young and even those who are just beginning their relationship with the Lord.

It is interesting to me that the first time the word "wisdom" is used in the Bible is in Exodus 28:3 and then Ex. 31:3, 6, where the Lord gave artists supernatural wisdom to create the priestly garments and beautiful vessels needed to worship the Lord as He desired. This is the same word that us used in much of the Proverbs.

The Hebrew word for this wisdom is chokmah which is an ethical and spiritual wisdom. It also means "to make one strong and sound in character."

Proverbs, then, will strengthen the Believer in character and spirit; it will energize us in our relationship with the Lord. It is this focus on character and spirit rather than the intellect that makes the wisdom in this book so appealing and accessible. 

This is the choice God gave mankind from the beginning - develop the soul (mind, will, emotions) by eating from the tree of knowledge of good or evil, or develop the spirit through relationship with the Father and through feeding on His wisdom.

Proverbs 3:13-18

Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding;

For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold.

She is more precious than rubies,

and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.

Length of days is in her right hand, in her left hand riches and honor.

Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her.

The Book of Proverbs Part 5 HEREThe Book of Proverbs Part 7 HERE

Waitangi Day

Today is Waitangi Day in New Zealand - although yesterday was Feb. 6th in NZ, but I am celebrating today.

Waitangi Day celebrates the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. This treaty made New Zealand a part of the British Empire and gave the Maori rights as subjects of the British crown. Over 500 Maori chiefs signed this founding document of New Zealand.

The day is filled with cultural performances, speeches, naval salutes, food and fun:

Here they are opening up a hangi (food cooked in the ground - yummy!)

and the ever-present Pavlova

 The Ngatokimatawhaorua, one of the world's largest Maori ceremonial wake (war canoe), sits on the grounds at Waitangi. The 70-year-old wake was refurbished and relaunched for the celebrations in 2010. The enormous wooden vessel holds 80 paddlers and 55 passengers

Happy Waitangi Day to all Kiwis around the world...and all honorary Kiwis -

our friends and loved ones

The Fear Of The Lord

"No one can know the true grace of God

who has first known the fear of God"

A.W. Tozer

"When men no longer fear God, they transgress His laws without hesitation."

A.W. Tozer

The fear of man will keep you from the fear of God

The fear of God will keep you from the fear of man

When it comes to understanding the fear of God,

we have measured ourselves against others instead of the Word.

More on the Fear of the Lord HERE

You Have GOT To See This

I saw this on the news - a bunny rabbit in Sweden that has learned to heard sheep by watching the family sheep dog. I grew up in New Zealand and am very familiar with sheep herding...but I have never seen anything like this:

Here he is:

P.S. I didn't remove this video - it must go away by itself after a few days! Check it out on You Tube. I am sure you will smile...

Book Of Proverbs - Part 5

Here is a summary of everything the Book of Proverbs says about wisdom:

1:2-3       The Purpose of the book of Proverbs is to teach us wisdom

1:7          Wisdom begins at the fear of the Lord (9:10; 15:33)

1:20        Wisdom wants to be known – she cries out in the streets (8:1)

2:2          Wisdom comes as we tune our ear to hear it

2:6          Wisdom comes from the Lord

2:7          Wisdom is given to the upright

2:10-11   Wisdom will help to preserve you and keep you safe in life

3:13        Wisdom will cause you to be happy

3:19        Wisdom is the foundation of God’s creation

3:21        Wisdom must be always before your eyes

4:5          Wisdom is very important to obtain

4:7          Wisdom is the most important thing to have in your life

4:11        Wisdom can be learned (30:3)

5:1          Wisdom must be attended to

7:4          Wisdom must be kept close – she must be our nearest kin

8:11        Wisdom is better than rubies and everything else that is precious

8:12        Wisdom lives alongside good judgment

8:14        Wisdom makes you stronger

9:1          Wisdom makes a permanent dwelling with seven pillars

10:13      Wisdom is found in the way you speak

10:21      Wisdom must live in you or  you will die

10:23      Wisdom is a pleasure

10:31      Wisdom is found in the words of the righteous

11:2        Wisdom is found in the humble

11:12      Wisdom  leads to peace with your neighbors

12:8        Wisdom leads to honor and commendation

13:10      Wisdom is found in those who listen to advice

14:6        Wisdom is found in those who are open-minded

14:8        Wisdom is found in those who look ahead in life

14:33      Wisdom is found in those who have discernment and understanding

15:33      Wisdom is instructed by the fear of the Lord

16:16      Wisdom is more valuable than gold or silver

17:16      Wisdom is worthless to the fool

17:24      Wisdom keeps the attention of sensible people

18:4        Wisdom flows out of the lips like a bubbling stream

19:8        Wisdom will bring prosperity and it shows that you respect yourself

21:30      Wisdom can never stand against the Lord

23:9        Wisdom is despised by fools

23:23      Wisdom is worth purchasing

24:3        Wisdom builds a strong foundation into your house

24:7        Wisdom is unattainable for the foo

24:14      Wisdom is sweet to your soul and it gives you a future and a hope

29:3        Wisdom in the lives of children will make their parents rejoice

29:15      Wisdom comes to children who are disciplined

31:26      Wisdom is found in the words of the virtuous woman       

The Book of Proverbs Part 4 HERE
The Book of Proverbs Part 6 HERE

Book Of Proverbs - Part 4

Proverbs 1:7 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

I want to take a little time to look at these two super important subjects from the Book of Proverbs:

The Fear of the Lord

Wisdom

The ultimate goal of Proverbs is to teach us a deep reverence of the Lord, and this is what the fear of the Lord is. A most wonderful result of having the fear of God in our hearts is that pillars of wisdom will form in our lives.

The Fear Of The Lord

The Hebrew word which is translated "fear" has nothing to do with a cowering apprehension, or terror, but rather it refers to a deep reverence, respect or awe of God. This is why the subject of the fear of God is so important for worshipers - the heart of worship is intricately entwined with the fear of the Lord. Look at this Amplified version of Ecclesiastes 12:13 - notice that the Amplified version gives us 3 components of the fear of the Lord (know Him, worship Him, obey Him) and then goes on to :

Ecclesiastes 12:13 (Amp.)

All has been heard. The end of the matter is, FEAR GOD -

            • know that He is, (know Him)

            • revere and worship Him (worship Him)

            • and keep His commandments; (obey Him)

for this is the whole of man

[the full original purpose of His creation,

the object of God's providence,

the root of character,

the foundation of all happiness,

the adjustment to all inharmonious circumstances

and conditions under the sun],

and the whole duty for every man.

According to Proverbs - How Do We Obtain the Fear Of the Lord?

• Turn your heart  and ear towards wisdom - 2:1-5...then you will understand the fear of the Lord

• Cry out and lift up your voice - asking for God's wisdom - 2:1-5...then you will understand the fear of the Lord

• Turn from sin and hate evil - 3:7 Fear the Lord and depart from evil; 8:13  the fear of the Lord is to hate evil

• Go after the fear of the Lord with zeal - 23:17 ...be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day 

According to Proverbs - What are the Seven Results of the Fear of the Lord In Our Lives?

• The fear of the Lord leads to wisdom - 1:7; 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (wisdom)

• The fear of the Lord will cause you to live longer - 10:27; 19:23 the fear of the Lord prolongs days...

• The fear of the Lord gives you confidence - 14:26 In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence...

• The fear of the Lord gives your children a place of refuge - 14:26 ...and his children will have a place of refuge

• The fear of the Lord brings life and an escape from death - 14:27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life...

• The fear of the Lord gives you a pathway of escape from evil, and the power to keep away from sin - 16:6 ...and by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil

• The fear of the Lord brings wealth, honor and life into your life - 22:4 by humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life

Tomorrow I will focus on the subject of wisdom in the Book of Proverbs

Book of Proverbs Part 3 HERE

Book of Proverbs Part 5 HERE

More on the Fear of the Lord HERE

Worship Arts Conservatory

Just letting you know that a new class is about to start at our school - Worship Arts Conservatory.

Class: The Prophetic Use Of Art
Teacher: Rebecca Walden
Start Date: Tuesday, Feb. 7th 2012
Enroll Now: www.worshiparts.org - click on "enrollment"

Overview of this class:

This course explores the valuable connection between the Spiritual gift of prophecy and the arts. Students learn how the arts, used under a godly anointing, can be employed as a principal medium for ministering God’s grace and life for the purpose of engaging the saints. Students explore the prophetic use of arts—including the visual arts, mime, music and dance—in a variety of artistic settings, while examining the special challenges involved with using the potent and enduring metaphors of symbol, gesture and image in a prophetic context to explore and reveal the person of Christ.

Book of Proverbs - Part 3

Today, I want to look at the main purposes of the Book of proverbs - based on the first 7 verses of this wonderful book:

Proverbs 1:1-7

1 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, judgment, and equity;

⁴ To give prudence to the simple,

To the young man knowledge and discretion—

⁵ A wise man will hear and increase learning,

And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,

⁶ To understand a proverb and an enigma,

The words of the wise and their riddles.

⁷ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

• Proverbs teaches us how to learn and apply the fear of the Lord to our lives

• Proverbs teaches us the knowledge and skills needed to live successfully based on God's word as opposed to man's instincts

• Proverbs teaches us to know wisdom and instruction - what we ought to know and follow and what we ought to refuse (1:2)

• Proverbs teaches us to have wise dealings in righteousness, justice and equity - equity is knowing what to do whether there is law or injustice (1:3)

• Proverbs teaches the simple to gain insight (prudence, carefulness) and the youth to gain knowledge and discretion (1:4)

• Proverbs teaches us to increase our learning, become wise and to acquire skill in understanding (1:5)

• Proverbs teaches us to understand parables, wise sayings, riddles and the mysteries of God (1:6)

• Proverbs teaches us how to walk and live in the fear of the Lord (1:7)

The book of Proverbs is a springboard into God's wisdom. Godly wisdom is seeing things from God's point of view.

These first 7 verses give and overview of the entire book.

Never before in human history has so much information been available to so many people via the Internet etc. Some have said that human information doubles approximately every year and a half.

In the light of this, we can understand this question by T. S. Elliot:

"Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?

Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?"

T. S. Elliot, Collected Poems 1909-1962, p. 147

Book of Proverbs Part 2 HERE
Book of Proverbs Part 4 HERE