ON THE VANGUARD

FOOLISH OR WISE?
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”
Proverbs 1:7

The first time I ever read this verse, I read it literally. I thought that what this verse meant was to be afraid of the LORD. If I was afraid of the LORD, then I was on the right track to wisdom. In some ways I was already there, then, as I did have a growing fear that at any moment God was going to smite me for my wrong behaviors. But since those days I have come to understand the true meaning of this verse, and the true meaning of the word “fear”.
There is more than one meaning for the word fear. My previous understanding was the meaning of being afraid. The meaning here is not quite the same, though. In the Strong’s, the word is YIR’AH, which is defined as respect or reverence. The reverence of the LORD is the first stage for DA’ATH, which is knowledge, understanding, and discernment. It is possible to be book or street smart, but in Solomon’s writings in Proverbs, he is explaining to us how to be filled with a knowledge that only God can give. That knowledge starts with respect.
The first time we are introduced to YIR’AH is in Genesis 20:11. It is here that Abraham asks his wife, Sarah, to tell Abimelech that she is his sister. This action was requested because Abraham was afraid that he would be killed for his wife. When questioned by Abimelech later, Abraham’s response was, “I said to myself, ‘There is surely no YIR’AH of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’” Abraham’s concern of the respect and reverence for God in the land of Gerar, and the concern for his own life, prevented him from telling the full truth.
I think it is wise at this point to also draw attention to Proverbs 1:29 that warns us that if we are against knowledge and choose not to YIR’AH God, then we will eat the fruit of our ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes (Prov 1:31). The only way to dodge the schemes of the enemy is to draw close to God. It is in our closeness with God that our eyes are opened and discernment is obtained. James 4:8 secures for us the truth that as we draw close to God, He in turn draws close to us. And as we seek God, we find Him (Matt 7:7-8).
Continuing on in our Proverbs 1:7 passage, we read that a fool will despise this wisdom that comes from respect for God and His ways. The word for fool here is ‘EVIYL, and it simple means one who despises wisdom. There is a difference between the words knowledge and wisdom in this verse, however. While knowledge is understanding and discernment (DA’ATH), wisdom is skill (CHOKMAH). And as look at the final word in this verse, we find the term discipline. Discipline is translated from the word MUWCAR, and means correction and chastisement.
If we put the whole verse together, now with our Hebrew understanding of what each word means, then we read the verse as so:
The respect and reverence of the LORD is the first stage of understanding and discernment, but the foolish one will despise wisdom, skill, and correction.
I pray that the beginning portion of this verse defines us, that we are those who respect and reverence God. In so doing, we open ourselves to the correction and discernment given by God to us. But, if in reading this you find that maybe you are defined more by the second portion, and that you have been foolish and neglecting of a holy fear for God, then I would encourage you to repent and begin today to honor God in your life. Let us move forward in the fear of the LORD, and not forward in foolishness.