Provérbios 1

Provérbios 1

Pink - “The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom.” —Proverbs 1:7 HAPPY the soul that has been awed by a view of God’s majesty, that has had a vision of God’s awful greatness, His ineffable holiness, His perfect righteousness, His irresistible power, His sovereign grace. Does someone say, “But it is only the unsaved, those outside of Christ, who need to fear God?” Then the sufficient answer is that the saved, those who are in Christ, are admonished to work out their own salvation with “fear and trembling.” Time was when it was the general custom to speak of a believer as a “God-fearing man.” That such an appellation has become nearly extinct only serves to show whither we have drifted. Nevertheless, it still stands written, “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him” (Psalm 103:13). When we speak of godly fear, of course we do not mean a servile fear, such as prevails among the heathen in connection with their gods. No, we mean that spirit which Jehovah is pledged to bless, that spirit to which the prophet referred when he said, “To this man will I (the Lord) look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word” (Isa. 66:2). It was this the apostle had in view when he wrote, “Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king” (1 Pet. 2:17). And nothing will foster this godly fear like a recognition of the Sovereign Majesty of God. Proverbs 1:8 Hear, my son, your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching; My son - Pr 1:10,15; 2:1; 3:1; 7:1; Mt 9:2,22 hear - Pr 4:1-4; 5:1,2; 6:20; 30:17; 31:1; Lev 19:3; Deut 21:18-21; 1Sa 2:25; 2Ti 1:5 ESV Study Bible notes that Pr 1:8-9:18 is "A Father’s Invitation to Wisdom. This section describes the two paths implied in Pr 1:7(note): the wise (grounded in the fear of the Lord) and the foolish (despising such wisdom and instruction). The appeal opens, like most of the paternal addresses, with a personal address and an encouragement to heed the instruction as a prized and beneficial possession (Pr 1:8-9)." It is notable that the fear of the LORD (Pr 1:7-note) follows and is thus closely associated with reverencing and honoring parents. Apologetics Study Bible - Proverbs sees parents as agents through which God’s wisdom comes to a child. These exhortations presuppose that the parents’ instruction reflects God’s truth. Wiersbe offers some wise words - “The Bible is the basic textbook in the home. It was once the basic textbook in the educational system, but even if that were still true, the Bible in the school can’t replace the Bible in the home. I note that many modern parents sacrifice time and money to help their children excel in music, sports, and social activities; I trust they’re even more concerned that their children excel in knowing and obeying the Word of God.” Unger on Pr 1:8-19 - Home discipline is a moral safeguard against a life of crime.