A week ago, Adam Babcock (the YP@EVC) gave a message on wisdom and encouraged the congregation to read a chapter of Proverbs every day. In keeping with this idea I begin today's blog with my thoughts on wisdom which I have gleamed from my week of reading Proverbs.
The explicit purpose of Proverb, as the book initially details, is for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young (Proverbs 1:2-4). But what is wisdom? Proverbs 1:7 states that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (or knowledge). Which doesn't quite answer the question and raises another issue: what does it mean to fear the Lord? My initial idea of fear is related to dread and insecurity in my surroundings. This is a physical fear that I inherited from my animal nature. It is the fear that is fed by adrenaline - fight or flight. I believe that if God in all his glory were to step into my room right now I would experience this exact sense of fear - I would be terrified, petrified; however, I don't think that this is the idea of fear that Solomon was talking about.
So if knowledge begins with fear of the Lord, we need to understand this biblical meaning of fear. according to Robert B. Strimple, the kind of fear referred to hear is akin to reverence: honor or respect felt or shown: deference; especially profound adoring awed respect. But it is more than that. We have Moses telling the people of Israel: "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning." (Exodus 20:20) so fear of the Lord will deter us from sinning, from disobeying the will of God. But how do we stay in-line with God's will, we must have our eyes, our hearts, our minds, our ears forever on him. Is this then part of fear, part of reverence for God: to keep our souls in communion with our Father? I think it gets us close: The fear of the Lord that is the beginning of wisdom is the devotion and reverence (i.e., piety) that the creator of the universe deserves. It makes quite a bit of logical sense too. If we were to be constantly devoted to the creator of all things, then we would be forever in tune with the knower of all knowledge, the seer of all things obvious and hidden, the master of time and space. How could we not be wise with that kind of resource.
But we have only begun on the road of wisdom; as Solomon declares: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom". According to Answer.com wisdom is 1. The ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting; insight. 2. Common sense; good judgment. This brings me to a struggle I have with the idea of Godly reverence and following his will. Am I expected to walk around all day singing hymns and reading psalms to the exaltation and glory of God? This doesn't paint the picture of a wise person in my mind. Wisdom seems to be a trait that is useful to us here on earth while the heavenly reverence described in the previous sentence removes us from earthly experiences. With wisdom, we can judge what is true or right. So does that mean that I need to take every question in my daily life to the Lord? No, not if I have developed the wisdom that comes from a fear of the Lord.
Are we at a paradox: to obtain wisdom we must be in reverence of God, but with wisdom we can make sound judgement without explicitly taking it to God? No. It is only a paradox if we actualy think that we are seperated from God and this is not possible due to the work of Christ on the cross (and I think was even true before then, but that's an entire other discussion). If we have worked on our wisdom through diligent study of the word and through Godly reverence, then all our choices will implicitly follow through the will of God. If we see that wisdom comes from a fear of the Lord, then we can see that wisdom does not come from us, but from God. Thus, when we move in wisdom, we are moving within the flow of God, within his divine plan, within his will. Does that mean that we are hobbled in our daily activities by constantly having to turn to God to get his permission to act? No, again if we have spent time focussing on who and what God is, we will be in line, and his hand, through our learning, will guide us in the decision process. What a burden to be lifted! I don't need to be constantly turning over my sholder looking for my Father's permission provided I have done due dillegence through reading of the scripture, discussing the spirit with a likeminded community, and having time in my day dedicated to the Father. As we can see, there is action necessary on my part: I need to strive for wisdom, but with wisdom I am free of the debilitating kind of fear that can inhibit me from action.
Peace
