Weekend Kindness
Reaching Others Through Kindness

The book of Proverbs opens with a call to those that would be wise.  It gives an introduction to the material that will be found therein, and invites the reader to ?increase in learning and to obtain guidance.?

The first actual proverb is found in verse 7:

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.1

This passage is making a general statement.  If one wants to begin to understand knowledge, then they must start by fearing the Lord.

This fear isn?t necessarily the fear of ?what will He do to me? but instead the fear of reverence and position.  God, as the Creator of all things, knows all things.  Therefore, whatever He says is true.

The opposite is then stated:  Those that would refuse to gain knowledge from the Lord are fools?for fool despise wisdom and instruction.

It is from this framework and with this in mind that the writer of the following Proverbs is going to expound wisdom to the reader.  Though many of the things he will say are innately wise, only a mind that considers what the Lord has as valuable and true will be able to attest to it all.

1. The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Pr 1:7). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

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