In our study last month we learned how
the Bible defines knowledge, the source of knowledge and the value
God places on it. This month we'll jump into the book of Proverbs and
discover it's take on knowledge. Proverbs is one of my favorite books and
I'm excited to learn more about it's treasures together!
Into Proverbs!
To give subtilty to the simple, to
the young man knowledge and discretion. (Proverbs
1:4)
Yea, if thou
criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice
for understanding; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD,
and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD
giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge
and understanding. (Proverbs 2:3, 5 & 6)
Right from the
start, God tells us the purpose of Proverbs is to give knowledge and discretion to the young. He also gives us the top two best ways to find knowledge: God's
Word and asking for it.
God's Word:
Have you ever thought of how practical the Bible is? What it has to
say about biology, history, nutrition, astronomy, economics, broken
relationships and what God expects from us? We've already touched on
how God is the fountainhead of true knowledge, but how do we know how
to separate true knowledge from the false? The answer is His Word.
The Bible must be our filter that lets the pure air of truth through
while straining out the toxic fumes of falsehood. Granted, the Bible
may not give us every detail of world history, but the Bible as a
history book gives us the framework for how to interpret history. It
may not tell us how how many light years Regulus is from Earth, but what it teaches about the stars has proven
true. The Bible even exposed science laws that modern science is just
now catching up to.
Asking for it:
The second best way to grow in knowledge is to ask others. This is
probably the hardest one for me. I've missed too many opportunities
to grow in knowledge because I was either too shy, too lazy or too
proud to ask. But one of the best questions you and I could ever
master is “How do you do that?” Quiet politeness never helped
anyone learn something new. And the thing is, most people love the
opportunity to share what they know. So be bold in pursuing
knowledge. If you have a question, ask.
They are all
plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find
knowledge. Receive my
instruction, and not silver; and knowledge
rather than choice gold.( Proverbs 8:9 & 10)
In God's sight,
knowledge is better than the choicest gold and silver. Could this be
an important insight for moderns living in a feeble economy? Could it
be that while the world is staring at the stock value of gold and
silver, that knowledge of how to provide for oneself and others might
be the greater protection against either a local or global crises?
Food for thought.
Wise men lay up
knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near
destruction. (Proverbs 10:14)
What is it wise
men search for and lay up for, like a squirrel storing food against
January's cold? Knowledge! How motivated are you and I to follow the
way of wise men?
Whoso loveth
instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth
reproof is brutish. (Proverbs 12:1)
Smite a
scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath
understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
(Proverbs 19:25)
Are you grateful
when your dad corrects you on how to mow the lawn? What about when
Grandma tells you to sit up straight? Does your spirit readily see
the wisdom in their instruction or do you inwardly bristle that they
are telling you what to do? Our love of knowledge is tested by our
love of instruction. To love instruction is to be grateful
to the one who reproves us, but to resent it reveals our foolishness.
Every prudent
man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth
open his folly. (Proverbs 13:16)
Prudence is highly
esteemed in the Bible and here the prudent man is characterized by
his knowledge. To “dealeth” means to “trade, market”, such as
when we say a man deals in horses or real estate. Knowledge is the
prudent man's trademark that guides his way of living.
Bow down thine
ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my
knowledge. (Proverbs 22:17)
I love this word
picture about a common, yet sometimes despised, avenue for knowledge.
It's in bowing down our ear and listening to the little elderly lady
in the wheelchair tell about being frugal during the Great Depression
or listening when great-grandpa tells his best gardening tips, that so
much knowledge is gained. So many times we are like Rehoboam who
preferred the counsel of his friends over the older advisers. Thus we miss
untold gems of knowledge because we don't bow down our ear.
A wise man is
strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth
strength. (Proverbs 24:5)
To increase in
knowledge is to increase in strength. No wonder the Proverbs 31 woman
is characterized as being girded with strength – she must have
known knowledge was a jewel above rubies.
And by
knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all
precious and pleasant riches...So shall the knowledge
of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall
be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off. (Proverbs
24:4 & 14)
The blessings of
the words of knowledge overtake us in many ways one of which is in
financial resources. Ultimately it is God Who gives power to get
wealth, but the Bible does link it as a side benefit to increasing in
knowledge. As these verses show, God wills for His children to be
storehouses of knowledge for their good and His glory. Anything else
that follows is a bonus.
We've just
waded ankle-deep into the vast pool of Proverbs. We didn't even cover
how the lips reveal a man's level of knowledge (Proverbs 15:2, 4 &
17) or the diligence it requires by the one who seeks it (Proverbs
18:15). Maybe one of your goals this week could be doing your own
word study on knowledge and learning more about this amazing gift.
Word studies are very simple to do using either a concordance or
go to Bible Gateway (type "knowledge" into the search bar) https://www.biblegateway.com/. It
would make my day to hear what you learn, so feel more than free to
share in the comments! (smiles)
"To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion."
"To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion."
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