Proverbs 1: Wisdom, Repentance, and Delight
I'm beginning a study of Proverbs in my devotional time, and, the Lord willing, hope to post some thoughts here.
The Proverbs, like the rest of Scripture, routinely present an antithesis between faith and unbelief. Each portion of the Word may present this antithesis from a different angle, but the antithesis is always there. Proverbs paints that antithesis, at least in this first chapter, as being between wisdom and folly: wisdom is "the fear of the LORD", and folly is the despising of that fear (1:7). Wisdom rebukes and chastens us, and those that have faith (or wisdom) will turn towards it and away from folly at her reproof (1:23). Thus, repentance is a vital aspect of wisdom--repentance of folly and of unbelief.
When we encounter situations in our lives that demand faith--and what situation does not?--to fear the LORD is to be wise, and to be wise is to turn from unbelief and toward faith. But notice the language of the chapter: wisdom (and, as we're equating them, faith) does not exist in a void--it does something. To be wise is to act wisely in situations that arise. The son is told to "walk not in the way of" those despising wisdom. We are told this elsewhere in Psalm 1:1, and there we also learn that our delight is wrapped up in wisdom and faith. Faithfulness leads to delightful living, and delightful navigation through difficult situations. Wisdom equals faithfulness equals delight, so when we are turning from folly and seeking wisdom, we will find ourselves delighting in the LORD and in His Law.
Faith equals delight in the LORD, and delight means delight in obedience. Faithfulness shows forth in our actions, and our actions should always be guided by the perfect Law of the LORD. Repentance equals faithfulness, which equals delight.
The Proverbs, like the rest of Scripture, routinely present an antithesis between faith and unbelief. Each portion of the Word may present this antithesis from a different angle, but the antithesis is always there. Proverbs paints that antithesis, at least in this first chapter, as being between wisdom and folly: wisdom is "the fear of the LORD", and folly is the despising of that fear (1:7). Wisdom rebukes and chastens us, and those that have faith (or wisdom) will turn towards it and away from folly at her reproof (1:23). Thus, repentance is a vital aspect of wisdom--repentance of folly and of unbelief.
When we encounter situations in our lives that demand faith--and what situation does not?--to fear the LORD is to be wise, and to be wise is to turn from unbelief and toward faith. But notice the language of the chapter: wisdom (and, as we're equating them, faith) does not exist in a void--it does something. To be wise is to act wisely in situations that arise. The son is told to "walk not in the way of" those despising wisdom. We are told this elsewhere in Psalm 1:1, and there we also learn that our delight is wrapped up in wisdom and faith. Faithfulness leads to delightful living, and delightful navigation through difficult situations. Wisdom equals faithfulness equals delight, so when we are turning from folly and seeking wisdom, we will find ourselves delighting in the LORD and in His Law.
Faith equals delight in the LORD, and delight means delight in obedience. Faithfulness shows forth in our actions, and our actions should always be guided by the perfect Law of the LORD. Repentance equals faithfulness, which equals delight.
posted by Baumbach at 12:24 PM
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