Proverbs 1:5-7 (ESV)
5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
and the one who understands obtain guidance,
6 to understand a proverb and a saying,
the words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
The ability to “understand” requires attention, and that word is repeated twice to emphasize the necessity of hard work and study in gaining wisdom. A proverb is like a parable. The words of the wise and their riddles impart timeless truths that require careful thought and consideration. The fear of the Lord provides the foundation for the entire book. Practically, this is where the foolish and the wise separate. The fool wants to live according to her desires. The wise woman, on the other hand, lives in continual awareness of God’s existence and his right to oversee and manage all of creation. The wise woman trusts that God’s choices are better than her own and aligns herself with his will. Do you ever feel like obedience to God will leave you feeling cheated or cause you to miss out? It won’t. In the end, rejecting God’s law to do things our way leaves us empty and wanting. If we honestly seek to live wisely, we must begin by fearing the consequences of disobedience to God while embracing the inevitable challenges of living his way. God knows what’s genuinely best for us. Let’s never despise his truth by continuing another day living apart from it.