The Bitter Bread of the Foolish by Robert Wurtz II

The Bitter Bread of the Foolish 

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, says our text. It is a timeless truth, even as God through the mouth of Job hath declared; Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. (Job 28:28 b) If a man or woman learn not this truth, the whole of their life is destined for absolute ruin.

I think it appropriate to say, may the fear of the LORD be learned in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come. Fear learned in that fateful hour is most dreadful indeed. This life is but a vapor, let us stand in awe of our Creator today; not tomorrow, not next week or at a convenient time- but today.

Foundational Truth

There are times when we simply need to reexamine the most basic ideals in Christianity, as a means of recalibrating our thinking. At the foundation of all Christian belief is the most fundamental fact; The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Notice what is inferred; to despise wisdom and instruction is to walk devoid of the fear of the LORD. The knowledge of God and His law is primarily in view. To fear the LORD is to desire to know Him and His will- that the one fearing might express that fear by simple obedience.

Understanding

Our passage literally says, the fear of the LORD is the beginning of understanding. Understanding means that we perceive the meaning of something so as to understand it's significance or cause, etc., and be able to explain what is understood. The reverential awe of God undergirds the wise so that their desire is for wisdom and instruction. Consider this. Their desire is to know God and His will. They do what it takes to learn of Him. Indeed, the wise are built on the knowledge of God's will; the foolish are built on the sandy foundation of self-will. This is a simple reality.

'Lovers' and 'Loathers' of Wisdom and Instruction

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. (Proverbs 4:7)

For the wise, their meat is to learn the will of God and perform it. The foolish are gratified by the fulfillment of his/her own desire. The foolish loathe the counsel of God. Yet, understanding is more than a mental assent to facts, it is the willingness and ability to walk out what is understood. One does not rightly understand something until they can perform that something. God's word carries within itself the grace to accomplish what is revealed; hence, it is called the Word of His grace. The Living Word is full of grace (John 1:14); the revealed Word is full of grace as well (Acts 14:3, 20:32).