SEPTEMBER 24, 2026 Proverbs 1:15-16 My son, do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path; for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. At the very beginning of this book, Solomon pointed out to us that the “fear of the Lord” is a must […]
SEPTEMBER 23, 2026 Proverbs 1:10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. It is interesting that, immediately after this admonition, Solomon addresses the danger of listening to those who have violence on their mind. He warns, “If they say, ‘Come with us, let us lie in wait to shed blood,’ don’t go with […]
SEPTEMBER 22, 2026 Proverbs 1:10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. Because we were all born with a sinful inclination, we are naturally susceptible to the enticements of those who promote a sinful lifestyle. These tempters will always present the benefits and joys of whatever unrighteous habit in which they are engaged […]
SEPTEMBER 21, 2026 Proverbs 1:8-9 My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother; for they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck. Throughout the book of Proverbs, there are repeated warnings to the child to heed the instructions and reproof of their parents, […]
SEPTEMBER 20, 2026
Proverbs 1:8-9
My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother; for they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck.
There are so many things in modern society that are easily attainable, especially here in America. Convenience is a hallmark of the American experience, so much so that many of our chores and luxuries do not even require us to leave our cars. For example, we have drive through restaurants, drive through pharmacies, drive through banks; I hear that in Las Vegas, a couple can be married while sitting in their car. On one hand, that sounds desirable, but I would argue that anything of value, especially things of eternal value, are not easily attained and are certainly not convenient.
Godly wisdom is not something we can just walk into a store and expect to purchase. It is not a ready-made suit bought off the rack that fits perfectly without having to make any alterations. The wisdom that comes from God is imparted by His Spirit. Furthermore, it is not dispensed like candy; it is something that is attained through great effort and devotion. And I would add that it is available only to those who are willing to humble themselves and receive instruction from those God has set over us to teach us. First and foremost, that means our parents. More than anyone in this world, fathers and mothers are the ones who are responsible and motivated to teach us what we need to know. Ideally, they are the ones who have our best interests in mind, second only to our Heavenly Father.
This verse speaks of honoring our parents by listening to their instruction; the previous verse speaks of honoring God by choosing to fear Him. Together, the message in these two verses is that there are three “partners” who work together to make us into what He intended us to be — God, our father and our mother. Clearly, the Creator has established a proper order to things, including how we obtain Godly wisdom. Therefore, we are to respect and obey those over us in the Lord, starting with our parents; for if we are not willing to receive wise instruction from them, it is likely that we will resist receiving instruction from our Heavenly Father. When we honor Godly parents by hearing their instruction and refusing to forsake their law, we honor the One who created us.
SEPTEMBER 19, 2026
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
As we shared in a previous devotion, the Hebrew word translated as “fear” is יראה yirah which, depending on how it is used, can mean to dread something or someone or, more positively, to show reverence. When it comes to the Almighty, either of these applications could apply; someone who despises wisdom and instruction should be in dread of Him considering that He can, at any time of His choosing, dispense judgment. For those who love and serve Him, they fear Him out of reverence, awe and respect. Yes, we realize He has the authority to cast both body and soul into hell, but we are keenly aware that He desires that all should come to repentance and not be separated from His Presence.
So, when it comes to what “the fear of the Lord” actually means and what it looks like, I would suggest it depends on how we choose to see the Almighty. Is He sovereign in our lives or does He represent opposition to our will and desire? Interestingly enough, the word יראה yirah is related to the root word ראה ra’ah which means “to see.” The prophet Isaiah recorded a vision in which he “saw the Lord … high and lifted up” (Isaiah 6:1). Perceiving the Lord as majestic and all powerful, his response was to say of himself, “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5). In short, he was humbled by the experience. He saw the Lord and immediately exhibited reverence for the Most High. So, unless a person is able to “see” that the Lord is sovereign, it is unlikely that they will acknowledge His greatness, nor will they fear Him as they should.
There is one other related word that merits our attention and that is the root word ירה yarah. This word means “to direct, inform and instruct,” or even better, “to teach.” It is the root from which is derived the term תורה torah, (commonly translated as Law). The point is this: those who are able to “see” that God is sovereign and, therefore, should be feared, will also realize that He is worthy of our devotion. Consequently, we choose to obey His instructions. Furthermore, because we desire to avoid the pitfalls that so easily entice the wicked, we follow His direction and, in so doing, acquire the wisdom that comes from on High. Possessing an appropriate fear of the Lord is the beginning of so many things, all of which lead us into the paths of righteousness and position us to receive untold blessings from above.
SEPTEMBER 18, 2026 Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. As we addressed in the previous devotion, to obtain beneficial knowledge, understanding and wisdom, one must possess a legitimate fear of God. When a person has an appropriate fear and reverence for the Creator, their focus will be […]
SEPTEMBER 17, 2026 Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Having concluded the introductory portion of the Book, Solomon gets to the primary issue in regard to Wisdom — it is predicated on authentic reverence and respect for the Creator. Without the fear of God present in our […]
SEPTEMBER 16, 2026 Proverbs 1:5-6 A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, to understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles. Considering that the book of Proverbs was written by the wisest man ever to live (Messiah is the obvious exception to that […]
SEPTEMBER 15, 2026 Proverbs 1:5-6 A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, to understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles. I have said for years that, when it comes to understanding the Scripture, the more I learn the […]
