The Beginning of Wisdom
Robby Pollard, Lead Pastor
“The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.” William Shakespeare
“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” Aristotle
“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” Socrates
“Knowledge can be communicated, but not wisdom. One can find it, live it, be fortified by it, do wonders through it, but one cannot communicate and teach it.” Herman Hesse
I could really use some wisdom about ____________.
Proverbs 1:1-7
1The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: 2To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, 3to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; 4to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— 5Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, 6to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. 7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
Proverbs 1:7
7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:1
1The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
1 Kings 4:1
1King Solomon was king over all Israel,
1 Kings 4:26
26Solomon also had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen.
1 Kings 4:30-32, 34
30so that Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31For he was wiser than all other men, wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol, and his fame was in all the surrounding nations. 32He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005.
34And people of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.
1 Kings 10:5
5the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the LORD, there was no more breath in her.
1 Kings 10:6-7
6And she said to the king, “The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom, 7but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report that I heard.
1 Kings 3:5
5At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.”
1 Kings 3:9
9Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
Proverbs 1:1
1The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
Proverbs 1:2-4
2To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, 3to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; 4to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth—
The Five Purposes for the Proverbs:
- To know wisdom and instruction (v.2)
- To understand words of insight (v. 2)
- To learn what is right, honest and fair (v. 3)
- To give prudence to the simple (v. 4)
- To give knowledge and discretion to young people.
Proverbs 1:5-6
5Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, 6to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.
Proverbs 1:7
7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:15
15my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths,
Proverbs 1:7
7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Exodus 3:14
14God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
Exodus 3:15
15God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.
Attributes of the Lord:
- He is self-existent
- He is the creator and sustainer
- He is immutable
- He is eternal
Acts 9:5
5And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
Acts 17:18
18Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”— because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.
Philippians 2:11
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Proverbs 1:7
7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
“Twas grace that taught my heart to fear.”
Psalms 14:1
1The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.
Isaiah 32:6
6For the fool speaks folly, and his heart is busy with iniquity, to practice ungodliness, to utter error concerning the LORD, to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied, and to deprive the thirsty of drink.
The wise discerns what is right. The fool desires what is evil.
Proverbs 1:7
7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Matthew 7:24-27
24“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Proverbs 1:7
7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
3 steps through the door to wisdom:
- Pray for wisdom.
- Read the word.
- Fear the Lord.
Wisdom is receiving, believing and living the Word of God
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