Biblically Speaking: The Beginning of Knowledge


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

Last week, we discussed the meaning of fear. The word “fear” is not horror but, respect, just as we would our father upon earth. This week, let’s look at the next word, “knowledge.” Knowledge in Hebrew is “daath”. Daath is an ability to know, discernment, insight experience of something or in this case, someone. The root word for “daath” in Hebrew is the word “Yada.” Yada means to know intimately. Do you recall the verse in Genesis 4:1, “And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived.”? The word “knew” isn’t knowledge for the mind, but to know each other intimately.

Now, let’s put this sentence back together. Proverbs 1:7 says the “fear of the LORD, is the beginning of knowledge.”The respect and reverence of God is the beginning of a relationship with Him.  A relationship with God, or to be born again requires humbling ourselves before the sight of God. Man has to come in contact with Him spiritually. That’s why Jesus told Nicodemus, “ye must be borned again.” Nicodemus replied back, “How can I enter again into my mothers womb? Jesus said, “…marvel not that I said ye must be borned again, that which is born of flesh is flesh, but that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.” Christ was telling him, there must be a second birth, before someone can go to heaven.  There must be a relationship with Jesus Christ.  The beginning of knowledge is to commune with God. In order for that to happen, you must have a relationship with God first.  Let’s extend our thought a little more. Let’s say, you are saved; how does this apply to me?  Well, the relationship evidently is there, you know Him as Savior, but do you know Him as Lord?  We can know Jesus from salvation , and that’s great, but salvation should not be the end. If that was so, when we received Christ we’d go straight to heaven. Jesus wants us to know Him intimately, as would a parent to their child . We sometimes are more intimate with the devil, world and the flesh than we are with Christ. It is no surprise why we do not grow as Christians. We aren’t respecting God nor His Son Jesus Christ. We can name the starting lineup for our favorite football team,but we can’t name the 12 apostles nor the ten plagues.

I bet y’all didn’t see that coming out of this little verse. Study your Bible, you’ll never regret it.

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