Do you follow the world’s wisdom, namely, that you can understand the world and yourself without reference to God or his Word? Or have you thoughtfully rejected it?
Prayer: Lord, I want to make you “my fear” rather than be both intimidated and enticed by things in this world that can’t hold a candle to your power and glory. Make yourself a living, bright reality to my heart. Amen.
February 9
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (1:7)
RESPONDING TO GRACE. To our surprise, the fear of the Lord increases the more grace and forgiveness are experienced (Psalms 42:2–3, 130:4). But this is key to Proverbs. All the advice for daily living assumes a holy God who nonetheless redeems by grace. A God who accepts only the most moral people will inspire slavish fear of punishment. A God who simply accepts everyone might evoke warm affection. Only a belief that we are lost but freely saved sinners creates a joyful yet awe-filled assurance of his saving love.
This is wisdom’s beginning, its prerequisite. The deep consolation of his grace heals the heart of the arrogance, hurt feelings, jealousy, self-pity, anxieties, and fear of the future—all forms of self-absorption at the root of bad decisions and character. This fear is of the Lord, Yahweh, the name God revealed to Moses in the burning bush. So wisdom flows not from some god in general but from faith in the biblical God, who led us out of captivity by his power and grace, through the greater Moses, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 3:1–6).
Can you think about how a disbelief in God’s grace may lie at the root of many of your problems?
Prayer: Lord, you revealed your burning, infinite beauty and glory to Moses in a simple desert bush. Now, through the grace of Jesus, may you begin to reproduce your holy character in me by allowing my heart to burn with a holy fear of you, my loving God. Amen.
February 10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (1:7)
CHANGING DEEPLY. Faith in Jesus moves us from the dread of punishment to the godly fear that is the beginning of wisdom. In Christ we no longer fear God’s judicial penalty (Romans 8:1,15). But wisdom requires a genuine hatred of wrongdoing, not just a calculated avoidance of it out of self-interest. The dread of punishment only makes us self-absorbed—worried about being hurt.46 The true fear of the Lord serves him out of joy and high appreciation for who he is. “Even if there were no hell,” this kind of loving fear “would still shudder at offending him alone.”47
The difference between slavish, self-interested fear and the true fear of the Lord is the difference between a mere moralist and a real Christian. There is no wise living unless we have a relationship with him, one in which we obey him out of love for who he is. Only a faith sight of Jesus’ sacrificial love for us both humbles us and yet affirms us into the joyful fear of the Lord.48
Do you refrain from sins mainly because you hate their consequences? Or do you refrain out of distaste for the sins themselves, as they grieve and offend God?
Prayer: Lord, “give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name” (Psalm 86:11). Yes—when I do wrong it rebounds on me and I hate that. But make yourself so real to me that I long to do right and be holy for your sake, just to bring you delight. Then I will fear you truly and walk in wisdom. Amen.
February 11
The fear of the LORD leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble. (19:23)
RESTING IN GOD. Those who fear God find God satisfying, and they are contented. The second phrase literally says that they “spend the night” content, meaning that God is like a haven for the storm tossed.
How is it possible to live life untouched by trouble? This does not say that we will not have trouble, only that it will not overthrow our contentment. Trouble can take anything away from you except God. Therefore, if God is to you a greater safety, a deeper security, and a more powerful hope than anything else in the world, you fear no trouble. Depending on God in trouble is a spiritual skill that can be learned only in trouble. Difficulties take away earthly comforts and then, through prayer and reflection on the Word, we are driven closer to God to get his unique consolations. The process is long and in many parts painful, but the fruit is a spiritual poise that no trouble can dislodge. Jesus promises it to all his disciples (Matthew 11:28–30).
Think of the last time you went through a very difficult season. Did it strengthen or weaken your intimacy with God? Are you more ready for trouble or less?
Prayer: Lord, St. Augustine said our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you. But I freely confess that though I believe in you, I am often discontent. Let your attributes—love, patience, power, justice, mercy—be not abstractions but comforts to me. By your Spirit make yourself real to my heart. Amen.
February 12
Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge. (14:26)
TRUSTING IN GOD. On January 23 we saw that “trusting in the Lord” meant obeying his will whether we like it or not. But there is a second aspect to trusting the Lord. It means accepting what he allows to come into our lives, whether we understand it or not. It trusts him to “in all things work for the good” (Romans 8:28), even if we can’t see the whole plan.
This kind of dependent trust in God is like a secure fortress. Other people may look to their own reason and talent to handle life. Or they may look to some great leader or a loved one they depend on for everything. The problem is that these “fortresses” are easily captured. Your intelligence and foresight are limited. Loved ones die. Then we are left defenseless. But when our greatest fear and ultimate hope is God and his loving, wise plan, then there is nothing that can overthrow us.
Is there some difficulty in your life now that you can accept, not as a good thing in itself but as part of God’s wise plan for your life?
Prayer: Lord, when things go wrong for me, I get so angry at you. I don’t know why you aren’t supporting my brilliant plan for my life! But how dare I think that my plan could be smarter or more loving than yours? I repent. Amen.
February 13
Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death. (14:26–27)
ENJOYING GOD. God is both a fortress and a fountain, because “evil not only attacks but attracts us.”49 We are tempted to lie, be ruthless, and trample on others—for fear that if we are too virtuous, we will be passed by in the competition of life. But we are also tempted to greed, lust, gluttony—for fear that if we are too virtuous, we will miss out on much joy and pleasure. This means we must not simply know how to trust in God as a fortress. We must also learn to delight in him, enjoying his presence and love as a fountain. Some kinds of Christianity put the emphasis on the will and life actions, other kinds on the emotions, worship, and praise. The Bible never, ever emphasizes one over the other or pits them against each other.
When others, including our children, see us trusting God and not melting down before the problems of life—and when they see us actually delighting in God rather than being merely dutiful—that may be a refuge for them. It may attract them to a relationship with him.
When people who know you well watch you under pressure, what do they see?
Prayer: Lord, I rejoice in your justice, which is my security, and your love, which is my joy. What would I ever do without “thy justice like mountains, high soaring above; thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love”?50 Amen.
February 14
Ears that hear and eyes that see—the LORD has made them both. (20:12)
RADICAL GRACE. Wisdom requires practical experience but experience does not necessarily lead to wisdom. The fool sees and hears things but his eye and ear do not perceive them properly (17:24; 23:9). This proverb claims we are incapable of these things without God’s he
lp. We have seen that God offers a salvation by grace. Here we learn we can’t even want or receive this salvation without his gracious help.
Unaided, the human mind and heart will distort what they see and hear. Any eye or ear that interprets reality truly is doing so only with God’s help. He does not just supplement their power; he makes them. As Paul writes in Romans 3:11: “There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.” Unless God himself opens the eyes and ears, through unmerited grace, we can do nothing. Though Proverbs concentrates its teaching on principles for wise living, it is not moralistic. It does not teach that we can earn God’s blessing by exerting our moral power. It assumes, in verses like these, that nothing at all can be accomplished without dependence upon the saving grace of God.
When you think of sharing your faith with a friend or relative, how does radical grace encourage you to have hope that literally anyone can come to faith?
Prayer: Lord, I am not capable in myself of any spiritual good. And to even be able to say that is an insight given by you. Oh, it’s all of grace, from first to last! It is by the grace of God that I am what I am (1 Corinthians 10:15). I bless your name for your unmerited mercy. Amen.
February 15
Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble. (28:14)
PRACTICING HIS PRESENCE. To always tremble before God is a way to talk about existentially, moment by moment, practicing the presence of God. It means to keep God consciously in mind as you move through your day. You never get mad at someone without remembering God is there, watching. This is the God who has come from heaven to earth to forgive you, who forgave his enemies from the cross. To the degree that you remain deliberately aware of this, you will maintain a soft heart toward those that wrong you, not a hard heart.
Jesus may have had this proverb in mind when he told the parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:21–35). The servant who owed his master an enormous amount of money was forgiven, but when he met a fellow servant who owed him a small amount, he was harsh and vicious. Failure to forgive others who have wronged you demonstrates that you have forgotten how much you have been forgiven, and at what cost to Jesus (Philippians 2:6–8).
How can you, today, discipline yourself to practice the Lord’s presence?
Prayer: Lord, there could not be a more practical spiritual discipline than to keep you ever before me, to be always aware of your presence (Psalm 16:8). In every conversation, action, and event let me keep you in mind. That is the way of true wisdom. Amen.
February 16
Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD evil is avoided. (16:6)
FAITH AND WORKS. Through God’s covenant love (Hebrew chesedh) sin is atoned for. So our salvation comes not because of our love and faithfulness but because of God’s. Yet verse 6b tells us that the fear of the Lord this salvation produces in us leads us to shun evil. This is what we see also in the New Testament. The Protestant Reformation summarized this biblical teaching about Christ’s salvation. It denied that faith in God plus the shunning of evil merited salvation. But it also denied that true faith in God could bring a salvation that did not issue the shunning of evil.
Rather, the Reformation taught that we are saved by faith alone but not by a faith that remains alone. That is, we are saved by Christ’s atonement, apart from any merit or goodness in us. But genuine faith in Christ will always result in a grateful joy that produces life change. Both legalism and relativism are foolish. The gospel is true wisdom.
Has your faith produced real life change? Would the people closest to you say that over the past two years you have become more loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, humble, and self-controlled?
Prayer: Lord, the gospel appears foolish to the world (1 Corinthians 1:18–25), but it is the most sublime wisdom. I praise you for giving us a powerful incentive to serve you, but without crushing us under guilt. It is wiser than either the stifling moralistic cultures or the rudderless relativistic cultures of the world. Amen.
February 17
The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him. . . . The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. (15:8,29)
DETESTABLE SACRIFICES. In Old Testament worship, a sacrifice was an offering that believers were to bring to God. In the New Testament, our financial gifts given as part of worship, as well as our charity to the poor, are also called “sacrifices” (Philippians 4:18; Hebrews 13:16). These proverbs reflect the teaching of the prophets (Isaiah 58:1–14), namely, that we may give large sums of money to church and charity, but if that is accompanied by being wicked, God detests it. If despite your financial generosity you conduct a life devoted to advantaging yourself by disadvantaging others, that is not true faith.
History is filled with figures who made money exploiting people and then sought to make a name for themselves through philanthropy. But God detests this. A ruthless business deal that hurts others to enrich yourself cannot be made up for through religiosity or philanthropy. These verses show us how intensely our daily social and economic behavior matters to God.
Are you generous within your work and business—to customers and employees? Is the company you work for exploiting people?
Prayer: Lord, like most people, I think of myself as fair-minded, but do I habitually disadvantage myself to advantage others? When I look at my life through this biblical standard, I fall short. Forgive me! And help me live in such a way that my life and prayer please you. Amen.
February 18
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. (16:3)
EVERY AREA OF LIFE. To trust God is to obey him in whatever he says (January 22) and to submit to his will in whatever he sends (February 12). Here we are challenged to do this across every arena of our life—in whatever you do. That includes our work, leisure, intellectual life, inner thought life and imagination, friendships, health and treatment of our body, marriage or romantic relationships, money and possessions, relationship to church and other Christians, emotional life, and personal identity. To commit to the Lord whatever you do is to deliberately go through each of these areas and list what trusting (obeying and submitting to) God would require. Then ask God for his help to implement the list.
The second clause says that, if we commit our lives to him, he will take care of our plans. As the rest of the Bible shows us, that does not mean he gives us whatever we want. Rather, the wise accept that “even if our human plans are subverted, we can recognize an even deeper plan at work in our lives,” namely, the all-wise and good will of God (Romans 8:28).51
Have you systematically committed whatever you do to the Lord?
Prayer: Lord, even though I don’t understand everything you tell me in your Word, I will obey it. Even though I don’t understand everything you send into my life, I will accept your plan and learn from it. What I just said is an enormous commitment, and it frightens me. Fortify me and strengthen me to find my all in you. Amen.
February 19
To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. . . . If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable. (21:3, 28:9)
BRIBING SACRIFICES. We saw (February 17) that sacrifices and good deeds that are not backed up with a righteous life are detestable to God (21:3). But 28:9 goes deeper, telling us that even seemingly heartfelt prayers are detestable to God unless accompanied by a humble, teachable spirit. In 2 Kings 5, Naaman the Syrian seeks to be healed of leprosy by Israel’s God. So he takes royal letters of petition and much wealth and presents them to the king of Israel to receive his miracle. He assumes the king controls the prophets. But the king of Israel tears his robes (2 Kings 5:7), and says, in essence, “Here the king doesn’t tell the prophets what to do. The prophets tell the king what to do. God can’t be bought off with sac
rifices and prayers.”
God is a person, not some cosmic principle, and there can be no “subpersonal transactions” with him.52 We must love him with our whole heart and gladly listen to him. Only when we know our prayers and gifts merit nothing will they have worth in God’s eyes.
Look at the last time you experienced a great disappointment. Did you feel God owed you? Why?
Prayer: Father, recently something very difficult happened to me, and I caught myself thinking, “What good is all this prayer and Bible study if God treats me like this?” Now I see how wicked and foolish it is to think I can put you in my debt. Forgive me and change me. Amen.
February 20
“Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.” (30:5–6)
HIS WORD. The beginning of all wisdom is the “fear of the Lord.” But how do we know if we are relating to the real God? The answer is there is no real knowing of God unless we know him through his Word. Otherwise we are creating a God out of our imagination. Proverbs assumes the truth of Scripture, but here is a strong claim that God’s Word is flawless, that is, that it is perfect, sufficient, and without error. Of course Agur is thinking only of the prophecies and Scriptures that had been written up to his day. But there is a similar warning at the end of the entire Bible (Revelation 22:18–19) to not add to God’s Words.
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