Provérbios 1

Provérbios 1:7

Clarke - The fear of the Lord - In the preceding verses Solomon shows the advantage of acting according to the dictates of wisdom; in the following verses he shows the danger of acting contrary to them. The fear of the Lord signifies that religious reverence which every intelligent being owes to his Creator; and is often used to express the whole of religion, as we have frequently had occasion to remark in different places. But what is religion? The love of God, and the love of man; the former producing all obedience to the Divine will; the latter, every act of benevolence to one‘s fellows. The love of God shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Spirit produces the deepest religious reverence, genuine piety, and cheerful obedience. To love one‘s neighbor as himself is the second great commandment; and as love worketh no ill to one‘s neighbor, therefore it is said to be the fulfilling of the law. Without love, there is no obedience; without reverence, there is neither caution, consistent conduct, nor perseverance in righteousness. This fear or religious reverence is said to be the beginning of knowledge; ראשית (reshith), the principle, the first moving influence, begotten in a tender conscience by the Spirit of God. No man can ever become truly wise, who does not begin with God, the fountain of knowledge; and he whose mind is influenced by the fear and love of God will learn more in a month than others will in a year. Fools despise - אוילים (evilim), evil men. Men of bad hearts, bad heads, and bad ways. James Gray - The nature of this book makes divisions of its chapters rather arbitrary, and ours may not always be the best, but it is hoped it may prove useful in some degree. The opening of chapter four suggests a new beginning, for which reason we conclude this lesson at the close of chapter three. It begins with an advertisement (Proverbs 1:1-6), in which mention is made of the author (Proverbs 1:1), the object of the book (Proverbs 1:2-3), and its great value (Proverbs 1:4-6). Then follows its theme, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge’’ (Proverbs 1:7), of which the rest of the lesson is a development or exposition. “Beginning” is rendered in the margin of the Revised Version “chief part.” “The fear of the Lord” means a right state of heart towards God as opposed to the condition of an unconverted man. Put the two ideas together, and we learn that the chief part of all knowledge is to be right with God. In working out of the thought: 1. The teacher exhorts his “son” or pupil, to avoid vice (Pr 1:8-19); 2. He shows the ruinous conduct of the unwise, a warning placed on the lips of wisdom personified (Pr 1:20-33); 3. This warning is accentuated by contrasting the consequences of obedience and a striving after wisdom (Pr 2:1-3); 4. The Lord is shown as the protector of those who are wise in this sense (Pr 3:19-26); 5. The division concludes with an admonition to charity and justice (Pr 3:27-35). John