Digging Into the Word: Proverbs 1:1-7

This past summer, I decided to really dig in to the book of Proverbs. Reading small sections at a time, I would write that section into my journal, read commentary if I felt I needed to, and then write my own thoughts in my journal. As usual, life got busy and I left off doing that for a time, but I think I'm ready to jump back in! I thought a good way to restart would be to review what I've done so far and perhaps share some of my thoughts here.

There is so much wisdom in Proverbs, and I usually tend to breeze through it too fast. It's so good to slow down, really read it, write it down, pray about it, and really think about what it means.

"The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 

To know wisdom and instruction,

To perceive the words of understanding,

To receive the instruction of wisdom,

justice, judgement, and equity;

To give prudence to the simple,

To the young man knowledge and

discretion--

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.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

But fools despise wisdom and instruction."

~Proverbs 1:1-7

This is an introduction of the book of Proverbs. It lays out the purpose of studying this book: to gain wisdom, instruction, understanding, justice, judgement, equity, prudence, and discretion. Notice, it all starts on a foundation of a healthy fear of the Lord.