718. The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Knowledge - January 1, 2025

[00:00:06] Welcome to Wisdom Today. My name is Bill Kelley and I'll be your host. In this podcast we will be exploring the book of Proverbs.

[00:00:22] Let's open in prayer. Father God, I thank you for anyone listening to this podcast today. Lord, I pray that you would bless each and every one of them and that they would be filled with wisdom.

[00:00:34] In addition, as we begin a new year, I pray that they would be inclined toward reading your word and hearing this podcast on a regular basis, knowing that my desire is that everyone acquire wisdom.

[00:00:52] Father God, let your will be done, I ask in Jesus name. Amen.

[00:00:58] Friends, this is Proverb 1, beginning in verse 1.

[00:01:04] The Proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel.

[00:01:09] To know wisdom and instruction. To perceive the words of understanding.

[00:01:15] To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity.

[00:01:21] To give prudence to the simple. To the young man, knowledge and discretion.

[00:01:28] A wise man will hear and increase learning.

[00:01:32] And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.

[00:01:37] To understand a proverb and an enigma.

[00:01:41] The words of the wise and their riddles.

[00:01:44] The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

[00:01:48] But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

[00:01:53] My son, hear the instruction of your father.

[00:01:56] And do not forsake the law of your mother.

[00:01:59] For they will be a graceful ornament on your head and chains about your neck.

[00:02:05] My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

[00:02:10] If they say, come with us, let us lie in wait to shed blood.

[00:02:16] Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.

[00:02:20] Let us swallow them alive like sheol.

[00:02:23] And whole like those who go down to the pit.

[00:02:27] We shall find all kinds of precious possessions.

[00:02:31] We shall fill our houses with spoil.

[00:02:35] Cast in your lot among us.

[00:02:38] Let us all have one purse.

[00:02:40] My son, do not walk in the way with them.

[00:02:44] Keep your foot from their path.

[00:02:46] For their feet run to evil.

[00:02:49] And they make haste to shed blood.

[00:02:52] Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

[00:02:57] But they lie in wait for their own blood.

[00:03:01] They lurk secretly for their own lives.

[00:03:04] So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain.

[00:03:09] It takes away the life of its owners.

[00:03:13] Wisdom calls aloud outside.

[00:03:16] She raises her voice in the open squares.

[00:03:19] She cries out in the chief concourses.

[00:03:22] At the openings of the gates in the city.

[00:03:25] She speaks her words.

[00:03:27] How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?

[00:03:32] For scorners delight in their scorning.

[00:03:35] And fools hate knowledge.

[00:03:38] Turn at my rebuke.

[00:03:40] Surely I will pour out my spirit on you.

[00:03:44] I will make my words known to you.

[00:03:47] Because I have called and you refused.

[00:03:50] I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded.

[00:03:54] Because you disdained all my counsel.

[00:03:58] And would have none of my rebuke.

[00:04:01] I also will laugh at your calamity.

[00:04:03] I will mock when your terror comes.

[00:04:07] When your terror comes like a storm.

[00:04:10] And your destruction comes like a whirlwind.

[00:04:14] When distress and anguish come upon you.

[00:04:18] Then they will call on me.

[00:04:21] But I will not answer.

[00:04:22] They will seek me diligently.

[00:04:24] But they will not find me.

[00:04:26] Because they hated knowledge.

[00:04:29] And did not choose the fear of the Lord.

[00:04:32] They would have none of my counsel.

[00:04:35] And despised my every rebuke.

[00:04:38] Therefore, they shall eat the fruit of their own way.

[00:04:42] And be filled to the full with their own fancies.

[00:04:46] For the turning away of the simple will slay them.

[00:04:50] And the complacency of fools will destroy them.

[00:04:54] But whoever listens to me will dwell safely.

[00:04:58] And will be secure without fear of evil.

[00:05:03] Friends, this is your host, Bill Kelly.

[00:05:07] And if anyone is listening for the first time to this podcast.

[00:05:12] First of all, I'd like to welcome you.

[00:05:14] I invite you to listen on a regular basis.

[00:05:18] So, as we are beginning a new year.

[00:05:22] I am beginning a new month as well.

[00:05:25] And I began this podcast way back in April of 2022.

[00:05:33] So, I am now starting my 34th month of this podcast.

[00:05:40] And unlike many podcasts, I do this on a daily basis.

[00:05:45] So, I would like to take a few moments.

[00:05:48] And go over what the purpose of this podcast is.

[00:05:53] At the very beginning, way back in March of 2022.

[00:05:58] My wife and I were attending Karis Bible College in Woodland Park, Colorado.

[00:06:04] It's a wonderful college.

[00:06:05] And we were having a good time.

[00:06:07] We actually went to class and were listening to the Bible.

[00:06:12] Four hours every day.

[00:06:16] Monday through Friday.

[00:06:17] Needless to say, if you are listening to the Word of God all the time.

[00:06:23] And when I say all the time.

[00:06:25] In between classes, the friends and the students would meet together.

[00:06:33] And talk about the classes and the information we just heard.

[00:06:36] So, we were constantly thinking about God and the Bible.

[00:06:41] And we were making wonderful, you know, new friends.

[00:06:46] People who love the Lord.

[00:06:49] And we were just having such a good time.

[00:06:51] And anyway, in the middle of the night, the Holy Spirit woke me up.

[00:06:56] And told me that I was to begin a podcast on wisdom.

[00:07:03] That was a surprise to me.

[00:07:06] At the time, I had never heard of a podcast.

[00:07:09] I didn't know what it was.

[00:07:11] I had no idea what it was I was to do.

[00:07:14] But he told me he wanted me to start it on the first of April.

[00:07:18] So, I had about three weeks to figure this out.

[00:07:21] And luckily, I was in a production of David, the King of Israel at that time.

[00:07:28] So, I was in rehearsals.

[00:07:32] And we were practicing a play.

[00:07:34] And there just happened to be someone who had a lot of information.

[00:07:39] And helped me set up the information to begin this podcast.

[00:07:44] Now, I began on April 1st as the Holy Spirit instructed me to.

[00:07:51] Now, that was a little bit different.

[00:07:53] Because the first of April of 22 was on a Friday.

[00:07:57] So, I actually began my podcast on a Friday.

[00:08:00] And then on Monday, the following week, I did my second episode.

[00:08:06] Anyway, about a month later, the Holy Spirit woke me up again.

[00:08:10] And instructed me that I was to do testimonies.

[00:08:14] Now, if you are a Christian.

[00:08:16] And if you go to church on a regular basis.

[00:08:19] Many of you understand the power of a good testimony.

[00:08:24] So, the Lord instructed me that on Tuesdays.

[00:08:29] I am to have a guest on this podcast.

[00:08:34] And have someone share their testimony.

[00:08:37] So, I did that.

[00:08:39] So, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

[00:08:42] And sometimes Friday are regular teachings.

[00:08:45] But Tuesday is always testimonies.

[00:08:49] So, my first time I did a testimony was in May of 2022.

[00:08:55] And ever since then, I have somebody on every Tuesday.

[00:09:00] Now, in addition, on Saturday, the Lord instructed me to do another podcast.

[00:09:06] And that was entitled, Lessons from the Psalms.

[00:09:10] So, if you tune in to this station every Saturday.

[00:09:15] You will hear a psalm.

[00:09:18] And I will give commentary on that particular psalm.

[00:09:23] And finally, on Sundays, if you tune in to the same broadcast.

[00:09:27] I will read a chapter from the King James Bible.

[00:09:32] So, that is what I do.

[00:09:35] That is who I am.

[00:09:36] And I am a former teacher.

[00:09:38] So, I feel I have a lot to offer.

[00:09:42] Especially being that the Holy Spirit is the teacher.

[00:09:45] So, I really would like to get that across.

[00:09:47] Is that I am not doing this of my own accord.

[00:09:51] I am simply being obedient to the Holy Spirit.

[00:09:55] And He instructs me most of the time about the verses that I am to talk about.

[00:10:03] And the content of the lesson that I will have at that time.

[00:10:09] So, the first thing I'd like to do today is go over the first seven verses of Proverb number one.

[00:10:16] Proverb number one sets the tone of the entire book of Proverbs.

[00:10:23] And Proverbs, many of you know, was written by King Solomon.

[00:10:29] Now, King Solomon was the son of another king, King David.

[00:10:35] Many of you know King David as the shepherd boy who slew a giant named Goliath.

[00:10:44] But, he grew up.

[00:10:47] And eventually, over a period of time, he came to be the king of Israel.

[00:10:53] So, what I'd like to do is go over that.

[00:10:57] Because Solomon, many people consider to be the wisest person who ever lived.

[00:11:03] So, if you are wise, then you have wisdom.

[00:11:09] So, Proverbs is written by King Solomon.

[00:11:13] About the first 29 chapters.

[00:11:16] The last two chapters were written by other folks.

[00:11:19] But, 29 of the 31 chapters are written by King Solomon.

[00:11:24] And almost every single proverb has many verses that can help guide our life.

[00:11:34] If you listen to the proverb every day.

[00:11:37] Or, if you read it on your own.

[00:11:40] So, I'm going to go over verses 1 through 7 of Proverb 1.

[00:11:46] It says,

[00:11:58] And friends, let me remind some of you who are not aware of this.

[00:12:05] That every word in the Bible is God-breathed.

[00:12:10] And it's inspired by the Holy Spirit.

[00:12:14] So, even though King Solomon wrote each one of these verses, it was inspired by the Holy Spirit.

[00:12:22] So, this is God's desire for us.

[00:12:24] Is that we have wisdom.

[00:12:26] And that we have instruction.

[00:12:29] And that we have understanding as well.

[00:12:33] Let's go to verse 3.

[00:12:35] To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity.

[00:12:41] To give prudence to the simple.

[00:12:44] To the young man, knowledge, and discretion.

[00:12:47] So, this is God's desire for everyone listening to this podcast today.

[00:12:53] Let's go to verse 5.

[00:13:03] Verse 5.

[00:13:05] To understand a proverb and an enigma.

[00:13:11] The words of the wise and their riddles.

[00:13:14] And verse 7 culminates this entire passage of scripture with,

[00:13:20] The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

[00:13:25] But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

[00:13:30] So, friends, my first point of today's lesson is,

[00:13:34] The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

[00:13:38] Now, verse 7.

[00:13:40] Let me read it again.

[00:13:42] The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

[00:13:44] So, knowledge is the initial step of learning.

[00:13:49] But it begins with having a reverential fear of God.

[00:13:55] And whenever you have that fear of God,

[00:13:58] Then you will automatically understand the importance of getting into the word of God,

[00:14:05] And reading scripture on a regular basis.

[00:14:08] But the second part of that verse says,

[00:14:11] But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

[00:14:16] So, those are the two additional steps of acquiring wisdom.

[00:14:23] It begins with knowledge.

[00:14:25] And then as you acquire knowledge and use it,

[00:14:30] Then you will begin to have understanding.

[00:14:32] And as you further grasp understanding,

[00:14:37] Then wisdom will begin to creep into your life.

[00:14:41] And you will begin to live your life with wisdom.

[00:14:47] Now, as we are beginning a new year today,

[00:14:50] And this is the very first podcast of 2025,

[00:14:55] I'd like to go to a special passage of scripture

[00:14:59] Found by the great apostle Paul.

[00:15:02] And he wrote a letter to the Philippian church

[00:15:06] When he was in jail.

[00:15:09] So, we are going to go to chapter 3 of Philippians.

[00:15:15] And what I'd like to do is key in,

[00:15:17] First of all, on verses 13 and 14.

[00:15:21] And this is what Paul says to us.

[00:15:24] Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended,

[00:15:30] But one thing I do.

[00:15:33] Forgetting those things which are behind,

[00:15:36] And reaching forward to those things which are ahead.

[00:15:42] I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

[00:15:52] Now, the second point I'd like to bring up,

[00:15:55] I summarized it to say,

[00:15:58] We should forget those things that are in the past,

[00:16:02] And focus on what lies ahead.

[00:16:06] Now, before I get into that,

[00:16:09] What I'd like to actually do is go back

[00:16:11] And read this entire passage of scripture,

[00:16:15] Beginning in verse 12,

[00:16:17] And going through verse 16.

[00:16:20] And this is entitled,

[00:16:22] Pressing toward the goal.

[00:16:26] Not that I have already attained,

[00:16:29] Or am already perfected.

[00:16:31] But I press on,

[00:16:34] That I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

[00:16:42] Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended,

[00:16:46] But one thing I do.

[00:16:49] Forgetting those things which are behind,

[00:16:51] And reaching forward to those things which are ahead.

[00:16:55] I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

[00:17:03] Therefore, let us, as many as are mature,

[00:17:09] Have this mind.

[00:17:11] And if in anything you think otherwise,

[00:17:15] God will reveal even this to you.

[00:17:18] Nevertheless, to the degree we have already attained,

[00:17:22] Let us walk by the same rule.

[00:17:25] Let us be of the same mind.

[00:17:28] Now friends,

[00:17:30] The purpose of me selecting this verse today is simple.

[00:17:36] 2,024 is now behind us.

[00:17:41] There is nothing that we can do to change anything that we have done during that year.

[00:17:48] But we have our entire future ahead of us.

[00:17:54] And that is what I'm saying.

[00:17:55] We all made mistakes last year.

[00:17:58] We all have things that we may wish we had not done.

[00:18:03] Some of you may have regrets.

[00:18:05] Some of you may have a lot of regrets of things that you did.

[00:18:08] However, this is a new year.

[00:18:11] It's a beginning.

[00:18:13] It's something that you can look forward to.

[00:18:18] Our past does not dictate our future.

[00:18:23] Let's have a good year.

[00:18:26] Now, before we close today, I'd like to go back to our passage of scripture today in Proverb number 1.

[00:18:33] And I'd like to make mention of verse 33.

[00:18:38] But whoever listens to me, meaning wisdom, will dwell safely and will be secure without fear of evil.

[00:18:51] So my third and final point today is whoever uses wisdom will dwell safely and will be secure.

[00:19:01] Friends, what a wonderful promise.

[00:19:05] So my call to action today, I really would like for you to consider writing down Philippians chapter 3 verses 13 and 14.

[00:19:19] Now, the last study that I did, I ended on December 30th.

[00:19:26] And I went over 11 podcasts on scripture verses that can help guide your life.

[00:19:35] And I highly encourage anyone that did not listen to that study to go back and to listen to some of those verses that we discussed.

[00:19:45] But what I'd like for you is say a prayer over everyone listening today before we close.

[00:19:52] Father God, I'd like to thank everyone listening to this podcast today.

[00:19:57] Father God, I pray that you give them wisdom.

[00:20:03] In the book of James, it says that be ye doers of the word and not hearers only.

[00:20:11] Father God, I pray that everything that everyone listening today heard on today's podcast, that they will grab hold of it and that they will begin to live their lives aspiring to acquire wisdom and to use wisdom in their everyday life.

[00:20:36] Father God, I pray that everyone would choose to abstain or stay away from evil if at all possible.

[00:20:45] We are to love people.

[00:20:47] I pray that they have a desire to love people.

[00:20:54] Have a blessed day in the name of Jesus, I pray.

[00:21:00] Now friends, I will never end a podcast without giving anyone an opportunity to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

[00:21:09] If there is anyone listening today and you've never taken that step, I invite you to repeat a simple prayer after me today.

[00:21:16] Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner and in need of a Savior.

[00:21:23] I ask that you come into my heart.

[00:21:25] I ask that you lead me and guide me from this point forward in my life.

[00:21:30] I make you my Lord and Savior.

[00:21:34] Friends, if any of you said that prayer, I believe that you are now a member of the family of God.

[00:21:40] Now, may the Lord bless you and keep you.

[00:21:44] The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

[00:21:49] The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.

[00:21:54] Friends, please join me again tomorrow as we further explore wisdom today.