Watching Daily at Wisdom’s GatesSýnishorn

Day 1: Wisdom’s Secret

Imagine your dad is the wisest man to have ever lived. Not only that, but he's the king of a mighty nation, and fabulously wealthy. On top of all that, he's written you a divinely inspired book that is going to outlast the stars! You'd assume you were set for life. 

In reality you'd be mistaken. Of course, Jesus is wiser than wise king Solomon, and sadly, Solomon's son Rehoboam was a spiritual disappointment. Yet, the book of Proverbs was probably written in an attempt to benefit him. 

(Some commentators are so disappointed by Rehoboam that they prefer to assume that Proverbs was written by his granddad David for Solomon. We will stick with the traditional view. Even if the Bible shows us to be spiritual fools, that makes us failures, not God's Word.) 

The wisest man attempted to impart his wisdom to his son. And what was his secret? 'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom'. We tend to see fear as a bad thing, but even Jesus told us to fear God who can cast soul and body into Hell. If the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, the love of God is wisdom's unending end. Fear of Hell might drive us to God, but God drives our fears away. 

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear

And grace my fears relieved

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed' 

John Newton, Amazing Grace 

'Lord, how fearsome and wonderful You are, and how great Your grace that saved wretches like us. We praise and worship You, now and evermore, amen.'

What fatherly wisdom has been given to you in your life (not necessarily from your earthly father)? Did you follow the advice given?