Proverbs 1: Knowledge
After reading Proverbs 1, the word that jumped out at me is “knowledge.” What is knowledge? How does one acquire knowledge? Why does one need knowledge? I am sure there are many more questions you have regarding “knowledge.” ]
So let’s tackle some of them here. First, what is knowledge? According to Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge): “Knowledge is a familiarity, awareness, or understanding of someone or something, such as facts, information, descriptions, or skills, which is acquired through experience or education by perceiving, discovering, or learning. Knowledge can refer to a theoretical or practical understanding of a subject. It can be implicit (as with practical skill or expertise) or explicit (as with the theoretical understanding of a subject); it can be more or less formal or systematic.”
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology (https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/know-knowledge.html) defined knowledge in the Old Testament: “The Hebrew root yada [[;d”y],translated “know”/”knowledge, ” appears almost 950 times in the Hebrew Bible. It has a wider sweep than our English word “know,” including perceiving,learning, understanding, willing, performing, and experiencing…..Knowledge is not the possession of information, but rather its exercise or actualization.”
For me, knowledge is and equates to the fear of the Lord. In Proverbs 1:7, it says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. The fear of the Lord is in Proverbs 1:10 — My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. In Proverbs 1:15 — My son, do not walk in the way with them (sinners), keep your feet from their path. All these verses point to the fear of the Lord; hence, the knowledge in us.
So, how does one acquire knowledge? By reading, meditating and applying the Word of the Lord every single day in our life. It takes time to acquire knowledge. Knowledge is not something that happens overnight. As we keep on growing in our relationship with Jesus, we are acquiring more and more knowledge. And when we acquire knowledge, we also acquire wisdom and instruction. And that, too, is the fear of the Lord, which is a topic of its own.
Bottom line: Acquire knowledge and you will be wise. You will know how to live a godly and holy life, shining the light in this world. Keep on reading, meditating and applying the Word of God in your everyday life. Commune with the Lord daily.