Proverbs 4:5-7
Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.

We established in yesterday’s passage that the fear of God is the beginning of knowledge. Fear of God is not cowering in a corner; it is a reverent awe. We acknowledge that God alone is God, and we worship him; that is, we honor him as worthy of our praise and gratitude in every area of our lives. From the position of reverent awe, we strive to acquire wisdom.

In Proverbs, wisdom is personified and given the feminine pronoun. “She” (wisdom) is to be sought after with a full-out passion. She provides protection from evil and builds a protective wall around your heart. Wisdom is the “supreme” (principal or chief) thing to pursue.

In The New Geneva Study Bible, R. C. Sproul explains that wisdom is a word with many nuances. He says, “It is related to the intellect and the control of human behavior. It is a way of thinking about reality that enables one to pursue what is good in life. Through wisdom, God reveals what the values of life are and how they may be achieved.” Think about the power of wisdom. It encompasses mental power, behavioral control, and reality thinking. Wisdom pursues God’s values and his way to achieve them. That’s why the proverb says to take hold of wisdom! Get your hands on it and grasp it, and don’t let go.

Father, through your Word and work in our lives, give us hearts willing and ready to absorb wisdom. May we begin with reverent awe and move forward with godly prudence.
For Christ’s sake.
Amen.