Proverbs 1:29 “because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord.”
A friend I met in Central America has a redemptive yet intensely sad story. One of seven sons he was abandoned by his parents at the age of 4, and raised by his uncles. They were really brutal to him beating him daily and even making him lay in the mud and driving their oxen over him in the fields. He grew up angry and violent.
By the time he was a man he had killed four other men, and two of his own brothers were murdered in retaliation by families intent on revenge for a blood feud who had mistakenly thoughts his brothers were him. This sounds savage, and it is, but the reality is that this area is the murder capital of the whole world. Nearly every person has a gun and most murders go unsolved.
My friend lived with the outlaws up in the mountains where even the police and the army would not go. Eventually, however, he was caught and jailed, he was fortunate not to be executed.
Years later a small Costa Rican nun visited his prison, told the gospel story and left. It was the first time in his life he had heard this story. That night he got down on his knees and invited Jesus into his life. There was such a change in him that a few years later he was unexpectedly released from prison. He went back to those outlaw villages in the mountains where he had lived a very wild life and started a church. If you go there today every village in a 50-mile radius has a healthy church, and my friend is the area overseer. He has never forgotten the violence of his early life, or how he hated knowledge and rebelled against God. He is incredibly daily grateful for the amazing mercy and grace that has turned his life around.
KNOWLEDGE
God is laying down his evidence now – presenting his case against. Imagine God giving evidence against you – against your actions, and even further, against your heart motivations that drive your actions. God indicates that he will not be fully experienced by you if you have actively been working against him, or even if you have passively stood by and not taken the life and death actions you knew to be right.
The knowledge you needed was freely presented to you, but you either looked away, or you acted against that knowledge with full energy and intent. There was a choice – there is no accident, no set of circumstances or another person that gets brought into this equation – it’s just you and God now – alone with a simple conversation. Regret is of no value, diligence will not assist, calling on God receives no response.
This scripture is pointing to finality. It’s indicating that there is a time when it’s too late to take action. You had choices, you continually chose, now here are the consequences of those choices. Let’s be praying for those whose lives are heading towards this outcome.
UNDERSTANDING: Let’s pick one word from this verse to look closer at and see if that can help us gain a deeper insight into how God would love us to live? The word we will look at from this verse is, “choose”, pronounced as “bahur” in the original Hebrew. This word is used 168 times in the Old Testament. It is translated as choose; choose; chosen; preferred; acceptable; tried; and, rather. Here in Proverbs 1:29, we catch the underlying tones of “selection” or “decide”. What are our selections and decisions today and where are they leading us?
WISDOM: What decisions are you making today that could take you either further away or closer to God.
Strengths Thought – Analytical is a beautiful Strategic Thinking Strength – you could be seen as a sceptic, emotionless or even harsh. Do you care? Others may perceive your endless questions as doubt and then sense dismay. When you don’t see any evidence it can seem like won’t believe it. You can come over as not supportive of new understanding or new thinking.
But with your focus on facts, you can make sound decisions, the way you present your findings can create trust with others, and you are known for asking the best questions and the best moments. In the middle of highly charged emotional situations and circumstances, you can bring calm to the storm.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version: [as they were actively working against learning and deselecting holiness and moral purity.]
Prayer: Father, thank you for today. Please help me to stay open to your words of wisdom, and to have a healthy reverence for you.
Fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom. Fear not says the Lord for I am with you. He has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love and of sound mind. Fear for me is to put God first in everything and to acknowledge Him as my Lord and Savior.
Did not choose the fear of the Lord! The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and making the right choice is wise!
Choosing the fear of the Lord is life changing in that we enter into a marvellous, life changing relationship with Him. The word fear here does carry The connotation of simply being afraid of something scary, although an eternity in hell is pretty scary, but rather a reverence or awe for the holiness of God and who He is!
To think that the Creator of the universe wants a relationship with me and would go to the lengths of sending His Son to die for me is pretty awesome. Making the right choice is both rewarding and wise!
That was an amazing true story, Pastor Allan. Thank you for sharing it with us.
We must place God in the centre of our lives. Knowledge is important, learn from wise teachers and put into practice what we learn from them.
Young ones, make the right choices and stay on the path.
I love the AUV version.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom….The unwise are foolish!
Thank God for His Grace that brings us Salvation and wisdom through fear of God.
The fear of God is a gift from God I believe; and May be produced by being loved and accepted.
As Apostle Paul exhorted us as In Colossians 2:2-3.
Hope this above statement is relevant!
Thank you Ps Allan.
What a truly remarkable story ! Thankyou for sharing that Allan.
I pray that my decisions are always directed by God’s wisdom.
Such a terribly sad story – such cruelty is unimaginable! Praise God for His mercy for this young man & that he said yes to Jesus.
I’ve heard people argue about heaven & hell & say how could God let someone go to hell!! This is what I believe this scripture is pointing out that there is a limit to God’s grace & mercy for someone who actively speaks against God & repeatedly ignores the good news of salvation. For Father God to send His precious Son Jesus to die on a cross to redeem us wretched human beings from total damnation is beyond our comprehension in its enormity so God has to let those who intentionally refuse to receive the free gift of salvation offered to pay the ultimate price of going out to eternity lost forever. Yes we have a responsibility to pray that this never happens to those who come across our path.
Everyday we make desitions in our lives.
What guides me in my desitions ,as a wife, mother and friend?
Do I consider my loved ones as I make choices for my life ?
Do I think of the consequences I might face when not living within God’s guidance ?
Father,I thank you for loving and guiding me.
I pray that you help me everyday to make a conscious choice to seek your guidance ,please protect and direct me in the path you have for me.
Amen🙏
This is the confirmation of the previous verse a place where we loose all cause of I reject had what is there to gain? Is the complete opposite to dying to myself and Live for God the consequences of choosing anything else but God are well known specially with everything happening right now. To live is Christ and to die is gain. I want to live in Christ I’m in this world but I don’t belong to it.
Thank you Jesus
What a powerful testimony! Thank God for the precious nun and every member of the body of Christ who faithfully answer the call and share the gospel!
Praying that I will always stay open to the Fathers wisdom and remain mindful of the decisions I make that could bring me closer will take me away from him. Thank you Pastor Alan! Absolutely love these devotionals. I can already see the change in myself as a result of doing these daily.
And there you have it the confirmation !
The fear of the Lord. Genuinely loving and serving him. Wow, what a redemption story and the ongoing changes and impacts that are being experienced through his life decisions.
The daily choices I make must reflect my reverence of the Lord and awareness of His guidance.
Thanks again Ps Allan for this study.
Father God, you are so holy and so mighty that I am fearful of you. You are so kind and gentle but you are powerful and glorious. I want to live in the tension of both sides of character of you and not grow complacent or familiar with your presence.