Welcome to the third installment in our Proverbs series. This installment will be accompanied by an additional installment due to two major concepts included in the verse we are about to explore.

Again, we want to encourage you to retrieve your bible and read it along side this document.

A Well Know Memory Verse

If you have been following this series, then you know we don’t like to operate on assumptions. It is our belief that the deepest meaning of any verse can be understood primarily by looking into the definitions in the original languages. Below is an infographic of all the nouns, verbs, and adjectives and their definitions:

An Attitude of Deep Respect: A Step Toward Knowledge

The attitude of deep respect of the self-Existent Creator is the first step towards knowledge, those who are willfully contrary to what the Creator expects and desires disrespects (dishonors) the knowledge of the right and wrong, godly judgment, and godly instructions.

By implication, if you want to move toward knowledge, then it becomes necessary to maintain deep respect for God. The understanding of God’s law and instruction comes from setting your reverence for God as first in rank. When this is done, knowledge (godly knowledge) becomes a natural consequence of this level of obedience.

This brings us back to Jesus’ words in Mark 12:29-30.

“And Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.’”

Remember, Jesus was quoting from Deut. 6:4-5. It is incumbent upon everyone who claims to love and respect the Lord to prove it via keeping God’s commandment. Notice Deut. 6:1-2. “Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it: That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.” Again, the word fear is really discussing respect and reverence. Respect and reverence of God is always coupled with keeping the laws of God as it is written in verse 2.

Let’s look deeper into the story flow of Deuteronomy. (Confirm this by following along in your bible) In chapter 5, Moses is recounting the events that took place in Exodus chapters 19 and 20. Then in Deuteronomy 6, he tells the Israelites to observe the commandments. In verse 2, Moses overtly identifies reverence for God by saying, “That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.”

Jesus Christ communicates the same idea when He says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) Moses, Solomon, and Jesus are talking about the same concepts. “He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.” (John 14:24) Christ proves to us that not keeping His words (laws) is evidence of not loving Him or the Father.

True knowledge beings with keeping God’s law as an act of reverence. In keeping these laws, you will acquire wisdom and knowledge beyond those who do not keep the law. The law will teach you how to act, when to act, and why to act. This is true knowledge.

The fools disrespect this knowledge because they refuse to revere God.

Part 2 coming soon…