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Proverbs chapter 1, we introduced 
the book last week by simply focusing on verse 1 in light 
of 1 Kings chapter 3. Proverbs of Solomon, the son 
of David, king of Israel. So we looked at 1 Kings 3 to 
see the credentials of the man who instructs us in terms of 
God's wisdom. And certainly Solomon was in 
fact the wisest man on the face of the earth, only outdone and 
outshined by that greater than Solomon, even our Lord Jesus 
Christ. And so tonight we'll look at 
the purpose of the book of Proverbs in verses 2 to 7. Beginning in 
verse 1, notice we read the Proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, 
king of Israel. To know wisdom and instruction, 
to perceive the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of 
wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity. To give prudence to the 
simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will 
hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain 
wise counsel. To understand a proverb and an 
enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of 
the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise 
wisdom and instruction. Amen. Well, let us pray. Father, 
thank you for the written word of the living God. Thank you 
for Solomon, and thank you for the greater than Solomon, even 
our Lord Jesus Christ, that one in whom is hid all the treasures 
of wisdom and knowledge. And how we thank you that you 
sent him to die for us and to rise again, and as well to instruct 
us by the word of truth. And we pray tonight that as the 
prophet Christ rules and reigns at the right hand of the Father, 
we would know by the Spirit what the Word of God has for us tonight. 
May these things strengthen us, may these things conform us more 
unto the image of our beloved Savior. And God, we do pray for 
our children, as one of the primary focuses of the book is to instruct 
little ones in the fear of the Lord. God, I pray that you'd 
open ears and open hearts, that you would guide us by the Spirit, 
and we pray these things through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Well, as I said last week, when 
we looked at Solomon in 1 Kings chapter 3, God indeed answered 
his prayer. God asked him, what is it that 
you want Solomon? Solomon didn't ask for riches. 
He didn't ask for wives. He didn't ask for cars or houses 
or summer homes. Rather, he asked for wisdom. 
And this petition pleased God. God indeed endowed him with a 
great deal of wisdom. In fact, 1 Kings 3, 1 Kings 4, 
1 Kings 10 tell us and describe for us the kind of wisdom that 
Solomon had. This is certainly a book, the 
bulk of which are indeed the Proverbs of Solomon. Some other 
contributions as well, but the bulk of the book is indeed the 
Proverbs of Solomon. as well the book of Ecclesiastes, 
most accept that he indeed wrote the book of Ecclesiastes, and 
there again he evidences a great deal of wisdom. So Solomon, the 
son of David, the king of Israel, has given us this particular 
book, and the purpose is stated in verses 2 to 6, and then the 
prerequisite for Proverbs is stated in verse 7. In other words, 
we have the purpose, and then we have what is sort of a principal 
part or a foundational issue or something that is absolutely 
necessary, a prerequisite to a rightful reception of the Proverbs, 
and that is found in verse 7. But note in the first place in 
terms of the purpose, the general purpose is specified here in 
verses 2 and 3, to know wisdom and instruction. That is the 
goal that God has for us as his people. We bear the image of 
God. We're studying Genesis in our 
Bible study on Wednesday evening, and in the creation account, 
there's only one entity that does bear the image of God. There is only one creature that 
is in the image of God, and that is man. And one aspect of the 
image of God in man is rationality. Certainly, animals, the lower 
animals, they all breathe, and they have circulatory systems, 
and they eat food, and they expel waste, and they do the same sorts 
of things that man does, but man bears the image of God. Man 
has a rational capacity that the animals do not. Animals function 
by instinct. Man functions by discursive learning, 
by the reception of knowledge, and by putting those things into 
practice. And God calls us, specifically in the commandment, to love Him 
with all our heart, with all our soul, with all of our mind, 
and with all of our strength. And so the book of Proverbs is 
addressed to us so that we will know wisdom and instruction. Secondly, we are to perceive 
the words of understanding. In other words, knowledge, perception, 
and then reception, according to verse three, to receive the 
instruction of wisdom. One man describes wisdom this 
way. It means generally masterful 
understanding, skill or expertise. We might say very simply that 
wisdom is taking the knowledge that one possesses and applying 
it with reference to specific concrete situations. It's the 
art of living properly. Wisdom is absolutely necessary 
for us to conduct ourselves in a proper sense before God and 
before our fellow men. Without wisdom, we are going 
to be those who are unfortunate at the very least. Now notice 
the judicial purpose. It's not only got this general 
overarching purpose in terms of knowing wisdom and instruction, 
perceiving words of understanding, and receiving the instruction 
of wisdom, but note in verse 3, to receive the instruction 
of wisdom, and then he says justice Judgment and equity. Remember 
that Solomon is a king. And one of the primary aspects 
or one of the primary focuses of the book is that he addresses 
his sons. Remember that Solomon was a dynastic 
king. He was one who succeeded his 
father, David. And likewise, his sons would 
succeed him and take their rightful positions upon the throne. So 
not only is it principles for spiritual things, for ethical 
things, and for practical things, it's also applicable in the civil 
sphere, and Solomon highlights this on several occasions, or 
the book, rather, highlights this on several occasions. This is, in fact, a book of insights 
from the royal court. Notice in chapter 14, just to 
show and evidence this civil application of the book of Proverbs. Notice in Proverbs 14, verse 
34, we read that famous statement that righteousness exalts a nation, 
but sin is a reproach to any people. Proverbs 16 at verse 
12, it is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, for 
a throne is established by righteousness. Now, I point this out because 
I think at times, as the people of God, we forget that our Lord 
taught us to pray that His will be done on earth as it is in 
heaven. Now, His will in heaven is not 
abortion clinics, it's not euthanasia, it's not sodomy. When we see 
those sorts of things rampant among us, we ought to pray, first 
and foremost, that God would save our civil leaders. I think 
this is the emphasis by Paul in 1 Timothy 2. But as well, 
we ought to pray that he would remove the godless civil leaders. The Lord God is sovereign. In fact, Christ, speaking as 
wisdom in Proverbs 8 at verse 13, says, By me kings reign. So if a king is reigning poorly, 
we ought to go to the one by whom they reign and ask him to 
remove them. Now, I'm not suggesting he remove 
them via car accidents or some other unfortunate or unsavory 
way, but that he does remove them through the lawful process 
of votes and whatnot, or if he does deem to remove them in some 
other unsavory way, we ought to see the connection between 
wicked leaders and the nation. As well, notice in 17.7, excellent 
speech is not becoming to a fool, much less lying lips to a prince. Now, there's certainly a text 
that basically has no application in the modern political scheme. 
We expect politicians to lie, don't we? I mean, that's just 
their job. That's how they're defined. That's 
a characteristic or an attribute. Well, that ought not to be the 
way that it is. He says, excellent speech is 
not becoming to a fool, much less lying lips to a prince. Notice in Proverbs 25, 5. Proverbs 
25, 5. We'll investigate this whole 
matter of the civil government or civil magistrate in more detail 
as we move through Solomon's school. But again, just to show 
you that these are, in fact, insights from the royal court. 
Just a sampling of passages here. Notice in 25.5, take away the 
wicked from before the king and his throne will be established 
in righteousness. Again, others highlight that 
reality. There's this general purpose 
and there's this judicial purpose involved in the book of Proverbs. 
Now notice, secondly, in terms of the purpose, the audience 
addressed. The audience addressed is very 
comprehensive. It's very extensive. In other 
words, Solomon or God invites us to Solomon's school irregardless 
or rather regardless of our particular state or position or our lot 
in life. Notice in chapter 1 at verse 
4, after highlighting the purpose specifically, he addresses the 
parties and he says to give prudence to the simple. That's an invitation 
to all of us. I'm not simple. Okay, then you're 
going to be addressed later because you're the wise or the man of 
understanding. But God invites the simple to Solomon's school. 
Isn't that a good thing? Isn't that a wonderful thing? He doesn't say, stay in your 
simplicity. Now, he doesn't expect everybody 
to be a PhD. He doesn't expect everybody to 
split the atom. He doesn't expect everybody to 
be Plato or Aristotle or Socrates or the Apostle Paul. He doesn't 
expect that. But if you're simple, you ought 
to take yourself to the Word of God. Solomon's school will 
make wise the simple. The psalmist rejoices in the 
word of God for that very reason. Psalm 19 and Psalm 119, the psalmist 
says, the law of Yahweh makes wise the simple. And God, through 
his word, invites the simple to Solomon's school. Now notice, 
secondly, the young. Verse four, to give prudence 
to the simple, to the young man, knowledge and discretion. Listen 
to John Gill with reference to this statement concerning the 
young. He says, this book will teach him, young, the knowledge 
of things moral, civil, and religious, to think and act aright, how 
to behave and conduct himself wisely and discreetly before 
men, and be a means of forming his mind betimes, or early, for 
piety and religion, and of furnishing him with rules for his deportment 
on future life, in all the periods of it, and in whatsoever state 
and condition he may come into." In other words, children, young 
people, read the book of Proverbs. Parents, take the book of Proverbs 
and educate your young people. This is a great, great book of 
practical wisdom given by inspiration of God most high for the furnishing 
of young minds with that intellectual equipment that will fit them 
for life before God and others. Matthew Henry makes the observation, 
youth is the learning age. You know that old saying, you 
can't teach an old dog new tricks. There's legitimacy to that. But you can teach young dogs 
a whole host of tricks. It's just the way God made them. 
It's just the way God formed them. It's just the way God rolls, 
if I can be so crass. Youth is the learning age, catches 
at instructions, and retains what is then received. It is 
therefore of great consequence that the mind be then seasoned 
well. Nor can it receive a better tincture 
than from Solomon's Proverbs. Now, perhaps it's important for 
us, and as I said in our study in Solomon's School, we will 
investigate more thoroughly the civil magistrate, its function, 
its role, its power, what it's supposed to be about. But brethren, 
especially as Christian parents today, we ought to be educating 
our children with the Word of God because of the encroaching 
state. because of government education, 
because of the indoctrination that is more often than not the 
case. We are dealing with young people 
today that are being programmed to be great citizens for the 
liberal state. And if we as parents do not take 
seriously the religious instruction of our children, they will not 
be in a good and happy place. If they continually suck in the 
pablum that the state gives them by way of the authorized dogma, 
that's not a good thing. We, as the people of God, need 
to counteract, insofar as we are able, all of those outside 
and competing interests with reference to the Word of God. 
Parents, take seriously the admonition of Solomon. Over and over and 
over again, he says, my son, my son, my son, if you are not 
engaged in regular family worship and you have children, may I 
encourage you to engage in regular family worship. May I encourage 
you that a good man leaves an inheritance to his children's 
children. We may not be able to leave silver 
and gold. We may not be able to leave real 
estate. We may not be able to leave, 
you know, a mountain of dough, but we can leave a godly heritage 
in the way that we instruct our children. This is a mandate from 
the Word of God, and this is something we need to take seriously 
as parents, as grandparents. So the youth and the simple, 
and then as well the wise and the man of understanding. In 
other words, the Proverbs of Solomon furnish a great abundance 
of wisdom, not only to educate the young man, not only to help 
the simple to grow into a place where he's not so simple, but 
there's enough in Solomon's Proverbs to continue to guide the wise 
man and the man of understanding. And I think that this ought to 
cause us to stand again and marvel at the grace and the goodness 
of God. Charles Bridges, in his most excellent commentary on 
the book of Proverbs, has a footnote with reference to this section. 
He says, over the gates of Plato's school, Plato was a philosopher. You hear Plato kids and don't 
think clay and molding little animals. Plato was a philosopher. And Bridges says, over the gates 
of Plato's school, it was written, let none who is not a geometrician 
enter. But very different is the inscription 
over these doors of Solomon. Let the ignorant, simple, foolish 
young enter. In other words, Plato says, you 
can only come into my school if you're already good at geometry. 
You can only come to my school and study if you've met these 
prerequisites, if you've satisfied these basic requirements. Not 
so with God. God says to the simple, God says 
to the ignorant, God says to the youth, He says, come and 
learn at Solomon's school. You see, God knows that that's 
exactly what simple people need. God knows that's exactly what 
the foolish need. Plato is going to keep people 
away from the very thing that they need. And yet God invites 
all comers to Solomon's school. Now note the application of wisdom 
in verse 6. We see not only the purpose of 
the book, but the target audience with reference to the book, and 
then the application of it in verse 6. To understand a proverb 
and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles. This 
is the take-home. This is the practicality of it 
all. You're supposed to be skilled in the knowledge of these things 
so that you're able to understand, so that you can penetrate below 
the surface. so that you're not living as 
a wise or as a simple, rather, and foolish and ignorant person, 
but you're able to understand things and you're able to put 
things into practice that you have learned from the Word of 
God. So that's the purpose of the book of Proverbs. Now notice, 
secondly, the prerequisite for the book of Proverbs, verse 7. 
He says, the fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge, but 
fools despise wisdom and instruction. Now in terms of the function 
of this verse, it's probably not the first proverb. It's still 
connected thematically and linguistically, or lexically rather, by the words 
that are employed with the preceding section. So it's not the case 
that Solomon introduces the purpose of the Proverbs, introduces who 
the target audience is, and then verse 7 appears as the very first 
proverb. No, I think it's more like this. 
It's the foundation stone upon which this book is to be addressed. 
In other words, this is the first principle. You may have heard 
of the word epistemology. It has to do with the doctrine 
or theory of knowledge. Epistemology is sort of a backdrop 
to the things that we know. Why do we know or how do we know 
the very things that we do know? And Proverbs 1.7 specifically 
functions epistemologically. In other words, how do we approach 
Proverbs 1.8 to Proverbs 31? Well, having the fear of Yahweh. How do we properly interpret? 
How do we properly receive? How do we know and how do we 
successfully apply these things to our lives as the people of 
God? Well, it's the fear of the Lord. 
It's the fear of God. It's the fear of God that suits 
the soul. It's the fear of God that provides the mind. It's 
the fear of God that provides the proper context by which we 
understand what Solomon is saying and how we then implement those 
things in our day-to-day lives. Now, when we see this phrase, 
the fear of the Lord, we ought to understand that the fear of 
the Lord oftentimes in scriptures comes to us in one of two ways. There is first a slavish fear, 
and that slavish fear is when we run and we hide from God. Slavish fear sees who God is, 
fears God in the way that it drives him away. When Adam and 
Eve recognized that they had in fact rebelled against God 
and they were naked, they ran and they hid themselves. That's 
a slavish fear of God. The fear of God spoken of here 
by Solomon is a filial fear. And that's the way a son relates 
to his father. Intriguingly, both these types 
of fear show up in Exodus chapter 20. Exodus 20, Moses said to 
the people, do not fear. That's in the slavish sense. 
In other words, do not run away from God. For God has come to 
test you, and that His fear, the filial type of fear, may 
be before you, so that you may not sin. So he says, do not fear, 
do not run from God, but rather stay put, so that the fear of 
God may indeed come upon you. That fear of God that frames 
the heart and the mind aright, so that one can rightly relate 
to God Almighty. John Murray, in his excellent 
book called The Principles of Conduct, cites the fear of God, 
or has an article on the fear of God, and therein he describes 
it as the soul of godliness. I've always been struck by that 
short compass, that short statement of identification as to the primacy 
of the fear of God. It is the soul of godliness. And then Murray goes on to say, 
the fear of God in us is that frame of heart and mind which 
reflects our apprehension of who and what God is, and who 
and what God is will tolerate nothing less than total commitment 
to Him. So, in other words, those who 
have this filial fear of God, those who approach God properly, 
have an apprehension of who He is, and have an apprehension 
also of who they are relative to Him, and that fear of God 
is the legitimate response that, by God's grace, we evidence. Now, note, before we move on 
and explore this fear of God in a bit more detail, note the 
contrast in verse 7. The fear of the Lord is the beginning 
of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. You know, 
the book of Proverbs outlines or highlights the way of the 
righteous, to be sure, but it also highlights the way of the 
fool. Now, if in our subsequent sermons on the book of Proverbs, 
you continually find yourself being described as, or defined 
as, or your conduct, rather, is in tune with the fool of Proverbs, 
may I encourage you to repent. Now, fool there is not a belittling 
term about the person's intellect. Fool in the book of Proverbs 
has an ethical connotation. In other words, he's ungodly. 
He's unrighteous. There is no fear of God before 
his eyes. He has not the proper orientation. 
He doesn't have the due apprehension of who God is. He doesn't have 
a due apprehension of who he is relative to God, and as a 
result, his life is marked by foolishness, falling. The Bible 
is not name-calling. The Bible is describing two types 
of men in the book of Proverbs, the righteous or the wise, and 
the fool or the wicked. We need to appreciate that reality. So, as we move through Solomon's 
school, if you find more sort of connection with the fool in 
the book of Proverbs, repent and look to the Lord Jesus Christ. 
Now, let's just sort of amplify this whole idea of the fear of 
God. I want to suggest, first of all, the fear of God is the 
legitimate response of the creature to God. The fear of God is the 
legitimate response of the creature to God. If you remember this 
morning, the diagram, we had sort of the chain of being in 
terms of creature, and then we have this chain of being, not 
chain, just being, with Creator. Well, what ought the creature 
to think with reference to the Creator? The creature ought to 
fear. The creature ought to stand amazed 
at the Creator. We ought to realize that He is 
not like us. In fact, both prophets, in the 
Old Testament and in the New, highlight this legitimacy. You can turn to the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah, just fleshing out or 
amplifying a little bit more what this fear of the Lord is 
that is necessary, that is a prerequisite with reference to a study of 
the book of Proverbs. Jeremiah 10 at verse 7. Well, 
beginning in verse 6, inasmuch as there is none like you, O 
Lord, you are great, and your name is great in might, who would 
not fear you, O King of the nations? For this is your rightful due. For among all the wise men of 
the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is none like 
you. You see, creature who sees Creator 
ought to fear because there's none like Him. This is the legitimate 
response of the creature toward God. Notice the New Testament 
prophet, John the Apostle. He's called a seer in the book 
of Revelation. Seer is another word for prophet. In the book of Revelation, specifically 
at chapter 15, The opening of the seven bowls, or the prelude, 
rather, to the opening of the seven bowls, or the pouring out, 
rather, of the judgment of the seven bowls, we see in chapter 
15, verse 3, they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, 
and the song of the Lamb, saying, great and marvelous are your 
works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are your ways, O King 
of the saints. Who shall not fear you, O Lord, 
and glorify your name? For you alone are holy, for all 
nations shall come and worship before you, for your judgments 
have been manifested. You see, the fear of God is the 
legitimate response of the creature to God. A second thing that we 
ought to consider is that the fear of God ultimately is wrought 
out by the grace of God. The fear of God is wrought out 
by the grace of God, which makes sense as we approach verse 7 
in terms of a prerequisite or an axiom or a presupposition 
in terms of an epistemological first principle as to understanding 
the rest of the book of Proverbs. It makes sense. Who understands 
the book of Proverbs? Those who know the grace of God. Those who have been saved by 
His grace. And when we consider the fear 
of the Lord, it's wrought out by God's grace. By nature, man 
does not fear God. Now, when I mentioned in the 
first point, the fear of God is the legitimate response of 
the creature to God. I was not implying that all creatures 
function legitimately. In fact, I would argue just the 
opposite. We function illegitimately. While it is the legitimate response 
of the creature to God, sin, depravity, total inability, all 
those things the Bible sets forth before us has rendered such as 
illegitimate. The creature does not fear God 
by nature. Romans chapter 3, when the Apostle 
Paul is highlighting the sinfulness and the culpability of man, and 
the fact that all creatures are liable to God for his just punishment, 
he says, there is no fear of God before their eyes. By nature, 
man sees God as his enemy, according to Romans chapter 8, verses 7 
and 8. As well, by nature, man esteems himself as better than 
God. Man looks to his own interests 
rather than God's interests. Man is busy pursuing his own 
lusts, his own desires, his own things, and he gives no concern 
to God. But it's by grace that our hearts 
are taught to fear. By grace, man is given the fear 
of God. John Newton wasn't just exercising 
a bit of poetic spin when he said, "'Twas grace that taught 
my heart to fear." That reflects the prophet Jeremiah. In Jeremiah 
32 at verse 40, God says, I will make an everlasting covenant 
with them that I will not turn away from doing them good, but 
I will put my fear in their hearts so that they will not depart 
from me. The fear of the Lord is the beginning 
of knowledge, and that fear of the Lord is wrought out by God 
Most High in conversion. The grace of God is what produces 
the fear of God in the hearts of men. John Flavel said, this 
fear of God is a gracious habit, or principle, planted by God 
in the soul, whereby the soul is kept under an holy awe of 
the eye of God, and from thence is inclined to perform and do 
what pleases Him, and to shun and avoid whatsoever He forbids 
and hates. It is planted in the soul as 
a permanent and fixed habit. To fear man is natural, but to 
fear God is wholly super. That's a great thing that we 
ought to appreciate when we come to verse 7. So, by way of sort 
of a sideline note, What do we do tonight if we don't have the 
fear of God? What do we do tonight if we want 
to learn at Solomon's school? What do we do tonight if we want 
to be instructed and gain the benefit that the book of Proverbs 
affords to the simple, to the young? We ought to flee to the 
Lord Jesus Christ. We ought to, by grace, forsake 
our sin and look unto Him who is altogether lovely and chief 
among 10,000. Look unto Him who we saw this 
morning engaged in a mission of mercy to come into this world 
to assume humanity. with all of the essential properties 
and the common infirmities thereof, yet without sin, that one who 
identified with us, that one who was both our fellow and our 
head, that covenantal head, that representative, that surety, 
that mediator, that one who was ultimately crucified, not because 
he was an unwilling or helpless victim at the hands of a godless 
mob. No, it was according to the determined 
purpose and foreknowledge of God Most High. This answered 
the demands of what's called the covenant of redemption. This 
was consistent with what is called the decree of God. This Son of 
God lived in obedience to the Father. This Son of God lived 
as a perfect, obedient servant to His Father every jot and tittle 
of His life, and He ultimately died, not for His sins, but for 
the sins of sinners. And as a result, God made Him, 
who knew no sin, to be sin for us. that we might become the 
righteousness of God in Him. So if you feel yourself as one 
not having the fear of God, or you know yourself as not having 
the fear of God, if a right apprehension of who God is and who you are 
relative to God is something absolutely foreign or contrary, 
then repent. Believe the gospel. The way to 
receive instruction in Solomon's school is knowing the fear of 
the Lord. Thirdly, the fear of God affects 
our intellect. The fear of God affects our intellect 
for the good. You see, today we are told that 
to think apart from God is the sign of genuine learning. Genuine 
wisdom is seen in the atheist. Genuine wisdom is seen in the 
PhD atheist professor at the secular university. Not according 
to Solomon. Genuine wisdom and intellectual 
superiority is seen in our 10-year-olds who can answer the question, 
who is God? God is spirit, infinite, eternal, 
and unchangeable. It is being, wisdom, power, holiness, 
justice, goodness, and truth. That is far wiser than any PhD 
atheistic scholar on the face of the earth. We need to understand 
that the fear of God affects our intellectual ability. We see it here in 1.7. We see 
it again in 9.10. Notice in 9.10, the fear of Yahweh 
is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One 
is understanding. Notice in 14.26. 1426, in the fear of the Lord, there 
is strong confidence and his children will have a place of 
refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain 
of life to turn one away from the snares of death. And 1533, 
the fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom and before honor is 
humility. So the fear of God affects our 
intellect. And again, this jives with what 
I cited earlier from Matthew 22, 37. with all your heart, with all 
your soul, and with all your mind. Brethren, it is simply 
unacceptable for us to not utilize our minds in the service and 
in the worship of God Almighty. There has, I think, many, or 
have been many, who've observed over the last sort of couple 
hundred years, at least in America, probably throughout the rest 
of the world, been this anti-intellectualism with reference to the Christian 
faith. We oftentimes approach the Bible with this sort of idea, 
whether stated or not, what's the bare minimum I need to believe 
in order to go to heaven? I mean, that's good. We need 
to know what we need to believe. We need to believe on the name 
of the Lord Jesus Christ. We need to understand something 
of his life, his death, his resurrection. But brethren, the works of the 
Lord are great, the psalmist says. They're studied by all 
who have pleasure in them. If we are saved, if we are God's 
people, if our minds have been affected properly by the fear 
of the Lord, why is it that we don't oftentimes use the intellect 
in our pursuit of who God is? We need to know Him. We need 
to understand Him. We need to learn Him. It's sort of like a relationship 
with a man and a woman. The way that you grow in your 
love and appreciation for one another is by getting to know 
one another, right? You say, well, I don't know. 
My wife knows me, and she doesn't seem to be growing in her love. 
Actually, that's not true. My wife says she's growing in 
her love. You see, we need to know something to grow in our 
love and appreciation for it. And yet Christians at times, 
oftentimes, not always, but don't see this blessed privilege to 
grow in our understanding of who God is. Fourthly, the fear 
of God affects our actions. Not only the intellect, but our 
actions. Notice Proverbs 3, 7. Proverbs 
3, 7. Do not be wise in your own eyes. 
Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your 
flesh and strength to your bones. You know how you flee from evil? You know how you depart from 
evil? You've got a problem with a particular sin that you're 
struggling with? Pray to God to increase the fear of God in 
your own heart. You got a problem with whatever the problem is, 
you name the sin. Take the virtues of the fruits 
of the Spirit, and then look at the vices there in Galatians 
chapter 5. If any of those things are indicative of you, pray to 
God to increase the fear of God in your heart. The fear of the 
Lord is to depart from evil. In other words, when we understand 
who God is, we want no truck with wickedness. Notice 5.21. 
521. Now, this doesn't mention the 
fear of the Lord, but it's sort of the third leg in Solomon's 
argument on why his sons ought to reject and resist sexual immorality. And it's essentially three R's. 
He says, remove your way far from her and do not go near the 
door of her house. The second R is to rejoice with 
the wife of your youth. And then that third R is to remember. Remember, God is watching you 
when it comes to sexual immorality. Proverbs 5.21, for the ways of 
man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his 
paths. Now, while the word fear of God 
is absent, I believe the concept there is present. I've already 
alluded to Proverbs 8. I messed up. It's not 8. I'm 
sorry, 8.11. I'm sorry, 813, the fear of the 
Lord is to hate evil, pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, 
and the perverse mouth I hate. Earlier, I said that was verse 
15. Verse 15 is Christ speaking his wisdom when he says, by me, 
kings reign, and rulers decree justice. Proverbs 813 shows us 
the fear of the Lord affects our actions. The fear of the 
Lord is to hate evil, pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, 
and the perverse mouth I hate. And then, of course, Proverbs 
15, 16. Proverbs 15, 16. Better is a 
little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure with trouble. 
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fatted calf with 
hatred. It's better to fear God than 
to have great treasure with trouble. It affects our actions. It affects 
the way we properly interpret the world. Proverbs 16.6, in 
mercy and truth, atonement is provided for iniquity, and by 
the fear of the Lord, one departs from evil. And then Proverbs 
19 at verse 23, the fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who 
has it will abide in satisfaction. He will not be visited with evil. And then finally, the fear of 
God preserves our soul. The fear of God preserves our 
soul, and for this, Proverbs 14, verse 27. Proverbs 14, verse 27. The fear of the Lord is a fountain 
of life to turn one away from the snares of death. And then as well, Proverbs 22, 
verse 4. Proverbs 22 verse 4, by humility and the fear of the 
Lord are riches and honor and life. And may I just say again, 
by a sort of sideline note, that the fear of the Lord is that 
which produces humility. Show me a proud man, which is 
probably all of us, and it evidences a lack or an absence of the fear 
of God. In other words, when we have that proper apprehension 
of who God is, and we have a proper understanding of who we are relative 
to God, how in the world could we be proud? How in the world 
could we ever stand arrogant and proud before a holy God and 
in the midst of other creatures? That's simply unacceptable, and 
the fear of the Lord will help us, God willing, to be killing 
pride. And of course, the fear of God 
preserves our soul. Again, Jeremiah 32, 40, I will 
put my fear in their hearts, so that they will not depart 
from me." So brethren, that's the purpose of the book of Proverbs. 
That's the necessary prerequisite for our study of Proverbs. All 
of us are invited to Solomon's school. All of us are invited 
to pay attention, to listen, to take aid. But all of us are 
told that the fear of the Lord is the beginning. of knowledge, 
and the way to the fear of God is by the grace of God with faith 
in our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the necessary prerequisite 
for the study of Proverbs. As well, when we jump outside 
the book of Proverbs, it's a necessary sort of element in our pursuit 
of holiness. In 2 Corinthians chapter 7, we 
are to perfect pursue holiness, perfecting holiness, rather, 
in the fear of God. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 7, 
verse 1, we ought to realize the absence of this fear of God 
characterizes the unbeliever, and we ought to realize that 
this fear of God is wrought out by the grace of God, and that 
it is available to those who look unto the Lord Jesus Christ. 
We as God's people ought to seek to cultivate the fear of God. 
by having a better appreciation of who God is. It's another theme 
I hope to pursue, are the perfections of God. What does Solomon say 
about God? How does Solomon describe the 
being of God in the book of Proverbs? I think that will go a long way 
to frame the heart aright, to apprehend who he is, so that 
we will indeed have that pervasive fear of God in our souls, so 
that we may receive, with thanksgiving, the written word of God through 
Solomon, the wise man. Well, let us close in a word 
of prayer. Our Father, we thank You for Your Word, and we thank 
You for this book of Proverbs, and we do pray that as we embark 
on this study that You would guide us, that You would instruct 
us, and that we would see growth and grace and in the knowledge 
of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Certainly, there are 
a whole host of practical issues and applications and lessons 
that come from a study of this book, so we pray that you give 
us hearing ears and receiving hearts and grace to put things 
into practice, and do bless our children and bless our young 
people. Certainly, there is a full-scale 
assault upon the truth of God's Word in the secular realm. And we know that very often our 
young people are exposed to such things. May they be exposed to 
the truth of God's Word at the family altar. May they be exposed 
in their own private times of reading Scripture. May they be 
exposed in the preaching of the Word of God in our local church. 
And may you fit them and equip them, and may you grant them 
grace to resist the sorts of tendencies that are so rampant 
in our own day and age. Cause them to stand fast and 
to stand strong and to be intellectually equipped to deal with the sorts 
of things they will face in this world. We ask that you would 
go with us now and we pray these things through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. Amen. Will please take your Trinity 
hymnal. We'll close our service by singing the first stanza of 
hymn number 35. Hymn number 35, stanza number 
one. Please stand as we sing together. ♪ O God of the eyes ♪ ♪ With thine 
immense answer ♪ ♪ O hear from our eyes ♪ ♪ Most blessed, most 
glorious ♪ ♪ The Ancient of Kings ♪ ♪ Almighty, victorious ♪ ♪ 
Thy great name we praise ♪ ♪ Amen ♪ Now may the God of peace who 
brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great shepherd 
of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 
make you complete in every good work to do his will, working 
in you what is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, 
to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. God, go with us now, 
and may you indeed cause us to pursue the things that you have 
called us unto. May you protect us, may you defend 
us, may you rule over us, and may we indeed be a people who 
spend time with you in Scripture and prayer each and every day. 
May our families be marked by a religious devotion to the Lord 
God Most High. And may our church be marked 
as a place where Christ and him crucified is always proclaimed, 
always preached. And may you grant us health and 
strength and grace. May you watch over our suffering 
brothers and sisters, both in our church and throughout the 
world. And may you preserve your people 
by your grace. And we pray these things through 
Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. Please be seated.