BACK TO SCHOOL, BACK TO BASICS – TO KNOW WISDOM AND INSTRUCTION

September is “back to school” time, a fresh time of new beginnings as children start a new school year with new clothes, new lunchboxes, and new book bags filled with lined notebook paper tucked and fastened inside the latest style notebooks. Sharpened pencils neatly arranged alongside a brand-new box of crayons, colorful erasers, a pencil sharpener, scissors, and a fresh new glue stick carefully placed inside their favorite super-hero school supply box. Most children are excited and look forward to all that the new year has to offer, entering a new grade level, spending time with best friends or meeting friends, growing up with new opportunities to be a part of sports or band or choir or after school club. – At least that is how I felt about school when I was growing up.

I loved school. I could not wait for school to start, never wanting to miss a day, even when I was really sick. As a child, I often developed strep throat, and as much as I begged to go to school, my parents had to force me to stay home until I was no longer contagious. Finally, in ninth grade, my doctor recommended that I have my tonsils removed. That procedure stopped the strep throat episodes almost immediately, but a few days after I was released from the hospital, I became very sick and ended up being rushed to the emergency room on a snowy Sunday morning. It was another few weeks before I could return, and I hated it.  I just couldn’t wait to get back. I loved my teachers, spending time with my friends, and learning new things.

Many kids hate doing homework, but it was never a dreaded event for me. I actually enjoyed doing schoolwork and diligently completed all of my homework assignments. I can probably count on one hand the number of occasions when I did not finish a homework assignment from elementary school all the way through college. On those few occasions, I felt a tremendous level of stress and worry. I did not want my teachers to be disappointed in me. My husband says I was a weird kid. After raising five children, not one of them quite so enthusiastic about school or homework, I realize he was right!

When studying the book of Proverbs, it becomes clear that God intends us to be excited about learning. We should increase in knowledge and understanding, seeking to acquire wisdom, which is of more value than silver or gold according to King Solomon (Proverbs 3:14). In the first six verses of this book, Solomon lays the foundation with five clearly stated objectives or purpose statements:

1. To KNOW (Yada) wisdom and instruction.
2. To DISCERN the sayings of understanding.
3. To RECEIVE instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice, and equity.
4. To GIVE prudence to the naïve, to the youth, knowledge and discretion.
5. To UNDERSTAND a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles.

During the month of August, the Proverb of the Day focused on the term “to KNOW”, transliterated “Yada” in Hebrew, taken from the first objective in Proverbs 1:2, “to know wisdom and instruction.” As children head back to school and enter their classrooms and as educators prepare to give instruction to students, ProverbWise will begin the month of September focusing the importance of receiving “INSTRUCTION” ( הוראה) in order to gain wisdom.

According to the NET Bible, the Hebrew word for “instruction” has a three-fold meaning. (9tn, p.1074)

1. Physical or parental: “Discipline; chastisement”
2. Verbal: “warning; exhortation”
3. Moral: “training; instruction”

In the book of Proverbs, the translators of the NET Bible, indicate that “instruction” refers to moral training. “This instruction consists of wisdom acquired by observing the consequences of foolish actions in others and developing the ability to control the natural inclination to folly.” This training may include consequences such as reprimands or punishment with the purpose of correcting and teaching, such as one would train a child. In fact, the Greek word in the Septuagint is translated “child-training”. (9tn, p. 1074, NET)

It is interesting to note the progression in the five objectives from basic moral teaching to complex application in every life situation, which correlate directly with each of the sections in the book of Proverbs. The first objective, “to know wisdom and instruction” commences with “the fear of the Lord” as “the beginning of wisdom” in Proverbs 1:7. The first nine chapters of the book of Proverbs  include instruction by a father (Solomon) as he instructs his children in basic biblical principles directly relating to Ten Commandments given by Moses in Exodus 20.

1. The first four commandments focus on one’s relationship with God. The only way to attain true wisdom is to give God His worth by wholly giving oneself to Him as Lord over all of life and obeying His commandments. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7) This one verse encompasses the first four commandments.  In Proverbs, a “fool” is described as one who says in his heart “there is no God.” (Psalm 14:1) The fool is one who appoints himself as “god” and lives in such a way that he (or she) is accountable to no one.

On the other hand, the one who “fears” God will strive to obey God and honor Him by having no other gods before Him (Exodus 20:3). The basis for gaining knowledge and wisdom has to do with the heart. God is first and foremost in the life of the one who seeks to become wise. God is above all, the highest of priorities. The second commandment, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water below.  You shall not bow down to them or serve them…” (Exodus 20:4-6, NET), emphasizes loyalty to God and worship of Him alone. The third commandment has to do with one’s words and respect for God and His name. “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” (Exodus 20:7). The fourth has to do with one’s actions, keeping the Sabbath Day holy, set apart to the Lord. (Exodus 20:8-11)

2. The final six commandments from Exodus 20 have to do with human relationships and are addressed in Proverbs 1-9. The father speaks to the learner as “my child” or “my children” in these chapters. (1:8,10,15; 2:1: 3:1,11,21; 4:1,10,20; 5:1,7; 6:1,3,20; 7:1; 8:32, NET Bible). Basic moral living, according to the law given by God to Moses in Exodus 20 is covered.

This first section of Proverbs repeatedly exhorts the child to listen and obey the parents, paralleling directly with the fifth commandment in Exodus 20:12, given with a promise. “My child, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments.” Obedience to the father leads to “a long and full life, and…will add well-being to you.” (Proverbs 3:1, NET))

The child is then instructed regarding temptation and evil people. “My son, if sinners try to entice, do not consent.” (Proverbs 1:10) The father warns his son of the dangers of developing friendships with evil people, as these relationships lead to disobedience of God’s law, including thievery, lying, covetousness, sexual sins, and murder. The final five commandments found in Exodus 20:13-17 cover all of these things. “You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal.

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

The first section of the book of Proverbs concludes with a test of whether or not the first objective “to KNOW wisdom and instruction” is being achieved. Proverbs 10:1 states, “A wise child makes a father rejoice, but a foolish child is a grief to his mother.” Every good educator realizes the importance of evaluation or testing. It does no good to move on in giving more instruction if the student doesn’t understand and apply the instruction that has already been given.

If the child is growing up in wisdom and instruction, the parents have cause to rejoice. Now the young adult will begin to take responsibility for himself or herself, and must learn to apply all that the father has taught him. The father or teacher can now begin instruction that addresses the second and third objectives, to “discern the wise sayings” and to continue to “receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice and equity” as is taught in Chapters 10-22 of the book of Proverbs. When experience is gained and knowledge is applied, this young person matures in wisdom and knowledge. Now this individual is able to teach others, “giving instruction to the naïve, to the youth, knowledge and discretion” found in chapters 23-29 of Proverbs. In the final chapters of Proverbs, the wise person is recognized as a leader or “ruler” and can now “understand” the proverbs and teachings so that he or she may wisely govern by example by living a life that honors God and through prudent and astute leadership of those under his or her authority.

Just as children begin in kindergarten and progress from grade level to grade level, learning more and more of the basics of reading, writing, and mathematics, as they are instructed by their teachers, so also the student of wisdom must begin with the basics and progress on toward spiritual maturity.

It always starts with the basics. Learning to listen to instruction. Obeying God’s commandments. Learning to fear the Lord. Learning to live out faith through the practice of good works. Jesus said it best when He summed up the ten commandments, including the teaching of Proverbs 1-9, when he spoke these words in Matthew 22:37-40 (NASB):

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.

This is the beginning. This is the kindergarten of the Christian life. This is the time of instruction in the life of the young follower of Jesus. Without the foundation, there will be failure. Apart from loving God first and loving others as ourselves, we cannot acquire wisdom, nor will we progress to spiritual maturity. May we become humble enough to receive “instruction” so that we may “KNOW WISDOM.” Jesus took a little child and said to those around Him, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn around and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven! Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3-4)

The book of Proverbs is generally interpreted for the individual in pursuit of wisdom, but should be considered in the context of community, as would be the norm in the Jewish culture. When viewed in light of community, the book of Proverbs may be seen as a picture of the life in the Jewish community. We may apply this context in view of the New Covenant, New Testament church in the world.

The birth of new believers who are just beginning to live in “the fear of the Lord”, learning to follow Jesus, is clearly seen in Chapters 1-9, as the father addresses his children. Chapters 10-22 deal a young person who is becoming an adult, and may be applied to those in the church who have mastered the basics of the Christian life and are now growing up, learning to apply wisdom in everyday life. As the book continues, the disciple is becoming mature, applying wisdom principles in every area of life and work, faithfully embracing Wisdom, and is beginning to teach others. In the final chapters, the fully mature Christian is leading others, wisely living as an example and properly interpreting God’s laws and principles as they teach others. The wise woman of wisdom in the final chapter of Proverbs may very well be a picture of the church as she cares for those in the household of faith and as she practices good works. Because of her noble and virtuous behavior, “husband” is known in the gates. The Lord Jesus, who became Wisdom for us, is known in the world through the good works God has given us to do, and the Father is glorified.  In a healthy church, there are baby Christians, growing Christians, and mature Christians. Those who are mature should be bringing more babies into the home (the household of faith, the church), teaching them and training them to grow up and become wise – “to KNOW wisdom and instruction.”

Maybe it’s time to get back to the basics in the school of wisdom so that we can grow up, becoming healthy and mature disciples of Jesus who are ready to teach others through our godly example and wise, biblical leadership.