To know wisdom and instruction, to discern the sayings of understanding … (Prov. 1:2)

The foundational teaching of the wise father or teacher is found in the summary statement of Proverbs: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Prov. 1:7). The rest of the book of Proverbs fleshes this out, in a graduated way. From Proverbs 1:8 through chapter 9 we find teaching about wisdom, and chapters 10 through 31 are the actual proverbs—the short, pity, wise statements, most of which were written by Solomon.

The author of the book tells us up front why he wrote (Prov. 1:2-6); it might help us to put this in outline form. The book was written for readers:

• To know wisdom
• To know instruction
• To discern the sayings of understanding
• To receive instruction in:
  • wise behavior
  • righteousness
  • justice
  • equity
• To give prudence to the naïve
• To give to youth:
  • knowledge
  • discretion

The goal is that a wise person of understanding will:

• Hear and increase learning
• Acquire wise counsel
• Understand:
  • proverbs
  • figures (of speech)
  • words of wisdom
  • riddles

Of course, there is some overlap in meaning of the above, but we can see that wisdom is a process that encompasses all of life, from the initial learning of basic wisdom to the continuous lifestyle of acquiring wisdom over a lifetime.

O Lord, I want to learn wisdom and make it my lifestyle, so that I can not only learn it but also be able to teach it to others.