Proverbs 15:31
‘The ear that hears the reproof of life, abides among the wise…. The fear of the Lord, is the instruction of Wisdom!’ Proverbs 15:31-33.
‘The ear that hears the reproof of life, abides among the wise.’ Among the wise who have been made wise by God’s Wisdom the Lord Jesus Christ, are ears that hear the reproofs of life!
Such ears accept reproofs experienced during this present life. As a result, such people abide among the wise — they stay with God’s wise people; and they adhere to God’s Wisdom Christ the Lord.
For their very teachableness is the key that unlocks the door for them. So that they become wiser and wiser. What a contrast to the ‘scorner’ who does not go to the wise — nor to God’s Wisdom the Lord Jesus Christ (Proverbs 15:12)!
He who is humble enough gratefully to accept reproof when he has strayed, shall rejoice among those regarded by God as wise. But the learned in the world are often too proud to receive a warning, because they regard themselves as exalted above those who in the fear of the Lord would correct them. Beautiful indeed is the impact of a Wise Reprover upon an obedient ear (Proverbs
25:12).
Only those, who after hearing reproof, obtain wisdom — and who obtain God’s Wisdom the Lord Jesus Christ! Remaining in the fear of the Lord, they know that the better part of wisdom is to acknowledge their faults and sins — and to accept the punishment, as coming from Him Himself.
Those who accept their lowest place, shall in time be lifted up. Think about the remarkable history of Joseph (Genesis 37 to 50)!
‘The fear of the Lord, is the instruction of Wisdom.’ He who fears God, does so because God’s Wisdom the Lord Jesus Christ has so instructed him.
For God-fearers need and heed God’s Wisdom. They need quickly and constantly to learn all these wise things, which they need to know.
Indeed, ‘the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.’ The knowledge derived from Wisdom (Proverbs 1:7).
‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom’ — acquired from Wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). That is ‘the instruction of Wisdom’ (Proverbs 15:33) — the instruction which is acquired from and imparted by Wisdom. Do you have it? The ear that heeds reproof, abides among the wise!
