“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.” (Proverbs 1:2–7, NKJV)
Having established the necessity of origin and identifying YHWH LORD God as the originator of Wisdom and Knowledge, we come to humanities possession of the rudiments of the attributes.
laqah or [laqach /law·kakh/] (Strongs 3947)
Translated here as to receive (NKJV) is also indicative of being seized, taken, took, and even married. It’s reference it clearly related to possession and possessor. The translation could read “take to,” “taken by” or even “married to” instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity. The importance of this relationship indicates the relationship we have been pointing to in which YHWH has given to His human creatures the ability to reason, comprehend, and act in accordance with comprehension.
More than this, in imparting of wisdom, knowledge, justice, judgment, and equity all contribute to the moral make up of humanity as a whole. We are not speaking of disseminated information through the Word of God alone, but the imputation of these attributes (Romans 1:20-25) to humanity from the moment of inception in the mind of God.
We are now speaking of the root cause which lead both Eve and Adam into the sin of self worship, the rejection of the knowledge and direction given by God. It is also evidence of knowledge and the ability to comprehend, reason and reject God’s word.
To embrace the knowledge of God, is to live in a manner pleasing to God alone. This knowledge provokes fear in the hearts of people. To live justly, to judge correctly at all times, to live without partiality toward the rest of humanity. These are ideas of great worth. From where is the worth derived? The correct answer is YHWH.
JUSTICE, JUDGMENT, EQUITY
When we face the perfect knowledge of God and measure our lives against the requirements of His word, we are faced with our failings and personal inability. Solomon wants us to be encouraged as followers of God in light of the requirements of living the truth.
To be taken by the instruction of wisdom, is to be altered by it. Just as marriage demands certain requirements of the two whom are joined, those joined to wisdom are faced with the demands of YHWH. It is a great gift to be taken by the Master and instructed, this is the blessedness of which Paul speaks in Romans 3:1-4.
The commodities of such instruction are measures in terms of justice, judgement, and equity.
Justice is the perfect requirement of God as demanded in His Word, or Law if you prefer. Following the birth, death and resurrection of Christ, the handwritten requirements which were against us as failed sinners and wicked children were wiped out (Col 2:11-15.) Christ paid the price for sin and removed forever the wrath of God against His chosen people. In this is great joy, but what of fear?
Justice exacts fear in the form of awe in the hearts and minds of believers. It is a perfect recognition of YHWH as father, Jesus as son and atonement, and the application of the Spirit imparting to the elect the instruction of wisdom regarding the truth of God’s love. Fear is also manifested in us when we in the grip of wisdoms knowledge and instruction daily struggle to work out in this life our salvation in fear and trembling. It is the wisdom and knowledge which brings to the hearts and minds of believers the awe of God in the form of fear. (Phil 2:12-13)
