“The Proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: To learn wisdom and moral instruction, and to discern wise counsel. To receive moral instruction in skillful living, in righteousness, justice, and equity. To impart shrewdness to the morally naive, and a discerning plan to the young person. (Let the wise also hear and gain instruction, and let the discerning acquire guidance!) To discern the meaning of a proverb and a parable, the sayings of the wise and their riddles. Fearing the Lord is the beginning of moral knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Listen, my child, to the instruction from your father, and do not forsake the teaching from your mother. For they will be like an elegant garland on your head, and like pendants around your neck.” Proverbs 1:1-9

The core theological claim of Proverbs (Proverbs 1:7, 1:29, 2:5, etc.) is that the “fear of the Lord” is the beginning of knowledge or wisdom. (The New Interpreter’s Study Bible, p. 894). What can fear mean? I think the possibilities would include awe, abject terror, respect, and obedience. Proverbs 1:7 reads, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” It seems to me that piety and our proper understanding of our relationship to this world, to each other, and our relationship to G-d places us in an attitude where we must decide: will be receptive to hearing G-d’s calling or not — and will have a willingness to follow or not? Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “How difficult it is to draw the line with certainty between spiritual wisdom and worldly astuteness. …Abide by the Word. Where the Word is, there shall the disciple be. Therein lies his (her) true wisdom and his (her) true simplicity. Only the truth of (the Word of Jesus) will enable him (her) to discern what is wise.” Finally, I ask you to consider the words of Proverbs 3:5: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Oh to develop such trust and acknowledgment?

Pastor Dave

“After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought formal charges against Paul to the governor. When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, “We have experienced a lengthy time of peace through your rule, and reforms are being made in this nation through your foresight. Most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this everywhere and in every way with all gratitude. But so that I may not delay you any further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness. For we have found this man to be a troublemaker, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we arrested him. When you examine him yourself, you will be able to learn from him about all these things we are accusing him of doing.” The Jews also joined in the verbal attack, claiming that these things were true.

When the governor gestured for him to speak, Paul replied, “Because I know that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I confidently make my defense. As you can verify for yourself, not more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. They did not find me arguing with anyone or stirring up a crowd in the temple courts or in the synagogues or throughout the city, nor can they prove to you the things they are accusing me of doing. But I confess this to you, that I worship the God of our ancestors according to the Way (which they call a sect), believing everything that is according to the law and that is written in the prophets. I have a hope in God (a hope that these men themselves accept too) that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.” Acts 24:1-15

When others around us are accusing and pointing fingers, can we react the same as Paul – cheerfully and with confidence? Paul has been arrested in the Temple, he has been beaten, he has been defending himself in front of the tribune and the Sanhedrin and the governor, and yet remains firm in the faith – and not just firm but encouraged and greets them with a smile. All of this, of course, happens in Jerusalem and will lead, just like Jesus, to the death of Paul because he is a threat to the Temple, to the Mosaic Law and the people of Israel. How firm can we stand in defense of what we believe? When voices are raised, and anger is provoked, can we remain cheerful and speak with conviction allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, our hearts, and our words?

These might be rhetorical questions, yet often we are called to defend our beliefs to a world that doesn’t want to understand Christ’s love, mercy and grace. We can feel trapped, imprisoned in our beliefs knowing that the love, mercy and grace of Christ is available for all and to all — those who currently believe, and those who will come to believe.

Along the border with Mexico and the United States there is a humanitarian crisis being played out every day. You may or may not be aware of the depth of the human crisis, or you may or may not believe it is our concern. But there are many people of faith who believe that to sit quietly and say nothing or do nothing while such a crisis is being played out is equal to being silent when asked to profess our faith — or doing nothing when someone asks us for a drink of water. What do you think our congregation should be doing about the border crisis?

Pastor Dave