We love studying the book of wisdom called Proverbs! It is one of God's Old Testament wisdom books along with Job, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. Psalms helps us worship well and this book helps us live well. Proverbs is a collection of wisdom and insight attributed to four authors.
Solomon (Israel’s wisest king after Jesus) the son of David wrote most of them (See Proverbs 1:1, Proverbs 10;1, and Proverbs 25:1; 1 Kings 4:32). A few of the Proverbs came from other contributors. Anonymous writers contributed Proverbs 22:17-24:22. Mr. Agur wrote chapter 30. I like that he highlights how little he knows -- yes, he admits that he does not know God. The first verse in his Proverbs states that. King Lemuel wrote Proverbs 31. His name means for God and some scholars believe that King Lemuel actually is King Solomon.
Proverbs are short pithy helpful sayings, not really legal guarantees from God. Of course we love and trust God's Bible Promises, but proverbs are principles of life not promises. Proverbs are not magic formulas at all, they are probabilities. I mean there’s really no guarantee with them like they'll consistently work for you and me and for every family every time. As our sound commentaries and leaders tell us to do, let's all focus on the general rule in these chapters and believe the Lord. You of course know there'll be some twists, some curve balls, some exceptions in this life as well and our wise God will faithfully guide each of us through all the way Home.
Think back to your school days in debate class, if you are making a general statement and you say that something is the exception that proves the rule, you mean that although it seems to contradict your statement, in most other cases your statement will be true.
Life in this fallen world is very complex for mere simple formulas. As we fully trust in the Lord with His daily leading, we simply do our best and commit the rest. We follow the wisest Person, Jesus, saying YES, to Him.
Example A: See Proverbs 22:46 “Train up a child in the way that he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Well, of course we want this to be a promise for us. It'd be nice. Do everything right as a parent and your kids are one hundred percent going to turn out all right, but in reality we each know of people that have done parenting right, seems like almost everything right, and then their child grows up only to continue on in being a prodigal who walked away from Christ.
I often look at how the Bible brings up a great apostasy (or falling away) in the last days and then think about this verse. Yes, if you look at the stats today more and more sons and daughters (like after that son or daughter's entry into college) have walked away from the Christian faith, and subsequently away from the church. Far more than before. May God use us with His red-hot passion (love), anointing, and truth to tactfully.. to respectfully bring them to Christ.
And of course some hopeful parents say yes, but Kurt they're not “old” (as the verse says) yet and when they're older they are going to return. Man, I sure hope that to be true (let's agree in prayer for that), and we don't want to negate this possibility because God will forgive any repentant sinner. He can easily save any fairly moral or addicted reprobate who responds on His terms with saving faith.
But granting all of us a guarantee in this regard is not the intention of this proverb listed above. It's not a guarantee of success for parents. So really what's being urged here in this proverb? We are to do our part well. We are to choose the way of the Lord and His wisdom. We are to do our very best in everything.. prayerfully training up each child in the wise (Bible) way to live empowered by God’s Spirit who is in full agreement with the Word. Yes, we do this in the appropriate, good, balanced and godly way respecting each of their decisions, and then leave them and the results in God’s hands. God won't have anyone unhappy to be in heaven one day. he doesn’t make anyone here follow His Son, but He indeed will woo them to Jesus. Yes, He always does His part in answer to believing prayer.
Proverbs are to be memorable, not to necessarily be theoretically correct every single time. What is meant by this is: No proverb is a complete and total expression of all truth. Every saying in Proverbs, yes, every sentence in this book contains truth. Every verse points us in the right direction of truth. Every proverb illustrates truth (in some cases addresses what's situationally true in the human experience). Every chapter and verse points us to the divine Person of truth. In other words there's always a good message of what's really so, a sound edifying lesson, an excellent sermon behind the expression. And I am pointed to and motivated to know and get closer to the Author of Proverbs when I read, memorize and meditate upon these sayings.
Example B: See Proverbs 15:19 "The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, but the way of the upright is a highway."
..but the path of the upright is a level Highway. The language here is not meant to point our minds to the weeds and ugly plants growing up in someone's front or backyard, but rather towards the principle of diligence over lazy slothful existence here. Working hard and wisely sure beats the alternative.
The sluggard or the slothful person has these negative roadblocks in their way, kind of like painful thorns in a walkway, but a wise person who's living according to God's standard in God's holy wise Way is going to be dwelling on a level highway. In other words they're going to be able to advance and move in their life forward with liberty. They are going to receive the blessing of God so they can become more fruitful and productive. This verse contains a contrast: Live the wise way and the wise way is cleared before you.
Now some proverbs (especially in the KJV) need to first be translated into our lingo today in order to be appreciated. The truth Express in Proverbs oftentimes connected to practices or institutions that no longer exist, but were common during Old Testament times. Yes, 3000 years ago is a long time and things and aspects of conversation change. What's important for us is to take some time to translate these proverb sayings in order to move them perhaps into a modern equivalent if you will. We are to help our hearers see the context in which they sit today.
Example C: The Bible says, "He who loves purity of heart and has grace on his lips, the king will be his friend." Proverbs 22:11 nkjv
But wait, we don't have an earthly king in America to befriend (or do we? Sometimes I wonder.)
What's also NOT being said in this verse is that you're going to be the Israelites king's friend (but like with a Messianic Jew, you indeed can be a friend of the King of all kings).
The word (for earthily) king here is a synecdoche. So what is a synecdoche? It is a word that references the whole, and it's one of a class. So the king here represents those in high places, or those people in leadership positions. We might retranslate (or paraphrase) this proverb to say one who loves a pure heart and speaks with grace from God will leave a positive impression on those in leadership positions.
Any of us can see how this proverb is immediately applicable to our occupation, yes, right into our workplace, and into our sphere of influence too as we interact with and witness to those who are in high places.
Example D: King Solomon states fact, "It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, than in a house shared with a contentious woman." Proverb 25:24.
You know how it was very common back in the day to go spend a lot of time on the roof top. Perhaps it is better for some to go live up on the roof today? Today we could retranslate that into living in a man-cave or in a fixed up garage seems better (as I see Texas men often do), than to go live with a quarrelsome wife who apparently likes strife. The take away lesson for us from this proverb is: Hey Barney, don't run ahead of God's lead in the gaining of a bride. Be not hasty in choosing a wife. (I'd add this: Go live in God's will and seek first to know and obey His Son ..who adds unto us all that we believers need. Right when we have the need)
Let’s not merely just make a living, let’s choose to make a life. Yep, a life that glorifies Jesus. Let’s choose to live forever with Him.
Factoid: Our English word “proverb” is made up of two Latin words: pro (instead of) and verba (words). So, a proverb is a sentence that is given “instead of many words”; it is a short statement that summarizes a wise principle. The Hebrew word translated “proverb” means “a comparison.” As we shall see, many of the proverbs of Solomon are comparisons and contrasts. Like most in the east. Like most Oriental peoples, the Jews had done a lot of teaching through proverbs. These pithy, to the point, short and “catchy” sentences were easier to remember. Proverbs condensed much wisdom in a small space.
The theme of Proverbs: God’s kind of wisdom sure beats the world’s type, as well as folly. Dare ya if I may to daily respond to godly wisdom.
1.) Wisdom’s Multiple Calls To People And Folly’s Calls To People (Prov. 1:20–9:18)
A. Wisdom’s first call—to salvation (Prov. 1:20–33)
B. Wisdom’s Path—righteousness and safety (2–4)
C. Folly’s first call—condemnation (5)
D. Folly’s second call—poverty (6)
E. Folly’s third call—death (7)
F. Wisdom’s second call—to true wealth (8)
G. Wisdom’s third call—to life (9)
2.) Wisdom’s Contrasts (10–15) -- some proverbs contrasting wisdom and folly.
3.) Wisdom’s Counsels (16–31) -- some proverbs on life's practical matters.
Ask God for wisdom, expect. Appropriate His wisdom by faith. Then be smart about rightly obeying His Word quickly.
You can gain wisdom in the Bible. Prayerfully memorize and meditate upon the proverbs that address your weaknesses day and night.
Here's homework for ya: Worship well (at home too). Biblically go horizontal. Praise Jesus. Live well (start at home). Wisely apply proverbs while here as a good witness for Christ. Go through the book of Proverbs monthly (not quickly, let what's so sink in), and go through the Psalms Monthly too. And as you work through all 66 books each year, find individuals in the Bible who thought, spoke and acted wisely. Find those who acted foolishly, and those who had a mixture of both.. you know, seasons of wisdom and of folly. We can learn from all of them.. what to think, to say, to be, and what not to think, say or be.
Consider wisdom and folly, the two “women” who are out to woo and win the hearts of people. You will note in the suggested outline of Proverbs that there are three calls from Wisdom and three from Folly. Wisdom calls us to God and life; Folly calls us to sin and judgment. We want to study these six important invitations and contrast them.
The Challenging Path of the Wise.
Wisdom addresses three kinds of people: the simple, the scorner, and the fool. The simple are people who believe everything (Prov. 14:15). They have no understanding (Prov. 7:7; 9:4) and cannot see the road ahead (Prov. 22:3; 27:12). Scorners think they know everything (Prov. 21:24), so they never attain wisdom (Prov. 14:6) or even profit from rebuke (Prov. 9:7-8; 13:1; 15:12). They are great trouble makers (Prov. 22:10) who ought to be punished (Prov. 19:29; 21:11). Fools are self-confident (Prov. 12:15; 28:26) and hate instruction (Prov. 1:7, 22; 23:9). They speak proudly (Prov. 10:18; 14:3), love to fight (Prov. 18:6-7; 27:3), meddle (Prov. 20:3), speak without thinking (Prov. 18:13; 19:11), and mock at sin (Prov. 14:9). They are not helped by discipline (Prov. 17:10; 27:22) and will finally fall (Prov. 10:8, 10, 14).
Who Really Is Wise In Our Day?
The truly wise person will hear the Word of God (Prov. 1:5) and obey it (Prov. 12:15); store up what is learned (Prov. 9:9; 10:14); win the lost (Prov. 11:30); turn from sin (Prov. 14:16); control the tongue (Prov. 10:19; 16:23); and be diligent (Prov. 10:5). The wise person will inherit glory (Prov. 3:35); bring joy to others (Prov. 10:1; 15:20); have his or her needs met (Prov. 21:20); and have strength for war (Prov. 24:5-6).
1.) So Let's Check Out Wisdom’s First Call—God's Salvation ( Prov. 1:20–33)
This is an open call out in the streets where people can see and hear. God’s call to hearts is not a secret matter; His Spirit invites people openly to come to Christ. Note that Wisdom invites all three classes: the simple, the scorner, and the fool (1:22). Wisdom can see judgment coming and she wants sinners to escape it. What a wonderful offer she makes to those who will hear: the gift of the Spirit of God and the Word of God (v. 23).
How do sinners respond to this call? It seems that they totally reject it. Verses 24–25 indicate their responses: they refused to heed; they did not regard God’s outstretched hand; they even made light of it. What will the result be? Destruction. And God will laugh at them just as they laughed at Wisdom. “Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer” (v. 28). They will reap just what they have sown (v. 31). Why did they refuse God’s gracious offer? Verse 32 indicates that the “ease” (turning away) of the simple and the prosperity of the fools gave them a false assurance; they thought they would never see judgment.
Following Wisdom’s first call we have three chapters that present the path of wisdom. The words “path” and “way” are each used thirteen times in these chapters. The message of chapter 2 is that Wisdom protects our paths (2:8), of chapter 3 that Wisdom directs our paths (3:5–6), and of chapter 4 that Wisdom perfects our paths (4:18).
Wisdom offers people salvation, but in chapter 5 we see Folly offering them condemnation. Wherever God gives His gracious invitation, Satan is there with an alluring offer of his own. Read this description of the wicked woman and see how Satan tries to make sin appear attractive. But note 5:5—“Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.” God warns us not even to come near her door (5:7–8). Sin is always a costly thing: you can lose your reputation (5:9), your possessions (5:10), your health (5:11), and your very life (5:22–23). The “cords of sins” bind slowly, but they bind surely, until one day the sinner discovers escape is impossible.
2.) So Let's Check Out Wisdom’s Second Call—True Wealth (8)
Go through the whole chapter [Prov. 8:1 nkjv] "Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice?
[2] She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, Beside the way, where the paths meet.
[3] She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, At the entrance of the doors:
[4] "To you, O men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men.
[5] O you simple ones, understand prudence, And you fools, be of an understanding heart.
[6] Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, And from the opening of my lips [will come] right things;
[7] For my mouth will speak truth; Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
[8] All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; nothing crooked or perverse is in them.
[9] They [are] all plain to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.
[10] Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold;
[11] For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.
[12] "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge [and] discretion.
[13] The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.
[14] Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength.
[15] By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice.
[16] By me princes rule, and nobles, All the judges of the earth.
[17] I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me.
[18] Riches and honor are with me, enduring riches and righteousness.
[19] My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, And my revenue than choice silver.
Wisdom is back in the streets again, calling sinners to follow God’s path. In v. 5 she calls the simple and the fools, but not the scorner. He was the one who laughed and mocked (1:25–26), so God now passes him by. How solemn to think that hearts can be so hard that they no longer hear the voice of God.
The invitation is to true wealth, the wisdom that is far above silver, gold, and precious jewels (vv. 10–11). See Prov. 4:1–10 for a similar exhortation. In fact, to know God’s wisdom is to reign like a king (vv. 15–16). Verses 18–19 affirm again that wisdom and godly living are greater in value than all worldly wealth. After all, to know the Lord and obey Him is to have all the wealth of heaven and earth at your disposal. In vv. 22–31, Solomon introduces an OT picture of Jesus Christ, the Wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24, 30). As you read this description, you see Christ, the beloved Son of God, the Creator of the universe. To know Him is to have true wisdom. (Of course, Christ was not “brought forth” [vv. 24–25] in the sense of being created by the Father, since the Son existed from all eternity. This is symbolic language.)
Wisdom invites us to wealth, but in chapter 6, Folly invites us to poverty (6:20–35). Here is the “strange woman” again, all painted up, flattering the young man, tempting him to sin. In 6:26, we see that sin leads to poverty; see also 6:31. True, many ungodly people today seem prosperous, but their wealth will not last.
3.) So Let's Check Out Wisdom’s Third Call—Real Life (9)
Wisdom’s first invitation was to the fool, to the scorner, and to the simple; her second invitation was only to the fool and the simple (8:5); but her third invitation is only to the simple (9:4). But the fool decided to follow Folly, and in 8:36 he experienced death (see 1:22). Alas, the simple too will reject Wisdom’s gracious call and end up in the depths of hell (9:1–18). And what are the results of these invitations? Here they are:
(A.) The scorner rejected Wisdom and met destruction (1:24–27); he listened to Folly and received destruction (6:32)
(B.) The fool rejected Wisdom and was led to death (8:36); he listened to Folly and received death (5:22–23)
(C.) The simple rejected Wisdom and went to hell (9:18); he listened to Folly and ended up in hell (7:27)*The lesson is obvious: to reject God's Wisdom is to accept Folly. There is no middle ground. “He that is not with Me is against Me,” said Jesus. “No man can serve two masters,” and nobody can live without having some master. We either follow Wisdom or Folly, Christ or sin.
Verses 1–6 picture Wisdom preparing a wonderful banquet. This reminds us of the several “banquet” parables of Christ, especially Luke 14:15–24. Salvation is not a funeral; it is a feast. “Forsake the foolish, and live,” Wisdom calls, for receiving Christ is the only way to receive life (1 John 5:11–13). “By me your days will be multiplied,” Wisdom promises in v. 11 (NKJV).
But Folly is busy inviting people to her banquet (chap. 7). It takes little imagination to see the foolish young man as he toys with temptation and finally listens to Folly and goes to her feast. But he goes like an ox to the slaughter (7:22). When you yield to this particular temptation, you become like a dumb animal. Wisdom is offering life, but Folly offers death (7:26–27). Temptation looks fascinating and enjoyable, and there are pleasures in sin “for a season” (Heb. 11:25), but in the end, sin leads to death and hell. See James 1:13–15.
These, then, are the invitations we face in this life. We can listen to Wisdom and enjoy salvation, true wealth, and life; or we can listen to Folly (and be tempted and sin) and then experience condemnation, poverty, and death. The choice is your. It's mine too. So what will you and I do? Let's closely follow our wise Shepherd, Jesus.
Q: Got a good plan for knowin', worshipin', hearin' and wisely obeyin' God?
Question for ya: What are your top goals and priorities after all this time of Covid0-wierdness?
Mine: Knowin' God well and wisely making Him well known.. yep, in that order. Sure, well beats sick on any level right. Tactfully, gently, clearly, respectfully.. make HIM not me INTIMATELY KNOWN.. wherever there is a hunger and an openness for Him and what's really so. You know that biblical worship always comes before any kinda work or ministry. Can you think of any better goals really? I can't. Come to Jesus, the wisest Person who ever lives! Now is good.
*Thanks for the insights Logos Bible, Jack Graham, Greg, Wiersbe, Liney and class!
