Many have asked me why I put so much importance in the book of Proverbs.
Well, first of all, I believe that too many people lack the proper wisdom to see past all the confusion Satan has placed before their eyes. So I want to help others to see the truth by giving the tool best suited for the job. And what better tool can one use than the one the Apostle Paul tells is the Wisdom of God. 1Corinthians 1:26-30
What better way to understand the Wisdom of God, than to repeatedly read the book He gave us that fully describes His Wisdom? Don't get me wrong, you should be reading the whole Bible, but no other book fits so perfectly in the Month of our lives like the book of Proverbs.
For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-- that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."
1 Corinthians 1:26-30
Mind you, the very purpose of writing the book of Proverbs was to reveal the mind of God in matters high and lofty and in common, ordinary, everyday situations. It appears that no topic escaped King Solomon's attention. Matters pertaining to personal conduct, sexual relations, business, wealth, charity, ambition, discipline, debt, child-rearing, character, alcohol, politics, revenge, and Godliness are among the many topics covered in this rich collection of wise sayings.
Without wisdom, knowledge is nothing more than an accumulation of raw facts, influenced by emotional feelings. Many highly educated people are in positions of power in the United States, but very few of those educated leaders have the wisdom needed to rule properly. .
One can say that they have been educated well beyond their intelligence. A cursory look at the court system will prove my point that knowledge without wisdom will only lead to an immoral society that eventually crumbles from within. Judges are supposed to be above the fray, and immovable to emotions. Instead, the vast majority of judges today are Godless individuals who are vacant of wisdom. So their rulings are totally based upon emotional feelings. .
We the people are to blame, because we ignored God's guidance in appointing our leaders. Instead of putting leaders full wisdom in power, we instead chose those who would scratch our itchy ears to lead us. .
Of the 31 Proverbs, only the first 24 were written by Solomon. King Hezekiah wrote 5, Proverbs 25 to 29, Agur wrote Proverb 30, and Lemuel wrote Proverb 31. Now many believe Lemuel was in fact King Solomon and Lemuel was just a nick name his Mother, Bathsheba gave him. We are told that Solomon write over 3000 Proverbs and composed 1000 songs, but the only Proverbs God decided to preserve for us are Proverbs 1-24. Like the New Testament epistle by James, it is impossible to get a chronological outline for a study since they all bounce from subject to subject..
Along with my daily routine of reading the Bible, I try to read through the book of Proverbs once a Month. It's an easy task when you consider there are 31 Proverbs. So all you need to know is what day of the Month it is. In the Months that have 30 days, or in the case of February, I just double up by reading more than one two proverb so I can begin the next month with Proverb 1 on the first again. With that, today is the 1st, and here is the first Proverb, followed by commentary from “Jamieson, Fausset,& Brown”
Proverb 1 (NKJV)
The Beginning of Knowledge
01 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
02 To know wisdom and instruction,
00To perceive the words of understanding,
03 To receive the instruction of wisdom,
00 Justice, judgment, and equity;
04 To give prudence to the simple,
00 To the young man knowledge and discretion--
05 A wise man will hear and increase learning,
00 And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
06 To understand a proverb and an enigma,
00 The words of the wise and their riddles.
07 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
00 But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Shun Evil Counsel
08 My son, hear the instruction of your father,
00 And do not forsake the law of your mother;
09 For they will be a graceful ornament on your head,
00 And chains about your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you,
00 Do not consent.
11 If they say, "Come with us,
00 Let us lie in wait to shed blood;
00 Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol,
00 And whole, like those who go down to the Pit;
13 We shall find all kinds of precious possessions,
00 We shall fill our houses with spoil;
14 Cast in your lot among us,
00 Let us all have one purse"--
15 My son, do not walk in the way with them,
00 Keep your foot from their path;
16 For their feet run to evil,
00 And they make haste to shed blood.
17 Surely, in vain the net is spread
00 In the sight of any bird;
18 But they lie in wait for their own blood,
00 They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;
00 It takes away the life of its owners.
The Call of Wisdom
20 Wisdom calls aloud outside;
00 She raises her voice in the open squares.
21 She cries out in the chief concourses,
00 At the openings of the gates in the city
00 She speaks her words:
22 "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
00 For scorners delight in their scorning,
00 And fools hate knowledge.
23 Turn at my rebuke;
00 Surely I will pour out my spirit on you;
00 I will make my words known to you.
24 Because I have called and you refused,
00 I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,
25 Because you disdained all my counsel,
00 And would have none of my rebuke,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
00 I will mock when your terror comes,
27 When your terror comes like a storm,
00 And your destruction comes like a whirlwind,
00 When distress and anguish come upon you.
28 "Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
00 They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge
00 And did not choose the fear of the LORD,
30 They would have none of my counsel
00 And despised my every rebuke.
31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,
00 And be filled to the full with their own fancies.
32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them,
00 And the complacency of fools will destroy them;
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely,
00 And will be secure, without fear of evil."
1-33 After the title the writer defines the design and nature of the instructions of the book. He paternally invites attention to those instructions and warns his readers against the enticements of the wicked. In a beautiful personification, wisdom is then introduced in a most solemn and impressive manner, publicly inviting men to receive its teachings, warning those who reject, and encouraging those who accept, the proffered instructions.
2. To know . . . instruction--literally, "for knowing," that is, such is the design of these writings.
wisdom--or the use of the best means for the best ends, is generally employed in this book for true piety.
instruction--discipline, by which men are trained.
to perceive--literally, "for perceiving," the design (as above)
understanding--that is, words which enable one to discern good and evil.
3. To receive . . . of wisdom--For receiving that discipline which discretion imparts. The Hebrew for "wisdom" differs from that of Proverbs 1:2 , and denotes rather discreet counsel. Compare the opposite traits of the fool ( Proverbs 16:22 ).
justice . . . equity--all the attributes of one upright in all his relations to God and man.
4. simple--one easily led to good or evil; so the parallel.
young man--one inexperienced.
subtilty--or prudence ( Proverbs 3:21 , 5:21 ).
discretion--literally, "device," both qualities, either good or bad, according to their use. Here good, as they imply wariness by which to escape evil and find good.
5, 6. Such writings the wise, who pursue right ends by right means, will value.
learning--not the act, but matter of it.
wise counsels--or the art and principles of governing.
6. To understand--so as to . . . such will be the result.
interpretation--(Compare Margin).
words of the wise--(Compare Proverbs 1:2 ).
dark sayings--(Compare Psalms 49:4 , John 16:25;
7. The fear of the Lord--the principle of true piety (compare Proverbs 2:5 , Proverbs 14:26 Proverbs 14:27 , Job 28:28 , Psalms 34:11 , 111:10 , Acts 9:31 ).
beginning--first part, foundation.
fools--the stupid and indifferent to God's character and government; hence the wicked.
8. My son--This paternal form denotes a tender regard for the reader. Filial sentiments rank next to piety towards God, and ensure most distinguished rewards (compare Proverbs 6:20 , Ephesians 6:2 Ephesians 6:3 ).
9. On the figures of Proverbs 1:9 , compare Genesis 41:42 , Solomon 1:10 , 4:9.
10-19. A solemn warning against temptation.
entice--literally, "open the way."
consent . . . not--Sin is in consenting or yielding to temptation, not in being tempted.
11-14. Murder and robbery are given as specific illustrations.
lay wait . . . lurk privily--express an effort and hope for successful concealment.
swallow . . . grave--utterly destroy the victim and traces of the crime ( Numbers 16:33 , Psalms 55:15 ). Abundant rewards of villainy are promised as the fruits of this easy and safe course.
15, 16. The society of the wicked (way or path) is dangerous. Avoid the beginnings of sin ( Proverbs 4:14 , Psalms 1:1 , 119:101.
17-19. Men warned ought to escape danger as birds instinctively avoid visibly spread nets. But stupid sinners rush to their own ruin ( Psalms 9:16 ), and, greedy of gain, succeed in the very schemes which destroy them ( 1 Timothy 6:10 ), not only failing to catch others, but procuring their own destruction.
20-33. Some interpreters regard this address as the language of the Son of God under the name of Wisdom (compare Luke 11:49 ). Others think that wisdom, as the divine attribute specially employed in acts of counsel and admonition, is here personified, and represents God. In either case the address is a most solemn and divine admonition, whose matter and spirit are eminently evangelical and impressive
Wisdom--literally, "Wisdoms," the plural used either because of the unusual sense, or as indicative of the great excellency of wisdom (compare Proverbs 9:1 ).
streets--or most public places, not secretly.
21. The publicity further indicated by terms designating places of most common resort.
22. simple ones--(Compare Proverbs 1:4 ).
simplicity--implying ignorance.
scorners--( Psalms 1:1 )--who despise, as well as reject, truth.
fools--Though a different word is used from that of Proverbs 1:7 , yet it is of the same meaning.
23. reproof--implying conviction deserving it (compare John 16:8 , Margin).
pour out--abundantly impart.
my spirit--whether of wisdom personified, or of Christ, a divine agent.
24. stretched . . . hand--Earnestness, especially in beseeching, is denoted by the figure (compare Job 11:13 , Psalms 68:31 , 88:9 ).
25. set at naught--rejected as of no value.
would none of--literally, "were not willing or inclined to it."
26, 27. In their extreme distress He will not only refuse help, but aggravate it by derision.
27. fear--the object of it.
desolation--literally, "a tumultuous noise," denoting their utter confusion.
destruction--or calamity ( Proverbs 1:26 ) compared to a whirlwind, as to fatal rapidity.
distress--( Psalms 4:1 , 44:11 ).
anguish--a state of inextricable oppression, the deepest despair.
28. Now no prayers or most diligent seeking will avail ( Proverbs 8:17 ).
29, 30. The sinner's infatuated rejection brings his ruin.
31. fruit . . . way--result of conduct ( Isaiah 3:10 , Ezekiel 11:21 , Romans 6:21 , Galatians 6:7 Galatians 6:8 ).
be filled--even to repletion ( Psalms 123:4 ).
32. turning away--that is, from the call of Proverbs 1:23 .
simple--as in Proverbs 1:22 .
prosperity--quiet, implying indifference.
33. dwell safely--literally, "in confidence" ( Deuteronomy 12:10 ).
be quiet--or at ease, in real prosperity.
from fear--without fear.
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