1 The
proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
I am not going to spend that much time on the author of this
incredible section of Scripture. Solomon
was considered the richest man to ever walk the face of the earth. Along with that, he was also considered one
of he wisest. It strikes me that the
parallel is what it is, i.e. wisest and richest. God will not allow a Christian to have or be
subjected to more than they are capable of dealing
with. I Corinthians 10:13, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as
is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted
above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape,
that ye may be able to bear it.” If
true for temptations it would seem to be true for riches because riches
mishandled would then become temptations.
These first few verses explain the purpose of Proverbs!
2 To
know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
I would like to point out something interesting concerning the use
of words in this verse. The word “Know”
is a standard word that we use everyday.
I know you, you know me, I know this and you
know that, however, consider this. In
Proverbs 3:6, “In all thy ways acknowledge
him, and he shall direct thy paths.” The Hebrew word used in 3:6, which is
translated, acknowledge, is the same Hebrew word used here but
translated as “know”. Be aware
this means a condition of perception.
The simple definition would be: accept or admit
the existence or truth of… So if you inventory your know,
it is of greater importance and
worthy of a deeper thought regarding the following transactions.
The word “instruction” is an action
verb and that action is correction and in the Hebrew is also translated as
chastening. So then if you know from the
start there is going to be correction as you bring Wisdom into the “who you
are” part of your life there should not be any surprises.
The words perceive and understanding
are all from the same Hebrew root word.
The way this verse is formed it says it two times. Do you think the LORD is trying to make a
point here? The NIV states it like this: “for attaining wisdom and
discipline; for understanding words of insight;” Often times we hear that
which we are supposed to understand but what Wisdom does is opens a different
realm to the person and in such a way that our perception can be of a grander
scope. Not only will you understand that
which you are to understand, you will also see the intricacies and
ramifications which may transpire and thus have a more insightful perspective into
what direction to take. What I am saying
is this, knowing what is sure to happen if you choose to do something will make
it easier to decide if that is something you want based on your own acknowledgment
and convictions. Understanding words of
insight to their fullest extent is likened to having the ability to see the
outcome before it happens.
3 To
receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
Would it be completely incredible to have the instructions to know
justice, judgment and equity? We know
justice but seldom receive it and that is a good thing when you think about
it. In most cases, justice would require
our being punished often for one transgression or another. Wisdom lays down the guidelines of
justice. In understanding justice fully,
one can then realize how fortunate we are to continue to be allowed to breathe
our next breath. Might this explain why
David continually gave praise and thanks to God? Would this lay hold on our perceptions of how
one might continuously praise God in the Holiest sense? If justice were applied in the truest gist,
we would have been gone long ago. The
NIV says it this way: “for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing
what is right and just and fair;”
The word “instruction” here is not a book the doctor gave your mom
when you were born, no, this word is in the sense of chastening and discipline
while being corrected, the same as in the previous verse. The overall tone is that while we grow in Wisdom we are going to receive a few bruises. The Hebrew root to the word is; to let
oneself be chastened or corrected or admonished.
The word “equity” means evenness.
When you put all of this together it makes sense in that we are to
understand and know the cause and effect of our actions from the perspective of
true Wisdom.
4 To
give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
In this verse, can a simple man be subtle? With Wisdom he can be. I have a high regard for someone when they
have subtleness, regardless of their intelligence. They tend to seem smart as opposed to someone
who is boldly outspoken. We can also
look at this point in reverse, the simple tend not to be subtle.
With Wisdom comes discretion.
Discretion is one of the most underutilized tools in our social
arsenal. We tend to jump with both feet
into someone’s business and so quickly, fashion a stand and go down burning
with our pride when things go wrong.
Look at the definition of discretion according to Webster:
1: the quality of being discreet: CIRCUMSPECTION; especially:
cautious reserve in speech 2: ability to make responsible decisions 3a:
individual choice or judgment b: power of free decision or latitude of choice
within certain legal bounds 4: the result of separating, distinguishing.
Discretion does not mean a person is restricted from making their
point nor are they expected to conduct themselves according to how others
dictate, it simply means that when conducting ones
self, options are considered as to how best to conduct themselves. This verse also points out that a “young” man
has the capacity to have knowledge and discretion.
5 A
wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding
shall attain unto wise counsels:
It strikes me as odd that during most presidential elections and
during the campaigns, no one really ask the question, “Whom will you have in
your appointed advisory positions?”
During this writing, our current president has had to deal with
situations in which no single person would be able to deal with alone. He must have counsel if he is to act
wisely. Wisdom imparts this insight from
all angles. First, from the perspective
of hearing and knowing that it is a key component of doing what is right. Then it also notes that one of understanding
will attain wise counselors. The word
“attain” in the original has the context of purchasing or buying where one
would receive payment for their insight.
I suppose this would be an indication that having Wisdom is like having
a lawyer for free. Don’t tell them this,
it would surely disturb them deeply. My
point is this, we need to understand there will never be a time in our lives
where we will never need counseling while we reside on earth. Sure there will be
things we are wise in, however, if we are indeed wise and allow Wisdom to speak
to us, we will know when to seek counsel.
6 To
understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their
dark sayings.
The word “understand” in the Hebrew has the context of guarding ones self. So, if you
read the verse, “to guard ones self with a proverb” it
has an interesting connotation. It
simply means you can guard yourself with Proverbs. That would mean that this book is full of
more than just sayings and superstitions. If we hear something that we don’t
understand, we have a tendency to not hear much after
that. There is something about most of
us that when we feel lost we immediately turn
inward. Consider this, if you were to
find inside of you the ability to understand the dark sayings, what a rejoicing
that would be! Our natural
instinct is to turn inside anyway.
Finding Wisdom there would give us great strength.
This word “interpretation” is only used twice in the entire Bible. It means a satire or mocking poem or
song. It is from the Hebrew root word meaning
scorn and arrogance. Being equipped to
identify mockery, scorn and arrogance is certainly important. Evil and wicked persons considering
themselves to be crafty sometimes spin sayings and sonnets of entrapment. Having Wisdom in us guards us from stumbling
into something evil or foolish.
7 The
fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and
instruction.
This is the first mention of “The Fear of the Lord.” There has been much said about this
phrase. Some have fixed in their minds being
handcuffed in knowing that God is watching and to fear what He might see us
doing. Some even have that view to the
extent that they themselves live in fear that God will shower torments their
way if they fail to perform as God wants.
The perplexity here is twofold, first, those having this restrictive
perception have not grasp the purpose of this fear and secondly, they have not
realized this fear is a good thing. It is clear that if one were to attain knowledge, that it
would be a good thing. Then if this is
true, how can the fear of the Lord be a bad thing? Another perplexing aspect is that some, if
not most, have the view that we are to always do the Will of God. The trouble begins when they try to know the
Will of God. You see, without Wisdom it
is utterly impossible to understand and know the Will of God. This would mean that someone desiring to have
“The fear of the Lord” might feel constantly as if they fail because their
failure is based on their own understanding and knowledge.
This may seem as though I am speaking in circles. In a way I am but that is to get you to see
that by having the proper fear there is freedom not punishment or dread. If you have the proper fear it would be more
along the lines of fearing all that you have been given and missing out on the
blessings of His Promise. We will take a
closer look in chapter two.
Fools despise that which
sheds light on their motives. You see Wisdom
will change the contour of how things fit together. The fool does not want anyone to know
that. They cannot afford for anyone to
have the same understanding as they themselves have concerning a particular plot or scheme.
Wisdom grants the insight and understanding. The word “instruction” is the same as the one
used in the next verse.
8 My
son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
The word “instruction” means correction, discipline or
chastening. When we are corrected we should take note to make sure we are not
foolish and repeat our error. It would
be like being told, “if you do that, this will happen.” The reference to “the law of thy mother” here
is the Mosaic Law.
The father would tend to instruct in the workings of making a
living and conducting themselves socially outside the home. The mothers would instruct in how to conduct
themselves in the home showing how the inner person works. There are many in the business world that are
very successful but they have forsaken their home life
and become out of balance.
9 For
they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
Take on all of these previous eight
verses and in summary (For they shall be…) the result is that they will be an
ornament of grace onto thy head. When
the Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand,
clothed him with fine linen garments, and placed a gold chain around his neck,
he was handing him the keys to the kingdom. (Gen. 41:42) It was to let those who saw him know
he was important and had been given authority.
When you hear (in the sense
of obeying) the instructions and live Wisdom then you will possess an
understanding that becomes obvious to those around you. You will not be able to hide it.
10 My
son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
First, you had better be able to recognize an enticement because
sinners are sometimes very coy about revealing themselves. Read on.
11 If
they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let
us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:
The sinner engulfed by his sin has a very deceptive way of fashioning
his justification. Wisdom teaches us
more than just a list of things to avoid.
More importantly, Wisdom is a condition of the heart and
foundation. Living Wisdom in us talks to
us, tells us this is good and this is bad, this is
“the fear of the LORD.” Not having this
guidance should terrify us!
12 Let
us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into
the pit:
This is a very blatant description of the sinner’s game and the
desired result concerning his culprit.
The most deceptive part however, it too is the result of his
accomplice. We will see later that those
the evil ones choose as their victims are often other fools and their folly.
13 We
shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our
houses with spoil:
Those that are evil will try to convince their converts that the
benefits and ease to which those benefits can be had are plenteous. It is human nature to have substance. There is nothing wrong with having
substance. There is much wrong with
getting substance the wrong way. There
are no shortcuts to having character, remember that!
14 Cast
in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:
This almost sounds like a sales pitch or the training manual for
those telemarketers. They are begging
for commitments from their recruits.
When the wicked unfold their plan in such a way as to entice us into
their kind, they will always try to capture a part of us that makes us like
them. It is as though they are saying,
“look we have much in our possession, we are successful, you can share with us,
now join us and we will gain even more!”
15 My
son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:
If we find ourselves on the road to destruction
we need to pull over into the emergency lane and choose a new path. Being found on the same path means we are similar to them. This
could be any number of similarities and the important thing is while crying out
for Wisdom we are willing to turn from our error and head in the right
direction. Don’t look back.
Stop here for a moment and consider where you are. If there is something in your life that burns
in your conscience and you know the LORD would have you repent
then do so. There is a mystery of the
mind when sin sets root where reasoning and rationality are fogged. Those activities for which the flesh desires
cannot coexist with the mind of Christ.
The first step to reconciliation is to change direction or get off the
path you are on.
16 For
their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.
This verse contains two of the seven abominations mentioned in
Proverbs 6:16-18. Take your time and
read this carefully. “16These six
things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17A
proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18An
heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be
swift in running to mischief, 19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
This little verse could be glossed over very quickly
but it deserves serious consideration.
Wisdom is pointing out that those found in and around evil events are
evil. The wicked feed on evil and the
evil they feed on generally is not the kind that is breathtaking, no, generally
they have created a much more subtle and acceptable counterfeit of truth.
17 Surely
in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.
I remember as a young boy growing up in Georgia and spending many
a day deep in the woods. I was a cross
between Tarzan and Tonto. As Tonto I
would sneak up on unsuspecting animals, set traps and fish for my food. The one thing, even as a boy, I knew, was
putting a trap in place right in front of an animal was not going to work. Here is what this verse is talking about; the
traps and snares used by enticing sinners (vs. 10) are not going to be
obvious to us unless we have Wisdom.
When they try to use their treachery on us it will be as though we
watched them or knew their mind. Or, better yet, we see quickly we are on the
wrong path as stated in verse 15.
18 And
they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.
We need to understand that in most cases in order to lay hands on
the property of another they would take the life of its owner. This is a very grave ordeal, not something as
simple as lifting their property and sneaking off with it.
This verse might seem odd in that is says “they wait for their
own blood.” It is less likely that a
person having Wisdom to be taken than one not having Wisdom. The wicked tend to stick together and feed on
each other. The reason they are lurking
secretly (the meaning of privily) is so they are not discovered. So the minute you find
yourself in a friendship with them and you think that friendship is based on
loyalty you have suddenly become a fool.
I knew a lady that was part of a prison ministry at her Church. She fell in love with one of the
inmates. He got out of prison and they
were married. In less than a year he was
gone and so was everything in her house, he emptied her checking account and
her savings account of over forty thousand dollars.
19 So
are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of
the owners thereof.
This would bring significance to the phrase we hear a lot in this
so-called modern era, “Hanging with my buds.”
Who are your buds? Consider the
scenario above, it is down right awful, yet them being
sinners it could have been something much more subtle, something seemingly less
sinful if there is such a thing. We tend
to do that when we need to justify our actions.
20 Wisdom
crieth without; she uttereth
her voice in the streets: 21 She crieth in the
chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,
Wisdom is trying to make a point here. She is not hiding from us. She is not trying to elude us in any
way. In fact, much like Christ, she is
pursuing us to seek and to save; Luke 19:10 “For the Son
of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost..”
The word “without” simply means outside and the phrase “in the
streets” means in the open places or plazas where people gather to trade. The phrase “chief place” refers to the places leaders would gather and “the openings of the gates”
is where men would gather to exchange news and events with those coming in from
other cities.
22 How
long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in
their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
Throughout Proverbs, Wisdom challenges them without her. In this verse she makes it clear that being
simple is not good. I want to make sure
we understand something here. Having
knowledge about evil and foolishness is not what we are to have insight about.
Remember the tree of knowledge of good and evil? That is where the imperfection of mankind
began. Look what Paul tells us in his
letter to the Romans, Romans 16:19 "For your obedience is come abroad
unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet
I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil."
It may seem odd that “scorners delight in their scorning” but here
is why, the word “scorners” is referring to one who talks arrogantly and
according to this verse they are very proud of it. Take a minute and carefully consider
yourself, are you a scorner. I
personally have to fight this problem often. You see, the minute I detect someone
challenging my knowledge about something I feel I know a good deal about I tend
to send a tsunami of information in its greatest detail and then step back and
wait for them to fan me with palm leaves.
Later I realize I became a scorner of which Wisdom has no tolerance.
23 Turn
you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make
known my words unto you.
The word “turn” means to change direction and literally go the
other way or turn away from where we were headed. This is where we get the term repent. This is an instructional action item we must
agree to take part in as we become filled with Wisdom.
Reproof is something we seldom like to face. It means considering what we are doing and
stop doing it or where we have been and never go back. However, another aspect of reproof that makes
it even harder is the penalty of having done or having been where we were. In the New Testament it is called chastening;
Heb 12:5 "And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not
thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:”
Heb 12:7 "If ye endure chastening, God dealeth
with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth
not?" Heb 12:11 "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless
afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of
righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."
Wisdom promises hope! She
agrees to “pour out” her spirit unto us.
The phrase “pour out” means like a gushing spring. Have this confidence in you, that when you
turn, Her Spirit is poured out in us and not only in limited fashion but as a
gushing spring to carry us down the river of righteousness. Picture a child in a street and the focus and
concern of a parent as they leap to correct the child. The first activity is to turn the child in
the right direction and then scold or chasten them. Also, the parent does not stand off on the
curb shouting to the child, no, they dart to where the child is and wrap their
arms around them and guide them to safety and so too does the LORD.
24 Because
I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man
regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought all my
counsel, and would none of my reproof:
This is the penalty phase of not beckoning or reckoning with Wisdom. If we know of Wisdom and her desires and we
choose not to follow her she begins here to describe the penalties.
26 I
also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
Notice it says “I also” at the beginning. The “I” refers to Wisdom. There will be those who are cultivated and
nurtured by Wisdom, there will be foolish and wicked onlookers, and to our
astonishment there will be those fence-riders combing through our every move to
see how REAL our God is in our daily walk, whom in disgust say Ha. Wisdom says She too will scoff and mock us as
we are spinning into destruction.
Pay close attention to the choice of words here, “when your fear
cometh.” This is not talking about “if”
your fear comes but “when.” There is no
question as to the fear coming and to make matters worse, when the fear comes
and in the desperate state one would choose to suddenly find value in Wisdom,
she says she will mock or ridicule.
27 When
your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind;
when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall
seek me early, but they shall not find me:
29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of
the LORD: 30 They would none of my
counsel: they despised all my reproof.
31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
I left this last section together because I really feel that it
needs little explanation. Basically when
your fear, desolation, destruction, distress and anguish come She will not
answer.
32 For
the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools
shall destroy them.
The simple have no way to know they are actually
being turned away from death itself.
They are simple and instead run back to their flock of foolish
wickedness. It's all they know.
Prosperity of fools is often sought by other fools and thus the
cycle continues.
33 But
whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
The word “hearkeneth” means to listen
with the intent to obey. This word is
used over one thousand times in the Old Testament. As a matter of fact this Hebrew word is translated as hear 785 times and obey
81 times.