Proverbs is one my favorite books of the Bible. There’s a lot of practical wisdom found in proverbs.
1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2 for gaining wisdom and instruction;
for understanding words of insight;
3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
doing what is right and just and fair;
4 for giving prudence to those who are simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young—
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance—
6 for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools[c] despise wisdom and instruction.
The first few verses explains the purpose of proverbs and that is written by King Solomon. The purpose of Proverbs is for gaining wisdom, instruction, understanding, prudence; learn to do whats right, just, and fair; knowledge, and discretion. Ultimately, a bunch of great stuff I want to have in my life. If you’re wise you can become wiser. Wisdom, knowledge, and instruction begins with the fear of the Lord. Fear of the Lord to me is two fold:
- a healthy fear that God has the ability to smite you
- That we need to be humble and give respect
8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
9 They are a garland to grace your head
and a chain to adorn your neck.
Listening and learning from your parents is wisdom. Sometimes I have to disagree, but in general parents want the best for you.
10 My son, if sinful men entice you,
do not give in to them.
11 If they say, “Come along with us;
let’s lie in wait for innocent blood,
let’s ambush some harmless soul;
12 let’s swallow them alive, like the grave,
and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
13 we will get all sorts of valuable things
and fill our houses with plunder;
14 cast lots with us;
we will all share the loot”—
15 my son, do not go along with them,
do not set foot on their paths;
16 for their feet rush into evil,
they are swift to shed blood.
17 How useless to spread a net
where every bird can see it!
18 These men lie in wait for their own blood;
they ambush only themselves!
19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
it takes away the life of those who get it.
This scripture hasn’t really affected me before. I don’t feel like that I violate this one. However, I may have to look into it more deeply and wonder if there is sin in my life that I am not taking more seriously. These scriptures boil down to don’t spend time or be influence by those who are blatantly evil.
20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,
she raises her voice in the public square;
21 on top of the wall she cries out,
at the city gate she makes her speech:
22 “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?
How long will mockers delight in mockery
and fools hate knowledge?
Wisdom is actively looking for people. Am I going to respond?
23 Repent at my rebuke!
Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
I will make known to you my teachings.
If I repent and listen, wisdom will show herself to me.
24 But since you refuse to listen when I call
and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,
25 since you disregard all my advice
and do not accept my rebuke,
26 I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you;
I will mock when calamity overtakes you—
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
when distress and trouble overwhelm you.
I hate when I make mistakes that are stupid. Taking actions without wisdom is simply unwise. If I take actions that are unwise the outcome is naturally unwise. Win for patterns, formulas, and science.
28 “Then they will call to me but I will not answer;
they will look for me but will not find me,
29 since they hated knowledge
and did not choose to fear the Lord.
30 Since they would not accept my advice
and spurned my rebuke,
31 they will eat the fruit of their ways
and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.
32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
and the complacency of fools will destroy them;
33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety
and be at ease, without fear of harm.”
If I screw up and ask for wisdom. Wisdom will not answer. Thankfully, if I repent wisdom will teach me. Everything has results. Do I want wise results or poor results? It’s completely up to me.
I had to look up the words waywardness and complacency just to make sure I understood them. Waywardness is living in a way with no clear principle. Complacency is being satisfied at situation you are in and thus take no action.
