Proverbs 1:1 The Proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel.
Oh Friends, today was one of those days when I could not decide what to write about. However, after wandering aimlessly through the Good Book, the Lord, as He’s wont to do when we cry out to Him, had mercy on this ole sinner and, like the caring Father that He is, understandingly guided me to the words of Solomon, and planted the seeds of this idea in my consciousness. Whew! Is that like Bruh Paul or what? (smile) But it’s the gospel truth. Now what’s a Proverb? Although in ancient Hebrew its basic meaning seemed to be ‘comparison,’ it’s now come to generally refer to wise, thought-provoking sayings or pronouncements. In the Book of Proverbs it’s used in reference to a short statement, lecture or advice on some principle. And what’s its Purpose? ‘To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding.’ (vs.2) And what’s Wisdom? Wisdom is the ability to live a skilful life; and it’s a skill that needs to be developed. How? Through instruction and understanding, which refer to moral discipline in our lives and our ability to separate the sheep from the goats; decide good from bad, truth and lies, what’s important from what is not. Its purpose is also ‘To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgement, and equity.’ (vs.3) In Hebrew a different word is used for this wisdom, which is more akin to common sense, wise dealings, sensible behaviour, while justice tends to righteousness and being obedient to the Lord’s will, and judgement to right behaviour, with equity pertaining to honesty and fairness in our dealing with others. And why do we need all these things? ‘To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.’ (vs.4) That’s to enlighten naive young people who can be easily led astray; to give them some discernment re the comprehension of reality and help them relate to the experience of God, so that they can both plan and perform right actions for themselves. It appears that Proverbs was basically written with the young in mind, however, it is beneficial to both young and old, wise and foolish. ‘A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.’ (vs.5) Yes, the learned as well as the uneducated can benefit from the advice contained therein. For ‘Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase learning.’ (Prov.9:9) And that my Friends, is when we’ll acquire the ability, ‘To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.’ (vs.6) Then and only then will we fully comprehend the enigma of a proverb, and those riddles or thought-provoking sayings of the wise. As Asaph declared: ‘I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.’ (Ps.78:2-3) So people, it’s only by getting wisdom and understanding can one understand those obscure riddles and mind-bending pronouncements. And Friends, all this leads up to a serious warning: ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.’ (vs.7) Yes my people, knowing the Lord, developing a reverential awe for Him is the start of all wisdom. Once you understand whom and what He is, then you’re on the right path, for without a healthy respect and adoration for the Most High God Jehovah you’re lost, since it’s the controlling principle in wisdom; both its acquisition and successful practice in one’s life. It’s obvious then why fools despise wisdom, because to gain it they have to acknowledge the authority and supremacy of Almighty God. ‘My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother. For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.’ (vs.8-9) That’s how we are to behave people, and also teach our children; to choose wisdom over folly, which entails being obedient to the Lord, for it will be a thing of beauty or adornment shining on us, throughout our entire lives. And I want to impress on us one point the scholars made here, saying that since the mother was mentioned or involved, means that these lessons were taught in the home, not in the courts or schools. And that’s one area in which our generation has been sadly lacking. For whatever reason, we’ve expected others to teach our children the finer points of life. But Friends that’s wrong, cause it’s not only charity that should begin at home, but everything should start there. And since we’ve learned what we need to decipher those dark sayings, let’s go out now and get wisdom nuh, and seek understanding too. (smile) They will surely stand us in good stead. Much LOVE!…be not penny wise…and pound foolish…
Oh Friends, today was one of those days when I could not decide what to write about. However, after wandering aimlessly through the Good Book, the Lord, as He’s wont to do when we cry out to Him, had mercy on this ole sinner and, like the caring Father that He is, understandingly guided me to the words of Solomon, and planted the seeds of this idea in my consciousness. Whew! Is that like Bruh Paul or what? (smile) But it’s the gospel truth. Now what’s a Proverb? Although in ancient Hebrew its basic meaning seemed to be ‘comparison,’ it’s now come to generally refer to wise, thought-provoking sayings or pronouncements. In the Book of Proverbs it’s used in reference to a short statement, lecture or advice on some principle. And what’s its Purpose? ‘To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding.’ (vs.2) And what’s Wisdom? Wisdom is the ability to live a skilful life; and it’s a skill that needs to be developed. How? Through instruction and understanding, which refer to moral discipline in our lives and our ability to separate the sheep from the goats; decide good from bad, truth and lies, what’s important from what is not. Its purpose is also ‘To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgement, and equity.’ (vs.3) In Hebrew a different word is used for this wisdom, which is more akin to common sense, wise dealings, sensible behaviour, while justice tends to righteousness and being obedient to the Lord’s will, and judgement to right behaviour, with equity pertaining to honesty and fairness in our dealing with others. And why do we need all these things? ‘To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.’ (vs.4) That’s to enlighten naive young people who can be easily led astray; to give them some discernment re the comprehension of reality and help them relate to the experience of God, so that they can both plan and perform right actions for themselves. It appears that Proverbs was basically written with the young in mind, however, it is beneficial to both young and old, wise and foolish. ‘A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.’ (vs.5) Yes, the learned as well as the uneducated can benefit from the advice contained therein. For ‘Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase learning.’ (Prov.9:9) And that my Friends, is when we’ll acquire the ability, ‘To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.’ (vs.6) Then and only then will we fully comprehend the enigma of a proverb, and those riddles or thought-provoking sayings of the wise. As Asaph declared: ‘I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.’ (Ps.78:2-3) So people, it’s only by getting wisdom and understanding can one understand those obscure riddles and mind-bending pronouncements. And Friends, all this leads up to a serious warning: ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.’ (vs.7) Yes my people, knowing the Lord, developing a reverential awe for Him is the start of all wisdom. Once you understand whom and what He is, then you’re on the right path, for without a healthy respect and adoration for the Most High God Jehovah you’re lost, since it’s the controlling principle in wisdom; both its acquisition and successful practice in one’s life. It’s obvious then why fools despise wisdom, because to gain it they have to acknowledge the authority and supremacy of Almighty God. ‘My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother. For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.’ (vs.8-9) That’s how we are to behave people, and also teach our children; to choose wisdom over folly, which entails being obedient to the Lord, for it will be a thing of beauty or adornment shining on us, throughout our entire lives. And I want to impress on us one point the scholars made here, saying that since the mother was mentioned or involved, means that these lessons were taught in the home, not in the courts or schools. And that’s one area in which our generation has been sadly lacking. For whatever reason, we’ve expected others to teach our children the finer points of life. But Friends that’s wrong, cause it’s not only charity that should begin at home, but everything should start there. And since we’ve learned what we need to decipher those dark sayings, let’s go out now and get wisdom nuh, and seek understanding too. (smile) They will surely stand us in good stead. Much LOVE!…be not penny wise…and pound foolish…
SCRIP-BITS 