Proverbs 1:1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding, 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity; 4 To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion-- 5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, 6To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8 My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother; 9 For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, And chains about your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. 11 If they say, "Come with us, Let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; 12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, And whole, like those who go down to the Pit; 13 We shall find all kinds of precious possessions, We shall fill our houses with spoil; 14 Cast in your lot among us, Let us all have one purse"-- 15 My son, do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path; 16 For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood. 17 Surely, in vain the net is spread In the sight of any bird; 18 But they lie in wait for their own blood, They lurk secretly for their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners. 20 Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares. 21 She cries out in the chief concourses, At the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words: 22 "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge.
The chief aim of the author (Solomon) of the Book of Proverbs is for the reader to gain wisdom they may not have apart from the instruction found here. Since the true Author is the LORD, we gain a unique Fatherly insight of His care for His sons and daughters.
The Book of Proverbs is an indication of the singularity of wisdom, the source of it, and the value in it. Wisdom is akin to truth, because it springs from truth. Therefore, anything which is unwise is based in un-truth. (Who is the source of all un-truth?)
So, your life can be lived in wisdom - or your life can be lived in a lie. (You choose.) There can be a tendency to straddle what is wise and unwise, and the reason is because what is unwise lies to say it is “more fun” than what is wise. But we also have an intrinsic desire to do what is “wise,” so we balance “fun” and “safety.” This internal debate springs eternal.
The question may be: Where does our intrinsic desire to do “what is wise,” come from? Could it be rooted in our innate desire for self-preservation? Sure is…and so we ALL seek wisdom. This makes the Book of Proverbs very palatable and agreeable to our souls, even if we find ourselves in the midst of living a dangerous lie. Who would dispute any of the wisdom contained in this book? Who could argue against anything it says? And yet - and yet - why is there such a tendency to see what it says and continue to live the way we want?
- Pastor Bill
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