Web Theologian

>6:1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
have given your pledge for a stranger,
2 if you are snared in the words of your mouth,
caught in the words of your mouth,
3 then do this, my son, and save yourself,
for you have come into the hand of your neighbor:
go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor.
4 Give your eyes no sleep
and your eyelids no slumber;
5 save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

Be careful who you give your word to. When you make a promise make sure you know the person. This is a place I have to grow. I meet someone on the street and I am ready to pour everything I have to them. People from networking events are my best friend. This Proverb encourages us to run when we have made commitments to people we have shouldn’t.

>20 My son, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Let them not escape from your sight;
keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
and healing to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.
24 Put away from you crooked speech,
and put devious talk far from you.
25 Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet;
then all your ways will be sure.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil.

While the most recent adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was weird like the first one, and really brought a different light to the story. My favorite line is when Violet’s mother looks at her and says, “Eyes on the prize Violet, eyes on the prize.” The focus to win, the focus to complete a task, you cannot lose sight.

This proverb reminds us of that. Listen up people, figure out what it is your going after and go for it. Everthing will want to distract you, but don’t lose focus. It is like being in the playoffs and having to make a free throw while a screaming crowd is in your face. What are the things that distract? Greed, unfaithfulness, dicsouragement, and most powerfully fear. Did you know that the most repeated command in all the Bible is, Don’t fear.

>10 Hear, my son, and accept my words,
that the years of your life may be many.
11 I have taught you the way of wisdom;
I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered,
and if you run, you will not stumble.
13 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
guard her, for she is your life.
14 Do not enter the path of the wicked,
and do not walk in the way of the evil.
15 Avoid it; do not go on it;
turn away from it and pass on.
16 For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
19 The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know over what they stumble.

You can go wrong by listening to the Proverbs, at least if you believe what the father is saying. The whole idea of self authentication might cause some problems. Now it does not seem that outrageous, stick to the good. Stay away from these bad folks, they are really bad, they can’t sleep unless they have done bad.

But righteousness is the light of dawn which lights up everything. You will be able to see and not stumble.

One way I describe my life before moving back to Seattle is entangled. Nothing was simple and clear. Part of living wise is not having complicated situation where you are wrapped up, especially with evil people, but even unwise people can make it difficult. Make dicisions for the simple. Work with people you like, then you will be more likely to communcate during hard times and work through them. Own you own stuff. Let you no be no and your yes be yes. Sometimes the truth will upset people but be clear with them, gentle, and honest. All things I am learning.

>4:1 Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction,
and be attentive, that you may gain insight,
2 for I give you good precepts;
do not forsake my teaching.
3 When I was a son with my father,
tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
4 he taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
keep my commandments, and live.
5 Get wisdom; get insight;
do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get insight.
8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head a graceful garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

The father is preparing his son for the best love his life will ever know, the love of wisdom. It was passed on to him and now it is his turn to pass it on. This will be the love that teaches true faithfulness, and she will be faithful in return.

In short the father is says, GET IT! Whatever you do, get insight. She will make you more beautiful.

>28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
29 Do not plan evil against your neighbor,
who dwells trustingly beside you.
30 Do not contend with a man for no reason,
when he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy a man of violence
and do not choose any of his ways,
32 for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord,
but the upright are in his confidence.
33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
34 Toward the scorners he is scornful,
but to the humble he gives favor.
35 The wise will inherit honor,
but fools get disgrace.

This morning I was reading Jesus teaching on the great commandment in Mark, love you neighbor as yourself. And this passage in Proverbs is the practical application of that. First do what you say you are going to do when you can do it, as soon as possible. Don’t hold out on people.

Stop admiring the evil. Those who are getting ahead by doing harm are not to be you heros or examples for life. God will curse their house. Their actions have effects not just on them, but on their family and those around them. But for the righteous he blesses.

This last part seems very karmic. The scorners get scorn from God, surprise. The humble he gives favor. The wise get honor, and the fools get disgrace. The challenge this passage brings about is taking an honest evaluation of who you actually are is not easy. Involve other people, pray, and God will reveal it to you, whether you like it or not:)

>19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding he established the heavens;
20 by his knowledge the deeps broke open,
and the clouds drop down the dew.

21 My son, do not lose sight of these—
keep sound wisdom and discretion,
22 and they will be life for your soul
and adornment for your neck.
23 Then you will walk on your way securely,
and your foot will not stumble.
24 If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror
or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes,
26 for the Lord will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being caught.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to do it.

It was there in the beginning. Wisdom is tied to creation. The Garden of Eden is not far enough back for God’s wisdom, but rather the beginning of time as we know it. One thing that strikes me when thinking about the relationship between the beginning/creation and wisdom is that it expressed itself in the Word. God spoke the heavens and earth into place.

Aidyn makes lots of things now, and one of her favorite things to make is jewelery. It means tons to her when either Karin or one of her grandmothers wears the jewelery that she makes. God delights in our wearing of wisdom! He has made it for us, to grasp and wear and make us even more beautiful.

Wisdom does not just look good, our faith is not just about the show. But rather it keeps you from stumbling! It has practical application to real life. Your path will be more smooth. When you rest you will have deep rest. You won’t have to freak out when things get tough, or disaster strikes, for God will protect you. Therefore you are free to do good to those around you and who deserve it. I have trouble with the last part because I think everyone I meet deserves it and should be my best friend. Wisdom is teaching me otherwise. Also I think that I have all power to do that good, when my resources are severely limited and probably will continue to be that way until I am able to know exactly who does deserve it.

>13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
and the one who gets understanding,
14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
and her profit better than gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
those who hold her fast are called blessed.

Wisdom is there to be found, sometimes it doesn’t feel like that. My commitment this year to read one book a week is partially because I think there is wisdom out there for me to grasp. Why should we work so hard to find it. It is valuable. Gain, profit, and preciousness are all words used to describe her value. While the nice car and big house my appear to be of value they are nothing compared to wisdom. Life, a long one, she has to offer us. Sometimes that might sound scary because you think of old people alone and sick, but not from her. Riches and honor accompany this long life, it is pleasant.

Lastly I have never caught that wisdom is call a tree of life. Right now I have the picture of the tree of life compared with the tree of knowledge of good and evil. This should make a distinction for us. Wisdom is not mere knowledge. It is knowing when and how to use the knowledge. It has a reality element that knowledge does not require. A book on swimming may help you know how to swim, but wisdom would keep you from jumping in the deep end if you have never swam before.