Web Theologian

>9 Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
10 then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.

11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline
or be weary of his reproof,
12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights.

Wealth is a touching topic. It is not very cool to encourage or support wealth these days. In someways I appreciate this trend if supporting wealth is done at the expense of the poor and needy. Often times the capital and emperial systems we have been a part of function that way. Britian became a world power because of slavery and great shipping which were both related. US became a world power because we could drop a bomb on people who did own a bomb.

Yet the assumption in the Proverbs regarding wealth is that you are seeking understand how to use it in a good way and then do it. Also wealth is clearly tied to God’s path for. It is not fantasy, don’t be surprised if things don’t work out and hate God’s discipline, but that is not the expectation for how God works.

>5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.

This is one of the most encouraging passages of Scripture to me. How often do you feel tired, exhausted, like you just can’t get through what you need to do. Who are you leaning on? I see myself as a pretty compedent person, and yet I cannot do it on my own, I am working against the tide when I try.

Rather we are encourage to let go, look to God. Acknowledge him to me is like working to see him in everything you do. From writing a thank you note, makeing breakfast, to how you do your job he is in all of them youjust need to pay attention as to how. All those difficulties you were having trying to do it on your own, he will clear us, and give you a straight path.

Let go of what you think is good or perhaps best and trust what God says is best. Don’t do evil and there will be a holistic effect. Not only will you feel and do better, but physical you will be renewed. God is about taking care of us as whole/entire people, so trust him to do that today.

>3:1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 for length of days and years of life
and peace they will add to you.

3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and good success
in the sight of God and man.

When you get busy, when you get married, when you get into your work, when other people begin to tell you how great you are and how you have so much upside, then it is easy to forget some of the most simple things about life. Including those who have been like father’s to you, and given you guidance. Don’t forget and you will add years onto your life, and not just any years, but good ones.

Dog tags, the most basic information you offer during war, the essance of a soldier. Make these sayings your dog tags. How do we write on our hearts? We feel, we memorize, we meditate, you make sure you don’t let it go. Studies show that the brain is constantly erasing memories as we sleep, the things don’t get erase are the ones that have the deepest groove in our minds. The ones we have practiced the most, that which has been covered over and over and over again. Do this with these simple proverbs, don’t let them slip but etch them in deeply. Then the world will be your oyster.

>16 So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman,
from the adulteress with her smooth words,
17 who forsakes the companion of her youth
and forgets the covenant of her God;
18 for her house sinks down to death,
and her paths to the departed;
19 none who go to her come back,
nor do they regain the paths of life.

20 So you will walk in the way of the good
and keep to the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright will inhabit the land,
and those with integrity will remain in it,
22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.

This unfaithful woman who looks pretty good to you, because of wisdom you will be saved from her. She is a cheat, and has forgotten the vows she mad or even writes it all of because she was young and didn’t know any better. Her house does not have a firm foundation but rather is build on a sink hole that goes straight to hell. Sounds like a great place to shack up.

Rather, stick with the good and righteous. Those who are upright will ultimately hold the deeds on the land, they will be the ones with the resources, keep your integrity. The wicked will be scatter and homeless. Those who are looking to kill others and stab them in the back will be rooted out.

At the end of Proverbs 2 the stage has been set for us to further explore these two ladies and our relationship with them. We also have been told what to look for. Now as we journey further into the book there is work invloved. The pithy statements of wisdom must be descerned not just in what they mean but when they apply. Hold on because it just gets more fun from here.

>9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice
and equity, every good path;
10 for wisdom will come into your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
11 discretion will watch over you,
understanding will guard you,
12 delivering you from the way of evil,
from men of perverted speech,
13 who forsake the paths of uprightness
to walk in the ways of darkness,
14 who rejoice in doing evil
and delight in the perverseness of evil,
15 men whose paths are crooked,
and who are devious in their ways.

Seeing God makes the good things clear. That leads me to reflect about how often I have a hard time in knowing what the correct/wise thing to do is especially in relationships with other people. I am a very emotional person, part of that is I care often when I need not to, so could it mean that when I am struggling with what is the correct involvement with a particular person or situation I am not seeing God clearly? I wonder.

Righteousness, justice and equity, and every good path. It seems that there are many out there today trying to confuse us regarding these things. Every issues seems so clouded and manipulated it becomes hard to know how to act. Yet I like the way discretion is not something that you work hard to get or even understand, rather it guards over you. You will be delivered from evil, and those who are playing mean games. That also tells me that if you are delivered you end up in the mess.

>6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
8 guarding the paths of justice
and watching over the way of his saints.

So I get that God is the source of wisdom, and that is what we are to look for. So look for it and find God. There knowledge and understand come, often times I know personally it is challenging to figure it out because my mind is so slow and limited…it takes me awhile to get it. So integrity is key in that time, don’t slack because if you lack integrity and think you are hearing from God you’ll do some really terrible things to others.

Does this mean that wisdom is going to lead you into ‘battles’. Why else would God have to be your shield. I am not an a person who likes to argue for the sake of argument, there are few things I’ll be baited with. Yet wisdom will lead you, I think to step on toes, and when you do you must have some protection. God does that, he watches over us.

>2:1 My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
2 making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
3 yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
4 if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.

Here comes the big daddy again to share some wisdom. Desire wisdom. You don’t have to understand everything from the beginning but get your heart in the right place. Seek it, listen, call out for it, search, and then God shows up. Once you see God it will wake you up to the fact that he is more serious than you ever thought, and you will want to start listening what he has to say. You will find wisdom, the knowledge of God. What does this say about people who “know God” and don’t have any wisdom? I’m not sure but I think the question is worth exploring.

>20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
in the markets she raises her voice;
21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?
23 If you turn at my reproof,
behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;
I will make my words known to you.
24 Because I have called and you refused to listen,
have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
25 because you have ignored all my counsel
and would have none of my reproof,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when terror strikes you,
27 when terror strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
30 would have none of my counsel
and despised all my reproof,
31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,
and have their fill of their own devices.
32 For the simple are killed by their turning away,
and the complacency of fools destroys them;
33 but whoever listens to me will dwell secure
and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

Wisdom is personified in the Book of Proverbs, pictured as, a woman. There are two predominate women in this book Lady Wisdom and Lady Folly who we will hear lots about. Both are as you would say, loose, unchaste, or easy. Frankly this book portrays both of them as prostitutes. I guess the author new his audience well, it you want to get the attention of young men you had better include something about sex. Well he does because both of what these women offer are offered in the same manner a prostitute would offer sex.

“Wisdom cries aloud in the street…” She is looking for business. Though this first depiction we have here is telling these young men to get their act together or they are going to miss their chance to be with her. Even worst if they miss their chance she will mock them when the blow it later. This is a warning to not waste any time when it comes to wisdom.

She calls, she asks questions like “How long do you want to continue being simple?” The response of most would be no longer. Therefore she will pour out her spirit among you and make he words known to you. Yet refuse and face he mocking. She won’t be there when it is too late, yo uwill have already gotten yourself into a mess. Listen and dwell secure with ease, wihtout dread or disaster.

>8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,
and forsake not your mother’s teaching,
9 for they are a graceful garland for your head
and pendants for your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you,
do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood;
let us ambush the innocent without reason;
12 like Sheol let us swallow them alive,
and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
13 we shall find all precious goods,
we shall fill our houses with plunder;
14 throw in your lot among us;
we will all have one purse”—
15 my son, do not walk in the way with them;
hold back your foot from their paths,
16 for their feet run to evil,
and they make haste to shed blood.
17 For in vain is a net spread
in the sight of any bird,
18 but these men lie in wait for their own blood;
they set an ambush for their own lives.
19 Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain;
it takes away the life of its possessors.

One of the reason that I like this book so much is it is very masculine. What I mean by that is it was written from two perspectives. One a father to his son, on two a teacher to his MBA student. These were used to train up young businessmen in how to act and what to expect. So when adultery is talked about it is always a man committing it, always a man being seduced. There are books written in the Bible that seem very femine to me that I also appreciate so I hope it is not a sexist thing for me.

Here we have the advice of the father being given to the son. It is simple advice. Do not partner with people who are looking to kill someone else for their personal gain. Wow, life changing, but nice to start with a slow pitch so hopefully we will get it. Thos who live this way are greedy for unjust gain and ultimately lie in wait for their own blood, they ambush their own lives. What goes around comes around, call it karma. Today let’s try this easy one do not partner with people who are looking to kill someone for their own gain.

>1:1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

2 To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the youth—
5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
and the one who understands obtain guidance,
6 to understand a proverb and a saying,
the words of the wise and their riddles.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The Proverbs are a book that I have fallen in love with, my favorite book of the Bible. Which is a big change from when I was younger. When I was younger I did not like Proverbs at all, I felt they were simply ‘easy answers’ disconnected from reality. As I wanted to explore the deep things in life I would dig into Ecclestaistes (often called the anti-proverbs) for the real meat. I still love Ecclestaistes, but the moment my first daughter was born I knew I needed some answers. I searched the Proverbs like my life depended on it. Reading it nine times in the first month she was born. I was desperate for wisdom and had to make up for lost time. Since then I have taken a more moderate approach. last year I read the book through twelve times. This year I wanted to dig in more and share thoughts just as I did the Psalms. My hope is because this is a book that I am very passionate about it will benefit you as well.

David’s second child from Bathsheeba (a story in and of itself) Solomon became king because their first child died. Solomon is considered to be the most wise man to have ever lived. This book is credited to his writings.

Hearing is essential, from there understanding must be the goal. If you don’t hear or listen you don’t have a chance. A favorite blogger of mine Steve Clayton has a great note on this if you want some practical help read, “What good listeners do.” That will set you on the path, then you have to start to understand.

You have Solomon explaining wisdom in three different ways to start, 1. to understand words of insight, 2. to receive instruction…, 3. to give prudence. Understand (knowledge), Receive (humilty), Prudence (Gentleness, selfcontrol).

Now I think the natural question left is who is it you are supposed to listen to, in our times there are lots of voices speaking sometimes it is hard to know which to give our attention to. v. 7 Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. You can listen to alot of people, but if you aren’t listening to God you are a fool according to the Proverbs. The Psalms reminded us again and again God created everything, set the rules, and is in control of it all, now the Proverbs tell us to pay attention.