Web Theologian

>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.