The book of Proverbs presents life as a journey comprised of choice. It explains that the choices we make impact our character, and our how our character then impacts our life. The original name of the book of Proverbs is "Mashal" meaning: comparison; for the book of Proverbs presents its information in "this or that" form. It is up to the student to decide which route to take.
1:1-6 The purpose of the psalms is for the reader to learn wisdom by taking instruction. The instruction teaches perception that leads to understanding. And understanding is meant to teach a person to be just, use discernment and to live fairly. The book of Proverbs is equipped to teach to as-yet unwise, and to give prudence to them. No matter what level of wisdom or common sense a person has, proverbs will teach more. Proverbs helps to un-knot the frustration of a sometimes chaotic world or tumultuous soul.
1:7 The first step in becoming a student of wisdom, philosophy of God, is the reverence of God who holds all wisdom and has decided what wisdom is. It would be foolish to reject instruction or to neglect to learn for wisdom is precious in that it is productive and useful.
1:8-9 It is often the case that one's own parents are best able to provide wisdom learned from experience. Not only are our parents most familiar with our character and circumstances, but they likely grew up in similar socio-economic and cultural conditions. Of course there are always exceptions (orphaned, neglect, abandonment), however for many of us, our parents advice is relevant and useful. Proverbs tells us to listen to their advice.
Generally, parents care about the outcome of your life. And although their advice will never be perfect, it is given with good intention and experience and is therefore more than worthy of our attention and reflection. Proverbs tells us that the instruction of our father and law of our mother will be beneficial to us, if only to make us more perceptive, aware or practical in thought.
Generally, parents care about the outcome of your life. And although their advice will never be perfect, it is given with good intention and experience and is therefore more than worthy of our attention and reflection. Proverbs tells us that the instruction of our father and law of our mother will be beneficial to us, if only to make us more perceptive, aware or practical in thought.
1:10-19 God wants us to understand that temptation and sin will try to entice us. The urges and emotions of the body will bend toward anger, lust, greed and other things that will only distract or harm us. Proverbs warns us to that we can take a preemptive strike against such enticement.
We have to take the advice of Proverbs and apply it to our everyday life, because chances are, we are not going to outright recognize a "sinner" who "lurks" around the "innocent" in order to "shed blood"; and probably neither will we recognize when a person's intention is to "swallow us alive."
Proverbs wants us to learn to be alert that such people are out there (in a metaphorical sense). Therefore God wants us to be perceptive and to recognize when a person's intention is in alignment with His word and when it is not. Some people desire possession and control and will use us or anything in our path to acquire those things. But God has taught us to value the humble and the meek who often look much less impressive.
We must associate with all people (it's nearly impossible not to). And God wants us to be fair and prayerful to all of the them. But we do not have to bind ourselves to all people. We can, and should be, selective with who we allow into the more impactful areas of our lives. We must start to observe the people who are urging us to join dubious ventures versus those encouraging us to make beneficial impacts.
Proverbs provides the upshot of the former choice: it leads to death. Death of the soul, the character and the body. A selfish life will only lead to joyless death.
We have to take the advice of Proverbs and apply it to our everyday life, because chances are, we are not going to outright recognize a "sinner" who "lurks" around the "innocent" in order to "shed blood"; and probably neither will we recognize when a person's intention is to "swallow us alive."
Proverbs wants us to learn to be alert that such people are out there (in a metaphorical sense). Therefore God wants us to be perceptive and to recognize when a person's intention is in alignment with His word and when it is not. Some people desire possession and control and will use us or anything in our path to acquire those things. But God has taught us to value the humble and the meek who often look much less impressive.
We must associate with all people (it's nearly impossible not to). And God wants us to be fair and prayerful to all of the them. But we do not have to bind ourselves to all people. We can, and should be, selective with who we allow into the more impactful areas of our lives. We must start to observe the people who are urging us to join dubious ventures versus those encouraging us to make beneficial impacts.
Proverbs provides the upshot of the former choice: it leads to death. Death of the soul, the character and the body. A selfish life will only lead to joyless death.
1:20-21 Listen to and use your conscious. Wisdom calls aloud to all of us, do not block her out. God provided a built-in system of wisdom. We may not always know the right choice but we often feel the wrong one.
1:22 How long, Proverbs asks, will we neglect that voice? Those feelings? In those moments, wisdom is speaking directly to us, inviting us into the classroom of right and wrong. Only a foolish person would neglect the lecture in that classroom, for wisdom's intention is always to help us.
1:23-27 Proverbs encourages us to hear and take the rebuke of the wisdom speaking to us through our conscious. It's never easy to receive discipline but we must learn to if we wish to grow in character and more readily discern the right choices in our lives that lead us to God's blessings.
Once we open ourselves to wisdom, God pours His spirit into us. Masterfully, obviously, subtly, He teaches us new and more enhanced forms of perception and wisdom and understanding.
1:22 How long, Proverbs asks, will we neglect that voice? Those feelings? In those moments, wisdom is speaking directly to us, inviting us into the classroom of right and wrong. Only a foolish person would neglect the lecture in that classroom, for wisdom's intention is always to help us.
1:23-27 Proverbs encourages us to hear and take the rebuke of the wisdom speaking to us through our conscious. It's never easy to receive discipline but we must learn to if we wish to grow in character and more readily discern the right choices in our lives that lead us to God's blessings.
Once we open ourselves to wisdom, God pours His spirit into us. Masterfully, obviously, subtly, He teaches us new and more enhanced forms of perception and wisdom and understanding.
So much of the world refuses to listen. Disregards the chance to learn and change because it requires that we deny the temptations in our minds and bodies. But that refusal and disregard is harmful to our lives. It causes calamity and terror, storms and winds we cannot endure. Ultimately, the refusal to grow in character leads to our distress and then anguished destruction.
Proverbs wants us to understand that saying "yes" in the moment to a temptation can ultimately slap a big, fat "no" on a future, more important moment. Therefore we must learn from wisdom how to respond to those little moments in every day life in order to set ourselves up for the bigger picture. It is contrary to the worldly "wisdom" of the secular world, but God's wisdom is the way to the life we want, dream of and hope for.
1:28-30 Listen now, wisdom beckons, because a lifetime of neglect might shut one out completely. We must listen and learn now, before we become too hardened, too stubborn to learn. Take the counsel now, cherish the rebuke, for God is molding a masterpiece. Don't stay a clump of clay. Allow God to turn you into a tool, and instrument, a soul capable of great purpose and impact on humanity.
1:31-33 We grow the food we eat. We reap what we sow. The life we make is the life we have. God does not want us to be stuck in a mess because we made a mess. In order to have order, we need to listen to Him. In order to not slay ourselves with our own poor choices and foolishness, we need to allow God to discipline those harmful qualities out and away from us.
Complacent will destroy us. Our minds and souls are meant to be stretched, grown, evolved, inspired, taught. Taught, not taut. Because a taut mind will destroy us. Stubbornness, selfishness, arrogance, closed-mindedness all lead to a dried up, useless mind. We need to be students of wisdom, constantly inspired to learn more, hungry for more of the unlimited knowledge of God. We need to learn to love more deeply, reach more widely, strive further, think bigger, give more... such ventures along the path of God are secure places to constantly grow, safely, without fear of evil.
1:31-33 We grow the food we eat. We reap what we sow. The life we make is the life we have. God does not want us to be stuck in a mess because we made a mess. In order to have order, we need to listen to Him. In order to not slay ourselves with our own poor choices and foolishness, we need to allow God to discipline those harmful qualities out and away from us.
Complacent will destroy us. Our minds and souls are meant to be stretched, grown, evolved, inspired, taught. Taught, not taut. Because a taut mind will destroy us. Stubbornness, selfishness, arrogance, closed-mindedness all lead to a dried up, useless mind. We need to be students of wisdom, constantly inspired to learn more, hungry for more of the unlimited knowledge of God. We need to learn to love more deeply, reach more widely, strive further, think bigger, give more... such ventures along the path of God are secure places to constantly grow, safely, without fear of evil.
