PROVERBS 1

Solomon (David's son and king of Israel) asked God for wisdom and God responded by saying,"See, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you (1 Kings 3:12-13)

 

1 ¶ The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

We are told in Kings, that Solomon wrote three thousand proverbs.

• 1Ki 4:32 And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.
• Solomon wrote all of the Proverbs except chapter 30 (Agur) and chapter 31 (King Lemuel).

 

Even though Solomon at one time was considered to be the wisest man on the face of the earth, we learn from the book of Ecclesiastes, that Proverbs known intellectually and not applied practically will cause an emptiness in our lives and make a fool out of any one of us. Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

 

Daniel Webster’s definition of the word proverb reads, “A canonical book of the Old Testament, containing a great variety of wise maxims, rich in practical truths and excellent rules for the conduct of all classes of men.”

 

Over the doors of the school of Plato, we find the words, “let no one enter who is not a geometrician,” here in the Proverbs, The God of all creation invites all of His creation to receive His wisdom and His counsel.

This book reveals the practical side of our faith. This is what James 2 is all about beloved, a faith that works.

Proverbs is like a roadmap for life that contrasts the ways of The Lord and the ways of the world. Every single person on this planet and in this sanctuary tonight can benefit from the practical wisdom of The Proverbs, if they humble themselves under His mighty hand and apply His Word to any given areas of their lives.

In verses 2-5, the purpose of the book of Proverbs is given to us here.

 

2 To know wisdom and instruction (reproof, warning, discipline); to perceive the words of understanding (insight; clarity of meaning);

3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; 4 To give subtilty (prudence) to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

• Wisdom is the ability to view life as God perceives it and from His perspective. We know from James 3 that there is human wisdom and there is godly wisdom. How vital it is for disciples of The Lord Jesus Christ to walk in God’s wisdom.
• This whole book approaches life from the position that God has all the answers – God is all- wise; God knows everything.
• This book offers wisdom to the simple, (naïve) and the young man. But as we will see, the proverbs are timeless truths that can apply to people of all ages. The Proverbs are the practical, timeless truths from the wisdom of the Living God.
• Proverbs provide us with the practical wisdom that we need to make wise, godly decisions in life. By receiving with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save my soul.

 

5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning (only a fool knows it all); and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

• Pr 9:9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
• A wise person is the person that is teachable, not a know it all. A wise person will not be afraid to ask questions about how to deal with situations or problems. 10 times we will see references to the wise man in the Proverbs.
• In Matt 7.24-27 & Luke 6.46-49, Jesus said that the wise man is the one who hears His Word and obeys it.

 

6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

• Dark sayings; sayings expressed in an enigmatical or obscure way, and requiring prayer and study to understand their meaning. It’s not enough to know where the gold is beloved, you and I have to be like miners that dig deep beneath the surface in order to draw the gold out.
• We will see what this digging for the gold nuggets of God’s truth looks like in chapter 2.1-5.

 

7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge:

It should be noted here that the knowledge that is spoken of here is not mental brilliance or educational intelligence. There are many people whose god is their education or their brilliance, and if and when that is mixed with a fear of The Lord it is a beautiful thing, but apart from the fear of The Lord it is vanity. 

• The beginning of real knowledge about life and eternity comes from the fear of The Lord. The fear of The Lord teaches us to love our Redeemer supremely and serve Him with all of our hearts, souls, mind and strength.

 

14 times in this book we will read about the fear of The Lord and the blessed benefits that go along with the person who walks in it. We will comment on each one of those verses as we read them.

In chapter 9 we will see that the fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

• The Hebrew word for beginning here means, the first and controlling principle. The fear of The Lord is both the beginning of knowledge and wisdom.
• It should be noted that the fear of The Lord is not just reverential trust for Hebrews 12.28 tells us about reverence and godly fear. Reverence is affection for Him and godly fear is an aversion for sin.
• The fear of the Lord is to hate evil (8:13). We can not walk in the fear of The Lord and knowingly hang on to our sins at one and the same time.
• What are some of the qualities that describe the man or woman who fear God? (1) are afraid to displease God (2) are aware and conscious of God (3) include God in their thoughts & plans (4) respect and honor God because of who He is (5) take God’s Word seriously
• What are some of the qualities that describe the man or woman who do not feat God? (1) care only about pleasing self  (2) ignore God (3) leave God out of their thoughts & plans (4)  try to pretend that God does not exist (5) care nothing for God’s Word

 

but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

• The word “fools” describes the unrepentant mindset that despises divine wisdom and instruction…. He or she aggressively flaunts personal independence from God and His commandments. A fool is self willed instead of Spirit controlled.
• Pr 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
• Ps 32:8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
• Wisdom for life is only realized when a person has a true relationship with The Living God through faith in His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ and surrenders completely to His will.   

 

8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

• Hear- means to hear intelligently with attention and obedience. The Holy Spirit is telling his readers to pay attention to and obey the wise instruction of their fathers.

 

9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head (victor’s chaplet), and chains about thy neck.

• How wise is the young boy or girl that listens to the wisdom of godly parents. The primary purpose of every family is to be an extension of the kingdom of God and bring glory to The Lord Jesus Christ.
• Eph 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
• One of the signs of last days is that young people would be disobedient to parents. 2 Tim 3.2
• As a young boy and man, I realize now at the age of 59 that every single time I disregarded or disobeyed my parents I got myself into serious trouble whether it be about doing homework, avoiding certain kids, how to handle money, and neither of them were saved at the time!
• The only time that it is right to disobey any authority figure, it be parents, or the government or spiritual overseers is when they demand that you disobey the direct command of Scripture.
• An ornament of grace…chains- An ancient sign of glory was a garland worn around the head or the chains worn around the neck of kings or those favored by kings. It was the sign of a good reputation.

 

10 My son, if sinners entice (allure, flatter) thee, consent thou not.

Remember that Solomon was the son of King David. In 1 Chron 28.9, David told Solomon to know The Lord, serve The Lord, seek The Lord and do not forsake Him.

My son, will be a repeated phrase in this book. It is obvious that the young person addressed in this book is at that stage in life equivalent to our youth group age, where they are beginning to experience biological changes and are beginning to explore the realities of the world.  This godly father is going to tell his son some of the facts of life. Our Gracious heavenly Father is speaking to each one of us as well tonight.

• My son if sinners entice thee. Choose friends carefully. You know the old adage, if you hang around with dogs, you are sure to get fleas. They who choose the wicked for their companions become like them in character and end.
• Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
• One of the things that we constantly deal with no matter how old we are is peer pressure. For many adults, peer pressure comes in the form of “keeping up with the Jones’. J.B. Phillips translation on Romans 12.2 says don’t let the world squeeze you into it’s mold.
• The word entice carries the idea of luring; Webster defines the word this way:To incite or instigate, by exciting hope or desire; to induce to sin, by promises or persuasions.
• How I need to realize that this world system in very tantalizing to my flesh. James says, Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.
• The world’s lure of pleasure or fun never tells you what it is really going to cost you ….the cost of addiction, the loss of virginity, the time paid for the crime committed, and the overwhelming debt, but God’s holy word does!!!  
• As followers of The Lord Jesus Christ we should be a friend of publicans and sinners for the sake of the gospel, but not for the sake of partaking of their sinful ways. Jesus brought them up to his level, not other way around.
• Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

 

11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily (ambush) for the innocent without cause:

·      The picture here is an image like a lioness lurking in the brush, selecting and secretly hunting the herd's weakest members. It denotes a predetermined attack upon the innocent or naieve.

 

12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: 13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: 14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:

• It is obvious that this crowd is up to no good and seeking to allure this young person into their mischief. I can just hear this young man initially saying “No”, with his peer’s replying,” Why not, are you too good to have a little fun?” or, “are you a chicken?”

 

15 My son, walk not thou in the way (course of action or course of life) with them; refrain (deny, withhold) thy foot from their path:

16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

• In the book of Proverbs the word "WAY" is used to describe a road. There are basically only two roads in life. There is a right road and a wrong road. There is a straight road and a crooked road. There is a road of life and a road of death. There is a road that the wise travel on and a road that fools travel on.
• The road of wisdom is the moral road (doing what is right and good in God’s sight). It is the narrow path that leads unto life.

 

17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

• The hunter never points the animal that he is trying to catch the location of his trap. In fact, he will seek to keep the trap as covert as possible. But the Proverbs reveals or brings out into the open the very traps that are set for us by our enemy….peer pressure, pride, anger, sexual immorality, laziness etc.
• Even a bird will not fall for the trap that they see is laid out before them, but the fool in spite of the warning of Scripture and in spite of knowing what this sin or course of action has done to countless others and still pursues the trap to his or her own demise.
• The moral of the story is this….stay away from the net, the snare or the trap’s of sin…..it might be the Internet, or television or video games. Or alcohol or drugs or gambling. 
• The person who fears The Lord and has been made wise to the deeds and consequences of the wicked will not enter into their lifestyle because they are wise to its traps.

 

18 And they lay wait (ambush) for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.

• In spiritual warfare, the enemy baits us with the very things that in the end will destroy us.
• Compare the phrase lay wait in verse 11 to how it is used in this verse. The very thing that they sought to do to others, (lay wait or ambush them) in the end ambushes themselves.
• Esther 7.9 the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. 10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai.

 

19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

• Mt 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
• Oh the folly of mammon, riches. The deceitfulness of riches. Greed is a killer; ask the rich man without God spoken of in Luke 16. Greed chokes out the life of God’s Word from bearing fruit in our lives, ask the man who sowed his seed amongst the thorns.
• 1Ti 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
• I find it interesting that one of the character necessities of a man desiring the office of an overseer is that he must not be greedy of filthy lucre. Truly, greed in every form is a killer for it causes our lives to revolve around things instead of around The Lord and people.

                           

20 ¶ Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

• The street is right where I live through the week. It is the place where my foot hits the road. The street is right out in the real world where I do my business, where I go shopping, where I go to school, where I go to my job, etc.
• The book of Proverbs deals with PRACTICAL WISDOM--wisdom which is "down to earth" and which helps us in our day by day living.

 

21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates (the most public and frequented places): in the city she uttereth her words, saying, 22 How long, ye simple ones (silly), will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

This passage is the first of many in which wisdom is personified, and here wisdom is personified as a woman; the most far-reaching of this personification of wisdom will be found in chapter 8, and there it is a reference to The Lord Jesus Christ.

• Note that the offer of wisdom is to the man in the street, and is given for the business of living. It is not reserved exclusively for  the intellectual or religious elite.
• God urges upon men His lessons of heavenly wisdom throughout this book on so many topics and in so many ways, that none can remain ignorant of them but those who obstinately refuse to hear and obey.
• Wisdom is the skill of living. It is a practical knowledge that helps one know how to act and how to speak in different situations. Wisdom entails the ability to avoid problems, and the skill to handle them when they present themselves.
• 3 types of people scorn the wisdom of God, the simple (unwise, silly), the scorners (scoffer, mocker) and fools (Psa 14.1; 53.1).

 

23 Turn (repent) you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

• Note that repentance and reproof precedes a fresh filling of God’s Spirit and further revelation and understanding of His truth.
• One reason why we may be “stuck” spiritually is due to a failure to obey something that The Lord has already shown us in His word.

 

24 Because I have called, and ye refused (Heb. unwilling); I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought (treated as nothing) all my counsel, and would (Lit. willed) none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

• In other words, if you and I don’t listen to the voice of God, if we don’t receive the reproofs of God, if we go on in our headstrong way, not listening to God, you’re going to experience fear and  calamity (misfortune, misery).
• This is the wages of sin for those who reject the wisdom of God.
• Ro 3:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways.

 

27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

• There is a point in rebellion against God and neglect of his warnings, beyond which the sinner's destruction is certain and irremediable. See Prov 29.1

 

29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

• Please note that the reason why these people ruined their lives was because they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord.
• Pr 3:31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

 

30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

·      Destruction awaits those who do not heed the way of wisdom and despise her correction. It says in Proverbs 15:10 that he who hates correction will die.

 

31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

• Verses 30 and 31 sum up the consequences of rejecting the counsel of God. Paul put it this way,
• Ga 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
• The people who sow to the flesh instead of yielding to The Spirit make will eventually begin to “eat the fruit of their ways.”

 

33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

• Scorn or mockery, security or peace – the choice is ours.
• These are universal principles of sowing and reaping. Why do people think they can avoid the consequences of their actions and escape destruction?
• Ps 86:11 Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.