Proverbs 1

Introduction

First of all, thank you for joining me in this mini-series. Just to let you know, the plan is to do this daily, so feel free to join. As my Mom has recently told me, when doing private Bible reading, maybe focus on one key thing to learn or aspect of the chapter and learn that. There is so much depth we can go into. I hope that this devotional is enlightening, but not overwhelming. It is a more formal collection of the just the general bible study I do. Anyway, let's jump right in!

Proverbs 1 [ESV]

The Beginning of Knowledge

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 Enticement of Sinners

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.

The Call of Wisdom

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.”

Devotional

Introduction

When you think of foolishness, what pictures, or words, or maybe even people pop into your mind? Perhaps foolishness to you is naivety - that kind of lack of experience which results in actions that are clumsy and ignorant. Perhaps it is ignorance and stupidity - simply doing dumb things. Perhaps it is simply silliness, just generally acting like a clown.

Study

Foolishness in the bible is a combination of many different things. Perhaps less than the silliness that a clown might put on, it is the kind of ignorance, stupidity and naivety that comes with not following the Lord. Consider verse 7:

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

Wisdom comes in fearing the Lord - in essence, putting total reliance and full submission to him. But fools are said to actually hate this wisdom. I guess in doing so, they are hating God himself.

As I was considering this study, I realised that each section of Proverbs 1 kinda addresses some different audiences. Perhaps you might see that verse 1 to 7 address a kind of general audience; verse 8-19 address Solomon's son, who I guess was the main receiver of these proverbs; and the fools, by the personified Wisdom of verse 20 to 33.

1) The general audience (verse 1-7)

There seems to be a few goals in giving people these proverbs. Here are a few "to know wisdom and instruction", "To understand words of insight", "to receive instruction in wise dealing...", "to give prudence [or good sense/judgement] to the simple [or those who lack such judgement]", "[to give] knowlege and discretion to the youth".

Notice how he covers everyone by not just addressing his goals for the simple [or fools] and youth, but also for the wise in verse 5 and 6: "Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles". One of the things I take from this intro to the book of Proverbs is that this book is for all people, simple and wise.

2) Solomon's son (verse 8-19)

Solomon is also mainly addressing his son. He wants his son to see wisdom as beauty and honour (verse 9). He gives his son two main negative imperatives: "if sinners entice you, do not consent" and "do not walk in the way with them [or sinners]". It's pretty clear to Solomon how his son might first travel on the way of wisdom, simply walk away from the fools.

And notice how he not only calls the sinners fools, but he also explains why they are so. He says they will tell him to "ambush the innocent" (verse 11) but they only "set and ambush for their own lives" (verse 18). Another thing is that they say "...like Sheol let us swallow them alive" (vs.12) whilst in verse 18, it says that "these men lie in wait for their own blood". Whilst they prepare to harm others to the point of death, they only condemn themselves to death. The irony of theirs words and actions points to their very foolishness.

Solomon wants his son to steer clear from such fools. He addresses all youth, who can be naive and ignorant simply from inexperience.

c) The fools (verse 20-33)

Here, the personified wisdom calls out to all the "simple ones", the "scoffers" and "fools" (vs.22). Perhaps even take note that she can call out in the "noisy streets" (vs.21) where lots of people roam. There must be lots of fools!

There seems to main components in her speech:

1. Notes the problem (vs.22)

2. States what she will do if they turn to her (vs.23; 33)

3. States what she will do if they continue in foolishness (vs.24-27; 29-32)

4. States their response to judgement and her response to their cries (vs.28)

Have you seen this anywhere before? If you consider the gospel narrative, and look at the life and death of Jesus, it seems almost parallel with Wisdom's words in verse 20-33. Wisdom/Jesus called out to the people, they were rejected by them, and thus, the people suffer the consequences of their rejection. Unless, of course, they turn to the "fear of the Lord"

So even the fools get a call to wisdom from Proverbs. Wisdom is especially for them!

Application/Conclusion

As we continue through the book of Proverbs, I need you to put away the idea that this book is not for you, that you need no wisdom. According to Proverbs, you either fit into the category of being simple or being wise. In either scenario, you should follow wisdom's good teaching. Or perhaps you might say "God's good teaching", as all these good things come from God himself.

But remember what we defined foolishness as in the introduction - everything was quite bad. But I wanted to note something, foolishness is relative, between the world and God. The world thinks we as Christians are fools, for following a belief that requires faith rather or because we are submitting to authority. Paul calls the gospel folly...to the world. But to God, it is wisdom.

When we turn away, when we are destroyed because of our sinful rejection -as the foolish people we are - the wisdom that the gospel holds still calls to us to repent and believe and walk in light of the truth.

We can learn from the first chapter of Proverbs that not only must we listen to the words of wisdom, but accept them, as they are applicable to us indefinitely and can remind us of the wisdom of the good news of Christ.

Thanks for joining me on day one of #31daysofproverbs! And may God bless you this day!