Introduction to Proverbs - Proverbs 1

One of the most common prayers I hear from God’s people is a request for wisdom.  It is wise to pray for wisdom.  I know that sounds redundant, but it also makes it sound like it is totally unnecessary.  If you are wise to pray for wisdom, then doesn’t that mean you’re already wise before you ask for it?

I have yet to meet anyone whom I felt had any moral credibility, who thought they could not use not just a little, but a lot more wisdom.  But what is it that we’re asking for when we pray for more wisdom?  How would you define “wisdom?”  Webster defines it as, “The quality of being wise; knowledge, and the capacity to make due use of it; knowledge of the best ends and the best means; discernment and judgment; discretion; sagacity; skill; dexterity.”

I like what the notes in my Bible say about wisdom: “the ability to live life skillfully.”  Dealing successfully with the affairs of everyday life.  Living a godly life in an ungodly world.  That requires not only resolve and perseverance, but wisdom, the knowledge of the best ends, the best purposes, as well as the best means in order to attain them.  We need wisdom to know the best way to live our lives, and to be able to discern between what is good, better, or best.

The Bible has been artificially divided into several sections by scholars over the years in order for us to understand them in a more systematic fashion.  The first five books of the Bible were, we believe, written by Moses and we sometimes refer to those books collectively as the Pentateuch.  The next section of the Old Testament are called the Historical books because they mostly refer to the years in Israel’s history immediately following Moses death, including all the kings of Israel and Judah, until the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians.  Two other sections of the Old Testament are called the Major and the Minor Prophets.  The first describes the longer prophetic books and the other describes all those little books with strange names.

Then there are the books usually referred to as the books of Poetry, or the Wisdom literature.  This section includes Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon.  It is the book of Proverbs in particular that is most commonly referred to as the book of Wisdom.  It is in the 31 chapters of that book that we find some of the most practical teaching in all the Bible.  The word “proverb” is from the Latin which combines the prefix “pro” (for) and “verb” (word) “to describe the way the proverbs concentrate many words into few.”  Much can be said in a few words, and the Proverbs do just that.

Some of the topics that the book of Proverbs addresses are relationships with parents, children, the government, with one’s spouse, with one’s neighbors, and with God.  Proverbs addresses such issues as work, love, sex, money, friendship, hardship, and death.  According to chapter one and verse one, we read, “The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, the king of Israel.”  Some of the proverbs are written by a few other authors, but most of the book is ascribed to King Solomon.

Turn with me to the book of 1 Kings, chapter 3.  I want to read there about Solomon and his wisdom.  While King Solomon did do some very foolish things during his life, even so, the Scriptures speak very clearly of his immense wisdom, and that his wisdom was a gift from God.  Let’s begin in verse 5.

5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask! What shall I give you?" 6 And Solomon said: "You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 7 "Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 "And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. 9 "Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?" 10 The speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 Then God said to him: "Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, 12 "behold, I have done according to your words; 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. 13 "And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. 14 "So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days." 15 Then Solomon awoke; and indeed it had been a dream. And he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, offered up burnt offerings, offered peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants. 16 Now two women who were harlots came to the king, and stood before him. 17 And one woman said, "O my lord, this woman and I dwell in the same house; and I gave birth while she was in the house. 18 "Then it happened, the third day after I had given birth, that this woman also gave birth. And we were together; no one was with us in the house, except the two of us in the house. 19 "And this woman's son died in the night, because she lay on him. 20 "So she arose in the middle of the night and took my son from my side, while your maidservant slept, and laid him in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. 21 "And when I rose in the morning to nurse my son, there he was, dead. But when I had examined him in the morning, indeed, he was not my son whom I had borne." 22 Then the other woman said, "No! But the living one is my son, and the dead one is your son." And the first woman said, "No! But the dead one is your son, and the living one is my son." Thus they spoke before the king. 23 And the king said, "The one says, `This is my son, who lives, and your son is the dead one'; and the other says, `No! But your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.'" 24 Then the king said, "Bring me a sword." So they brought a sword before the king. 25 And the king said, "Divide the living child in two, and give half to one, and half to the other." 26 Then the woman whose son was living spoke to the king, for she yearned with compassion for her son; and she said, "O my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him!" But the other said, "Let him be neither mine nor yours, but divide him." 27 So the king answered and said, "Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him; she is his mother." 28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had rendered; and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice. (1 Kings 3:5-28, NKJV).

It may be that the most profound verse in that entire passage is the last one.  Solomon’s ability to discern what was right produced a reverential fear in his people.  They all knew he could not be easily deceived.  Wisdom is a valuable asset to a leader, but even more valuable to those whom he leads.  “A ruler who lacks understanding is a great oppressor, But he who hates covetousness will prolong his days.” (Proverbs 28:16, NKJV).  

I want you to notice one other passage, 1 Kings 4, verses 29-34.

29 And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore. 30 Thus Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For he was wiser than all men--than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol; and his fame was in all the surrounding nations. 32 He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five. 33 Also he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree of Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of animals, of birds, of creeping things, and of fish. 34 And men of all nations, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom, came to hear the wisdom of Solomon. (1 Kings 4:29-34, NKJV).

Thankfully, we still have some of his writings.  We would do well to listen to what he says in the book of Proverbs.  So turn with me and let’s study the wise sayings of Solomon the king of Israel.

1. The purpose of the Proverbs

1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding, 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity; 4 To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion-- 5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles. (Proverbs 1:1-6, NKJV).

Notice the words used here: wisdom, instruction, understanding, justice, judgment, equity, prudence, knowledge, discretion.  All of these words describe those positive, valuable, desirable characteristics we want to see developed in our children.  In other words, these are the opposite of foolishness and stupidity.

Notice that these proverbs are being spoken and written in order that the “simple” might not stay that way.  It is for the sake of the “young man” that Solomon speaks these things.  Have you ever wondered why they are called “wisdom teeth?”  They are the last teeth to erupt.  They are not usually found in 10 year olds.  You’ve been around for a while, you’ve presumably acquired some degree of wisdom by the time you acquire your wisdom teeth.  But on the other hand, not everyone who has wisdom teeth is wise.  Unfortunately.

Wisdom is for the young and simple, but “the wise will hear and increase” and “attain wise counsel.”  So if you don’t have wisdom because you’re still young (and it is understood by nearly all that the young are not as wise as the aged), you don’t need to stay that way.  But if you are wise, you know you aren’t wise enough and you seek more of it.  Wisdom is for those who have it as well as for those who don’t.

2. The source of true wisdom

7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.(Proverbs 9:10, NKJV).
(Proverbs 1:7, NKJV).

Nearby, there is a university which is respected around the world for the research that goes on there by scientists and engineers.  All kinds of wonderful and intricate inventions and machines have come out of the minds of men and women who work there.  There seems to be no shortage of knowledge and understanding at Penn State.  It is a place where everything from the furthest expanses of space, to the smallest particles of the atomic world are studied and understood.

But I strongly suspect that the vast majority of those learned men and women do not grasp the beginning of real knowledge because they have no real fear of God.  Neglecting or denying the existence of God in one’s pursuit of knowledge is like building a house with no foundation.  The right understanding of one’s Creator is the beginning point of all subsequent real wisdom and knowledge.  The Agnostic or the Atheist, in spite of giving the appearance of being learned and erudite, has no basis upon which to make any claim at all.  They have no starting point except themselves.  The wisest man that ever lived stated that it is in the reverential fear and awe of the Creator of the Universe and the Judge of the World, that wisdom and knowledge find their source.  Or, to put it bluntly, the person who does not fear God, regardless of whatever other knowledge he may possess, is a fool.
How does one avoid being a fool?  The secret is in verses 8 and 9: God-fearing parents!

8 My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother; 9 For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, And chains about your neck. (Proverbs 1:8-9, NKJV).

Pay attention to Mom and Dad!!  Especially if your Dad is Solomon!!  Instruction in wisdom begins in the home with the parents.  This is in keeping with the fifth commandment: "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.“ (Exodus 20:12, NKJV).  

But notice also that it is both parents who are to give instruction to their children, and the parents are both on the same team, working toward the same goal of instilling wisdom in their child.  It’s not just Mom’s job, and it’s not just Dad’s responsibility.  Both are responsible, and it will take both to get the job done.  The instruction in wisdom of one’s parents become the ornamentation of young men and women who take heed.  It is wisdom that causes a person to be truly attractive.

3. The temptations of fools

10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. 11 If they say, "Come with us, Let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; 12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, And whole, like those who go down to the Pit; 13 We shall find all kinds of precious possessions, We shall fill our houses with spoil; 14 Cast in your lot among us, Let us all have one purse" -- (Proverbs 1:10-14, NKJV).

Yesterday I read a report in the Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency.  The title of the article was Childhood Risk Factors for Adolescent Gang Membership: Results from the Seattle Social Development Project.  It is truly amazing the stuff you can find on the internet.  This was an article I was directed to from StreetGangs.com.  There really is such a web site.  I didn’t get past the first page and I was incredulous.

This report stated a number of things that might be helpful, but the gist of it was that there are certain indicators in the lives of 10 to 12 year olds that more or less predict future gang membership when they become older teenagers.  The very first line of the prelude states something that is less than profound: “Adolescents who join gangs are more frequently involved in serious delinquency compared to those who do not.”  I always thought that was the definition of a gang.

Then the first two sentences in the body of the report says basically the same thing: “Youth violence, and substance abuse result in enormous monetary, social, and personal costs.  These and other criminal acts have been consistently linked to gang membership.”  Another statement of the obvious.  But they continue:

“Gang members are more likely than nonmembers to commit violent offenses and property crime and to use drugs.  Bjerregaard and Lizotte found that, when compared with non-gang members, gang members were more than twice as likely to carry a gun and to engage in serious delinquency  and more than three times as likely to engage in drug sales.  It is imperative to learn why youth join gangs to better understand how to prevent them from joining gangs, but this question has not be well studied.”

Let me suggest a simplistic answer.  It doesn’t really need to be well studied.  Teenagers are inherently foolish.  They are not wise.  Evil teenagers are not only foolish but dangerous.  Teenagers enjoy, to the point of craving, camaraderie.  That is why the wise parent will have this conversation with his kid: “My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.  Here’s what they will say: ”Come join with us!  We will take what we want.  We will become rich.  We will attack others, take their stuff, fill our houses with the loot, and enjoy the good life!  Cast in your lot with us, we’ll all share the take!”  

That is a gang!  Teenagers are tempted by such things.  You can go to StreetGangs.com and read all about it!  Son, don’t listen to them.  Listen to me and your Mother.  We can tell you what will happen to your hoodlum friends and to you if you join with them. 

16 For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood. 17 Surely, in vain the net is spread In the sight of any bird; 18 But they lie in wait for their own blood, They lurk secretly for their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners. (Proverbs 1:16-19, NKJV).

Gangs are more brave in their depravity than individuals.  They are like those people described in the last verses of Romans 1 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things [as sexual immorality, murder, disobedience to parents, who are undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, and unmerciful], are deserving of death not only do the same also, but approve of those who practice them.”  There is a group mentality among many young people that causes them to do things they would never do alone.  The wise parent will seek to instill wisdom in their child by making them aware of such temptations. “My son, do not be enticed by an evil crowd.  Be wise.”

4. The Availability of Wisdom
Where is such wisdom to be found?  Solomon personifies Wisdom in verse 20 and makes her into a person who calls out to the simple from the streets, from the top of the city walls, and at the gates.  Wisdom is not hard to find if you are listening.  But who is listening?  Not many.

5. The Mockery of Wisdom
For the person who neglects Wisdom, her response is not to have pity toward the foolish.  Rather, she mocks.  She doesn’t say, “I’m so sorry you ignored me”.  No, she says, “I told you so”.  Notice verses 25-27.

25 Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, 27 When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. (Proverbs 1:25-27, NKJV).

This is called righteous indignation.  “You hate wisdom?  You refuse my counsel?  You prefer simplicity and naivete”?  You reject my offer of guidance and understanding?  Then you get what you deserve.”  If you insist on learning everything by mistake, if you must learn everything the hard way, if your heart will not be turned from your own foolishness and stupidity, then you deserve to experience the fruit of your own stubbornness.  And you break the heart of your mother and are a disgrace to your father, but you deserve every bit of the consequences of your own rebellion.

I received this in my email this morning from Grace Gems.  It is a quote from J.C. Ryle commenting on two verses:

"Every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood."    Genesis 8:21
"Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me." Psalm 51:5

“Remember that children are born with a decided bias toward evil, and therefore if you let them choose for themselves, they are certain to choose wrong.  The mother cannot tell what her tender infant may grow up to be—tall or short, weak or strong, wise or foolish—all is uncertain.  But one thing the mother can say with certainty—he will have a corrupt and sinful heart!  It is natural for us to do wrong.  Our hearts are like the earth on which we tread—let it alone, and it is sure to bear weeds.”  (J. C. Ryle)

We as parents have a responsibility to encourage and train our children to be wise, to be wary of the enticements of the world.  We bring children into the world and we therefore have the obligation to protect them from their own falleness and their propensity toward sinfulness.  But there is only so much a parent can do.  The last two verses of chapter 1 sum it up well:

32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil." (Proverbs 1:32-33, NKJV).

Wisdom is priceless.  It’s value is beyond measure.  If you need wisdom, do as James tells us: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5, NKJV).  On the other hand, if you are wise, you know you need more wisdom.  So do what James says: Ask for it.  Parents, teach your children.  Children, listen to your parents.  They care for your souls.  Wisdom will protect you from your own foolishness and will cause you to dwell safely, securely, without fear of evil.  That is invaluable.