Proverbs 1
My friend Jenna and I decided to join forces in accountability to get some scripture under our belts. We decided to tackle a chapter of Proverbs a day and make notes and discuss them once a week. This also helps me to stick to my aforementioned resolutions!
Today, I read Chapter One. (Really, I did, I started at the beginning.)
At first my mind wandered and I read it over quickly with a lot of “blah blah blah” echoing through my mind. So, I decided to fire up the good old Internet and research some commentary. I happened upon Matthew Henry’s commentary and this helped my mind focus a bit.
The impressions I took away from this chapter seem simple enough but the implications are far reaching. Here are some verses that stuck out for me:
7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
It struck me how many times I have balked at someone trying to teach me something. I tend to think, foolishly, that I’ve got it covered. I have also been known to get supremely annoyed when elders offer their child-rearing advice. Now, obviously to take instruction from another requires discernment, but this passage convicted me that I may have been despising wisdom.
8My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
9For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
Not only does this also reiterate my need to heed the instruction of my father and mother, but that I am responsible for handing down wisdom and instruction to my children, and that instruction is full of blessing! I know as a mother I sometimes get weary of the discipline and constant repeating of lessons, but this passage reminds me of just what an important job that is!
10My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
Basically, when temptation occurs, walk away or stand your ground. The commentary that I read said that people love company in their sin. Isn’t this so true? I mean, what good is juicy, harmful gossip if there isn’t anyone to share it with. Husband bashing? So much more fun with a friend. Drinking, gluttony? Yep, way more fun if you involve others.
20 Wisdom shouts in the street,
She lifts her voice in the square;
21At the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings:
22″How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded?
And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing
And fools hate knowledge?
This provided some pretty cool imagery. I envision Wisdom to be the Holy Spirit. It makes it pretty clear in this passage that wisdom and knowledge are freely and readily available to anyone who will listen. So many times I have sort of shook my proverbial (ha ha, proverbial) fist in the air wondering why I don’t know what to do about a given situation and am waiting for the answer to come from on high. However, this text seems to make it clear that I just need to listen better.
23″Turn to my reproof,
Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
24″Because I called and you refused,
I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;
25And you neglected all my counsel
And did not want my reproof;
26I will also laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your dread comes,
27When your dread comes like a storm
And your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.
28″Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently but they will not find me,
29Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the LORD.
30″They would not accept my counsel,
They spurned all my reproof.
31″So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way
And be satiated with their own devices.
32″For the waywardness of the naive will kill them,
And the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33″But he who listens to me shall live securely
And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”
Um, wow! I think is pretty self explanatory but it sure does hit home how really dangerous it is to reject wisdom.
Look for Chapter 2 tomorrow, which goes into the benefits of Wisdom.
