WISDOM & WARNING

Proverbs 1:20-23(Amplified): "Wisdom cries aloud in the street; she raises her voice in the markets. 21 She cries at the head of the noisy intersections -- in the chief gathering places -- at the entrance of the city places she speaks: 22 "How long, O simple ones and open to evil, will you love being simple? And the scoffers delight in scoffing, and (self-confident) fools hate knowledge? 23 If you will turn (repent) and give heed to my reproof, behold, I (Wisdom), will pour out my spirit upon you, I will make my words known to you."

Proverbs 1:24-33(KJV):
24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 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: 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 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. 33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

Thoughts for the Day

The author of all wisdom is the Lord God Himself. One of His names is WISDOM. When the above scripture mentions WISDOM crying out, this is in reference to the Lord giving His wisdom to men that are in places of administration in the cities. In the Old Testament of the Bible, when the gates of the city are mentioned it was always a reference to where the elders of the city gathered to make the decisions for the people within the city.

When the above scripture gives a warning to the simple, the Hebrew word for simple in these verses has this meaning: foolish, easily enticed and seduced, credulous, inexperienced. With this in mind, the Lord is telling us not to be foolish, but to seek His wisdom and then, we can have His knowledge as to how to deal with our affairs. If we learn to take responsibility and deal with our own affairs in a righteous way, then the Lord will promote us to places of leadership and eldership. He wants to use us to be in positions of authority, so that we might help others in the ways of the Lord. God is using Christian businessmen today to bring His godly principles to the market place. If any nation will line up their economic principles with the Word of God they will become prosperous and blessed. The opposite is also true, if nations fail to do this they will suffer poverty and economic failure. These same principles of wisdom are also true in the area of personal finances.

These scriptures give us a very sober and serious warning about rejecting the Lord and refusing to hear His Words. This warning is for all God haters and those who refuse to yield to God. We have a very loving and compassionate God. However, there is a point that we can continue to reject God and His Word and He will finally leave us alone. This is a frightening thought. In the New Testament we are also warned of this: Hebrews 3:7-12

The Lord makes it very clear how one can come to the place where God will not answer:
* Failure to answer when God calls
* Failure to listen to God's counsel
* Despising correction and reproof from God
* Hating God's knowledge
* Showing disrespect and no fear of God
* Turning away from God (backsliding)
* Making prosperity their goal

By doing these things we actually are sowing seeds of rebellion which will produce the fruit of destruction. In our lives, there comes a time when we will simply reap what we have sown. The Lord will allow us to have what we want, but with our own way, comes bitter fruit that is our lot also. However, on the positive side, when we do listen and obey God we are promised to dwell safely and not walk in the fear of evil. God wants to bless us, but the choice is ours. We shall reap what we sow.

INSTRUCTION

Proverbs 1:8-9(Amplified): "My son, hear the instruction of your father; reject not nor forsake the teaching of your mother; 9 For they are a (victor's) chaplet of grace upon your head, and the chains and pendants (of gold worn by kings) for your neck."
Proverbs 1:10-19 (RSV): 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 wantonly ambush the innocent; 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 spoil; 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 all who get gain by violence; it takes away the life of its possessors."


THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

One of the requirements for receiving wisdom is the admonition for sons and daughters to listen to and respect the godly advice and teachings from our parents. In fact, this is one of the ten commandments listed in Exodus 20:12: "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." Notice this commandment comes with a promise -- if we honor our parents, we will have long life. Parents are older, therefore they have more experience and are able to instruct their children wisely so they can avoid the mistakes that they may have made. This blessing is described in today's verses as a victor's wreath on one's head which means we shall walk in an overcoming position in this life. The golden necklace is symbolic of prosperity and favor. If we are obedient children we will have these blessings. If we are godly parents we are able to pass these blessings on to our children, who in turn can pass them on to theirs.

In looking at these verses, we can see that as parents, it is our responsibility to warn our children of the dangers of hanging out with the wrong crowd. Also, there are warnings to young people to stay away from habitual sinners. There is a saying stating that, "Birds of a feather flock together." If we do not want to be like the kind of people that are evil, we must not be buddies with them, nor allow our children to buddy with them. There is another saying, "If you play with fire you will get burned." Young people and older people as well, cannot entertain the notion that you can be close to wickedness and not find yourself being drug into the same wicked deeds that they do. If we do not resist evil, it will soon overtake us. Smaller sins eventually lead to bigger ones. The Bible says that greed, and the desire for money can lead one into robbery and as the above verses declare, even to murder. Gangs are rampant today because the above words of wisdom were not heeded by many of our young people.

One trick that the devil uses to ensnare good Christians is to entice them to become friends with ungodly people. Satan usually whispers that by being their friend, you can win them to Christ. I am not saying we should snub evil people, nor should we be unkind to them. However, we cannot become close buddies to those that practice unrighteousness, as this has been the downfall of many Christians. 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 , Psalm 37:1-4

PROVERBS

Proverbs 1:5-6 (KJV): "A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: 6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings."

Proverbs 1:7(KJV): "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Thoughts for the Day

The book of Proverbs is referred to as the book of wisdom in the Bible. God caused Solomon to pen these great truths. He had learned wisdom, as we must all learn it -- by listening to and heeding the Words of God. We must ask God for ears to hear what the Lord is speaking. Some people complain that they cannot understand the Bible. Actually none of us can understand the sum total of the Bible, because it comes from a God who is unfathomable. However, when we come to God, and acknowledge Jesus as our savior, we are given new insight. We begin our journey of learning about our new Father and His ways. As we study His Book, the Holy Spirit gives us the understanding that brings us into wise counsel and we can increase our learning of the Almighty God.

After forty-eight years of studying the Bible, I am still in awe when I read a verse that I have read many times and never understood it and suddenly I am enlightened and can "understand a proverb" or that "dark saying." I realize this comes because of my relationship with the One who inspired the Bible in the first place. He has given me something of His heart or mind and my love for Him is deepened. We should always be grateful when God allows us revelation of His Word and, when we do not understand it at the moment, that is when we are called to trust Him. Perhaps, at a later time, as we mature and grow in Him, we can receive that understanding that we have asked Him for. In the meantime, we can certainly walk in the light of the Words we do understand.

According to this scripture one must have "the fear of the Lord" to attain knowledge. Since this is true, we need to know what it means to "fear the Lord," as most of us desire to attain knowledge. In this verse, the "fear of the Lord" actually means "to be alarmed due to what could happen, if we disrespect or show lack of reverence to the Lord's Words." A good example of this would be if a young person respects the words of his father, he will heed those words and not disobey, as he knows the consequence of doing wrong will bring the father's disfavor and punishment. This same thing applies to our heavenly Father. If we really respect and believe the Words of God we will not disobey them, as we know there will be a penalty for doing so. We resist sinning as we fear the consequences. The acknowledgement of this one truth truly is the gateway to attain the knowledge of God.

People that have no "fear of God" go about breaking the laws of God, as if nothing will ever happen to them. The Bible refers to these people as foolish. Fools are those who are rebellious and despise the wisdom and instruction of God. Because our God is a merciful, sometimes people do not immediately pay for the consequences of their sins, but in time, all of us will reap what we sow, as that is what the Word of God says in Galatians 6:7: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." The only way the reaping and sowing process can be stopped is through repentance of our sins. When we accept Jesus as our savior, because He paid the penalty for our sin on the cross, we do not have to pay for it. We escape hell and all of its consequences. How wonderful this is. It can be compared to having someone who comes and plows up a field of sin where the weed seed we planted would sprout in time. Instead, through Christ's love for us, we are now given a clean plowed field, so that we can plant a good crop. One that we can enjoy and even have an abundant harvest to bless others.

PROVERBS 2

Proverbs 1:3-4(KJV): "To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; 4 To give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion."

Thoughts for the Day

Solomon, the author of Proverbs, sought to receive instruction from God in these verses. According to the Bible he became the wisest man of his day. Here we see he received wisdom, justice, judgment and equity. Looking at three of these -- justice, judgment, and equity; we see these are actions that we desire that others would extend to us. We all want to be treated fairly and equitably. However, a mark of maturity in Christ is, when we are also willing to lay down our justified rights and make sure that we are also extending the same rights to others. We must apply the same Word of God to ourselves, as well as those around us. That is what it means to live by the Golden Rule -- "Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you."

God promises to give this wisdom and instruction to those that will humble themselves in a simple way and to those that become childlike in their approach to God. We must not take a prideful, nor a haughty attitude if we desire to receive knowledge and discretion from God. He gives His instruction only to the teachable and those that depend on God and not their own human reasoning. This does not mean we are to not use our minds. However, it does mean that we are not to just rely on our own logic and reasoning, but to bring God into our daily affairs so that we have access to the mind of Christ with His guidance and His wisdom.