Proverbs Revisited: Wisdom for Today

By Gary Davis

The Biblical book of Proverbs has fallen into disinterest and disuse, because it addresses issues from 3,000 years ago which may not seem relevant for today. But PROVERBS REVISITED: WISDOM FOR TODAY brings them back to life by exploring their messages and principles, and reapplying them to present-day living. All 628 proverbs and passages are explored in the light of wisdom garnered through Pastor Davis’s 50 years of Christian ministry, each containing discussion questions for use in small groups.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jun 29, 2015
• ISBN: 9781483556192

Book preview

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Interpreting Proverbs

Proverbs tempt us toward shallow thinking, but much like the parables of Jesus, there are layers of deeper understanding below the surface. In our study we shall descend deeper than the obvious, for some of the best soul-food is a root vegetable. Carrots are healthy for you when you partake of the root. There are Proverbs that you may have read many times that will yield new wisdom with a little digging. There are certain understandings that will help us get to that deeper level. Let’s look at a few.

The Solomonic collection

Solomon was the third king of Israel, reigning from 970 to 931 BC. Wisdom was the foundation upon which he sought to rule, asking God to give him a special measure of it (1Kings 3:4-12). So notorious was his wisdom that 1Kings 10:24 says, The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. So that the nation of Israel would be wise, Solomon wrote and gathered Proverbs, capsules of wisdom that could be taught and learned along with other educational disciplines. The opening chapters of the book suggest that its primary use may have been for fathers to teach their boys to think wisely. Likely, though, the girls and women would secondarily learn the Proverbs because of the role of mothers in teaching children within the home setting (see Proverb 31:26).

Hebrew poetry

The book of Proverbs is in a section of the Old Testament known as Hebrew Poetry, grouped together from Job through Song of Solomon. It is not a poetry of rhyme and rhythm but of parallels and symbols. Synonymous parallels state a thought in the first line, while in the second line the thought is repeated in different words. Some parallels you read in Proverbs will present a truth in the first line and the antithesis or opposite in the second line. Many parallels begin with a cause in the first line and an effect in the second line. A few of the Proverbs appear as poetic lists that challenge us to connect them into a meaningful chain of thought. The second poetic element is found in the symbols, figurative expressions and examples, in which we are asked to see a wise truth through a common figure. The ant serves as such a figure in 6:6 and 30:25. While the first nine chapters are poetic in form, they are most often discourses rather than the usual two line Proverbs. These I have broken down into sections which can easily be considered for their continuity of thought.

Fear of the Lord and consequences

The person who is becoming wise will seek to know how God sees the matter under consideration. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (1:7; 9:10), because it is the attitude that causes us to seek God’s guidance and follow it. The book of Proverbs, as well as the rest of the Bible, reveal to us the nature of God and the way that He views the choices we must make. Therefore, as you study Proverbs, look for what it tells you about God, who He is and what He thinks. That is the beginning of wisdom but not the whole of it. That provides a foundation for building wisdom into our lives, but God’s Word does not tell us everything. It gives us principles and clues for successful living. We must take what that teaches us and figure out consequences. That is the second thing to look for in the study of the Proverbs – what are the consequences of certain decisions we must make? Proverbs help us to think not only of immediate consequences but of far-reaching consequences. Where will the path we are on take us? We will often see the end of the road, the final destination of two alternate paths – one leading to life and the other leading to death. In these two matters, fear of the Lord and consequences, no library could contain the proverbs that would cover all the possible decisions we will make in life. In the book of Proverbs God is seeking to train our minds to operate wisely in both fear of the Lord and consequences throughout our lifetime. Wise people don’t need to be told all the answers. They have developed an intuitive ability to figure out the right path by their serious study of the nature and ways of God and the long term consequences of various decisions. Study the Proverbs, therefore, not only for their information but also for the wise thinking and processes they are creating in you.

Context and backgrounds

The Word of God is given to us in the framework of story. Each story provides a setting for its teaching, and we must understand the story before we can adequately understand the teaching. For example, if we are to understand St. Paul’s teaching regarding one’s concern for the consciences of others (1Corinthians 8), we need to become familiar with the Greek practice of selling food in the marketplace that had been sacrificed to pagan gods. In the same way, Proverbs are best understood if we put them in the context in which they were written, if we get some idea of the story behind them. Proverbs Revisited will try to help you understand the story behind the Proverb. I will acquaint you with other Scriptures that help tell the story. In some cases I will give you backgrounds to the situation in life. I will often illustrate some aspect of the story by using current or historical stories as well as wise quotations. My goal is to bring to life the central truth or some aspect of it. I will not bog you down with technical details, for my goal is to help you understand the basic wisdom of the Proverb and then help you to translate that into your life so that you think and choose wisely.

Translations

As we journey through the Proverbs, I will use as my primary text the New Living Translation, not because it is necessarily superior to other translations but because it expresses well in simple American English the thought of the passage. I am a pastor and not a Hebrew scholar. Therefore I will refer to the Hebrew textual backgrounds only occasionally to draw out a specific point. I will regularly utilize other translations in order to understand variant thoughts which some translators may prefer. It is not our purpose to resolve textual disputes but to focus on that which God is teaching us. I will use standard abbreviations for various translations: New Living Translation [NLT], New International Version [NIV], English Standard Version [ESV], Contemporary English Version [CEV], The Message by Eugene Peterson [Msg], New American Standard Bible [NASB], Amplified Bible [Amp], King James Version [KJV]. New King James Version [NKJV], American Standard Version [ASV], God’s Word Translation [GWT], Young’s Literal Translation [YLT], and Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible [DRCB].

Using Proverbs Revisited

Books emerge from the mind of the writer for varying purposes – some to thrill the reader, some to expand their knowledge of a particular discipline such as science or history, some to stimulate understanding and sympathy, some to challenge people to greater heights, some to provide reference material – the list goes on. I write Proverbs Revisited to be used as a tool for expanding a person’s grasp of Proverbs with a goal of making a person a lifelong seeker of wisdom. There are at least four ways in which this book can prove useful.

Devotional reflection

Every Christian should become friends with the Proverbs. Friendships are built through time together and communication. You must spend time in God’s Word to let it transform your faith, your hope, and your love. While all the Bible is useful for growing wise, the Proverbs will help you grow wise according to God’s design in the business of living your life. Proverbs can only do its work in your life if you make it a part of your devotional reading daily. God communicates with you in the Proverbs, and you will communicate back to him though your prayers. Daily read a Proverb and my pastoral reflection on it, then reflect on what God is saying to your mind, your heart and your conduct. Next pray for strength and grace to follow what God is asking of you. Some find it helpful to follow up by journaling their reflections and commitments.

Group study

My reflections in Proverbs Revisited have been used in my own home group. We use the following format: read the Proverb from the New Living Translation, read my one-page commentary, then discuss the questions that follow. We devote 15-20 minutes to each Proverb and usually study four Proverbs each Wednesday evening before our prayer time and refreshments. This has proven to be a life-changing experience for the people in our group. If the study is used in a church setting with more than 12 people, it would be good for the main leader to read the Proverb and commentary and have the discussions take place in smaller circles of 6 to 8. It is important to have an assigned leader for each small group whose job it is to keep the discussion on track and give everyone an opportunity to share their thoughts if they wish.

Teaching children

As mentioned above, the Proverbs were written to be used in teaching children and youth to grow into wise adults. Twenty-three times the Proverbs are addressed to my son, indicating the importance of teaching its content to our children. Though I have tried to use simple words that most 6th graders can understand, parents who use Proverbs Revisited to teach their children may need to adapt both the commentary and the questions to their individual needs. As the children become old enough, they may profit from taking turns reading a Proverb aloud and telling what it means. The questions are written with adults in mind but can easily be altered for other situations at home and school. Parents can often form their own questions to discuss with their children. I recommend a daily program of study with your child using only one Proverb a day. Remember that God designed Proverbs to be shared between parent and child. It is not a homework assignment to be left to the child, but a time for a parent to coach his child in the ways of the Lord and of wisdom.

Subject research

A student of the Bible has many resources available for understanding the Word. I hope this pastoral commentary will be added to your list, providing a closer and more practical look than is available elsewhere. I know of no commentary of this nature that spends time in each of the Proverbs. The closest is a work by English theologian Dr. John Gill (1697-1771) entitled An Exposition of the Old Testament written in six volumes between 1748 and 1763. It contains helpful reflections but is dated, dogmatic, and somewhat foreign to the American ear. I have included a topical index at the end which will help pastors, teachers and students to locate Proverbs specific to their area of concern. For example, if you were to do a study on the subject of laziness, you may find multiple references in the Proverbs on which you could reflect, learn and teach. In the writing of this work, I have used Proverb (capital P) to refer to Biblical references, while using proverb (small p) for non-Biblical citations. When I refer to the whole biblical book, I have written Proverbs in italics.

Wisdom is a never-ending story. I pray that my passion for Proverbs will spark interest in those who are far wiser and more capable than I and that they will launch into ever deeper waters, bringing wisdom to God’s people that they may become light in a dark world.

CHAPTER 1

1. The Wisest Man

Proverbs 1: 1 See the New Living Translation [NLT] which is printed in subsequent sections by permission from Tyndale House Publishers, 351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188.

Solomon, third king of Israel, reigned in the 10th century BC (971-931) during the most prosperous days of Old Testament Israel. His father, David, had taken the broken kingdom of King Saul and transformed it into a unified power, having subdued both internal enemies and rival kingdoms within its borders. He expanded Israel’s boundaries to the north, east and south, leaving his son Solomon with a large, strong, wealthy and relatively peaceful nation. David’s son would add his own organizational and administrative prowess to make his reign a glorious heyday in Israel’s significant history. Solomon was given the task of fulfilling David’s vision of building a temple which would bring the nation together in their faith and worship of Yahweh (the LORD).

Because of Solomon’s commitment to God from the very beginning of his illustrious reign, God granted his solemn request to be endowed with an exceptional wisdom to rule the nation effectively under Yahweh (1Kings 3:5-14). Solomon became known far and wide for his wisdom. The Queen of Sheba visited Solomon to verify the reports of his wisdom and wealth (1Kings 10:1-9) and left in amazement. Solomon’s wisdom began with a vigorous education, even from childhood. He developed a deep understanding of the physical world in which he lived. He was a probing intellectual and an astute observer of human behavior. His brilliance and education laid a foundation for his wisdom, but he saw wisdom as something beyond mere knowledge. Wisdom, to Solomon, was the application of knowledge in life, insight into life circumstances which one faces daily. Wisdom is thinking smart, but more – wisdom has a moral content. It is about right and wrong. Wisdom is measured by outcomes, consequences, byproducts. Most of all, wisdom is theological – it is about finding the will of God from nature and His revelation, and then shaping one’s thinking and behavior and attitudes thereby. Thus, the fear (reverence and worship) of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10; 15:33).

Solomon introduced a new form of literature – wise sayings. These encapsulate profound observations valuable for growth in wisdom. For the children (both young and old) of his day and ours, they provide an education beyond knowledge. It is that journey upon which we are embarking.

DISCUSSION: How would you describe wisdom in your own words? What was Solomon’s attitude toward wisdom? How could such an attitude help you to acquire wisdom?

2. The Power of Proverbs

Proverbs 1:2-4: Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young.

If wisdom is to guide our lives, there must be a way to absorb its truths through our heads and into our hearts and hands. Wise insights are the possession of those whom we esteem as wise. You have balcony people whom you look up to, whom you would describe as wise. Some are parents. Others are teachers. Yet others are pastors, mentors or counselors. We turn to the wise when we are confounded by problems for which we don’t have experience or answers. We hang on their words and their views. We give their thoughts great weight in our choices.

God’s desire is not for wisdom and understanding to be the possession of a select few who pass on their wisdom to be acted upon by others. God wants all of his people to possess wisdom, to have such a deep reservoir of understanding that they can do the wise thing instinctively. The purpose of Proverbs is to provide us capsules of truth, helping us to make right choices throughout the day. Most proverbs are brief and memorable.

Who has not heard the proverb: Spare the rod and spoil the child? It helps us remember the price to be paid for not disciplining our children. The young parent may not have experience that informs him of the consequences of not correcting his children, but this proverb fills in the blanks that his experience lacks.

The Proverbs are based upon God’s view of what is right, just and fair. When we digest Proverbs, we are seeing the mind of God. He becomes our mentor, our teacher, our guide through both simple and complex moral issues. We need such a wonderful Counselor.

Proverbs effect us not only by teaching us wisdom but also by teaching us discipline. Wisdom is not just a matter of the mind. One is not wise who knows the right thing to do but does not do it. The Proverbs are calls to action. They are motivational in their tone. When you look to the ant and see his work ethic, you are shamed if you lie around in front of the TV all day and don’t get your chores done. Proverb 11:10 spurs us to godliness by reminding us of the crowd that celebrates our lives when we run the race of righteousness. Proverbs are worthless if they are merely subjects of conversation and debate. This was the trap of the New Testament Pharisees – endless debates that did not change conduct. Proverbs challenge us to think, feel and act in ways that will honor the Lord whom we worship.

DISCUSSION: What is the purpose of the book of Proverbs? With such help as God gives us in this book, why do you think many Christians are failing to live wisely?

3. No One is Wise Enough

Proverbs 1:5-6: Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles.

Wisdom is a goal that is never to be achieved. It is a race in which one never reaches the finish line. It is the impossible dream. It is chasing after stars. There are many events in life where we never intend to finish – in these things it is the pursuit that counts. The astronomer may search the heavens, all the time understanding that he will never touch the boundaries of space. When Job insisted on understanding why he must suffer as he did, God scolded him soundly by comparing Job’s finite knowledge to God’s omniscience. God’s message to Job was, Be content to know a little of my plans and purposes and understanding, but never presume that you must know all that I know. That is not possible for mankind.

Proverbs are not merely for fools, for the ignorant, for children, for novices. Proverbs have something to offer to the wisest person on earth as well as to the beginner. All can profit by exploring the meaning of these inspired words. As each exploration of space takes us further into understanding the unknown, as each expedition to the ocean bottom unlocks new mysteries of the deep, so each time we contemplate the Proverbs we are exposed to new insights that give us understanding and guidance in right living. Of course, the same is true of all the Word of God. Each time you read a passage, something new pops out at you, and you wonder why you missed that on the previous reading. The preacher could preach a dozen sermons on the same passage of scripture and never repeat himself. Like a precious jewel, you might look at a Proverb in a different light and its beauty will shine in a new and inspiring way.

Solomon equates Proverbs with parables. Many of the Proverbs are indeed mini-parables. When you read them, they tell a story. Sometimes the story is hidden, so the reader must dig below the surface and ask, What is the story here? Proverb 10:5 says, A wise youth harvests in the summer, but one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace. Can you not picture the story of farmer’s son who has been given charge of a field, his to manage and learn the business? It is under his care, but when the county fair begins just at the time of the harvest, he opts to enjoy the fair, telling himself, I’ll get to the harvest when the fair is over. But following the fair the rains come and the crop is lost. That Proverb is a mini-parable which reminds us to be diligent while opportunities knock, or we will be left with shame and regret.

Dig deep into each Proverb and you will grow in wisdom.

DISCUSSION: How does one go about looking for deeper meanings in a Proverb, or any other passage of scripture for that matter?

4. Wisdom’s Foundation

Proverbs 1:7: Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Lord Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington, rose to prominence in British military history by defeating Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815. Before his death in 1852, Wellington exerted great political and moral influence in the United Kingdom. Among his most famous observations is the much-quoted line: ‘Educate people without religion and you make them but clever devils. President Theodore Roosevelt picked up the theme to declare: To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society." Knowledge is good to attain, but it is a dangerous thing in the hands of an evil person. Fire cooks our dinners, but in the hands of an arsonist, fire destroys. Atomic energy generates electrical power to bless humanity, but in the hands of a terrorist, a nuclear weapon could level a city. Knowledge can as easily be used for evil purposes as it can for noble objectives. Knowledge that is good must not only be true empirically but also true ethically. Knowledge becomes wisdom only when it is centered in God, the true and only source of righteousness.

The fear of the Lord must be our first wise pursuit. Fear has often been defined as respect, reverence and awe. It is these, but it is more. Fear is what one experiences when he faces something powerful or threatening. The hiker is confronted by a bear and freezes in terror. We fear God because of His awesome power. Hebrews 1:3 describes the power of Jesus in this way: He is the radiance of [God’s] glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power [NASB]. The power of God intimidated David, who declared, When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him? (Psalm 8:3-4, KJV). But what if the bear you face is Pooh Bear or some other friendly bear? Need we be afraid of a friendly God? Fear comes through the humble realization that we are sinners, that even though we may seek to please God, we find ourselves sinning daily, violating the sworn boundaries of our relationship with God. Fear is an appropriate response, borne of our weakness. It is a healthy fear, respect, reverence and awe that is only magnified as we hear His words of forgiveness and love. It is a fear that sings, Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see. This fear of the Lord provides a spiritual, ethical, moral foundation for a wisdom that blesses everyone it touches.

DISCUSSION: What are some of the things that Christians do to disrespect the Lord? How does this effect their growth in wisdom?

5. A Parent’s Wisdom

Proverbs 1:8-9: My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.

Parents are a pain. Even in a loving relationship, parents are called upon to goad us to growth. We must assume that because Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man that he was corrected by Joseph and instructed by Mary. Correction implies letting us know when we have done something the wrong way. This may involve words, but sometimes it may require the use of the board of education. More often, however, good parenting calls for explaining and training, teaching and preaching, instructing and constructing.

Children respond to parental guidance in three main ways: 1) outward compliance with a bad attitude (the Bible calls it murmuring); 2) outright rebellion and refusal to comply; and 3) loving submission in both conduct and attitude. Children sometimes take one of these courses consciously, but more often they simply react according to their habits, moods and personality type. Our Proverb indicates that the child who is to grow in wisdom must be encouraged in two ways – listening and not neglecting.

Listening begins with hearing. It is important to get a child’s full attention when you are teaching and correcting. Sometimes a parent will sit a child down, place loving hands upon his cheeks, and make steady eye contact before communicating. Next, a wise parent will have the child repeat back what he has been told. Many times a child will require further explanation. The child must hear correctly in order to internalize correction and instruction, but there is more to listening than simply hearing. Embracing wisdom requires understanding consequences. That is what Proverbs do – spell out consequences. For example, Proverb 20:4 warns: Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest. Clear consequences motivate compliance. Listening is not merely hearing; it is understanding.

Wisdom can be understood and just as quickly forgotten. Wisdom must not be neglected. Children are not good at maintaining wisdom until it is applied repeatedly in life circumstances. Thus, parents must remind children the lessons they have learned until they are etched deeply into a child’s thinking, attitudes and behavior. Don’t let your children neglect your instruction, even if you are in the middle of the market. If they neglect your instruction and correction, you will be embarrassed, ashamed and eventually alienated from your children. If your children get it, you will be passing on to them a crown of grace and a necklace of honor.

DISCUSSION: Were your parents stronger at correction or instruction when you were a child? Why are some parents so lax in effective discipline with their children?

6. Evil Friends

Proverbs 1:10-14: My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them! They may say, Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent! Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave; let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death. Think of the great things we’ll get! We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take. Come, throw in your lot with us; we’ll all share the loot.

The temptation to sin hits us from many directions. Satan places thoughts in our minds to disobey God. Our own lusts create inner cravings that can become obsessions. Sometimes the things we are surrounded with plant in us a covetous spirit. We long for ourselves the praise that others deserve. Some of our greatest temptations come from friends and acquaintances. Like drunkards who do not like to drink alone, so is the nature of sinfulness that we often like to have others do it with us. It is almost as if the participation of another in something we know to be wrong somehow makes it a little less evil. So, wherever there is the lure of sin in someone’s heart, there is likely to be an appeal to friends and acquaintances to join in the act.

Come and join us…. Just for fun…Think of the great things we’ll get!…We’ll fill our houses…Throw your lot with us; we’ll all share the loot. Those who are bent on sin produce powerful incentives to join them in sinning. Doing this will get you what you really want! they insist. Psalm 10:3 says, The wicked are windbags [Msg]. They lure the weak and uncommitted to the dark side. The sin-initiator gathers a group, giving him more power in his rebellious deed. The group becomes a gang. The gang becomes a mob. Sin-dabblers are drawn deeper into the quagmire. Their souls darken and their hearts harden.

So dangerous is the trap of evil friends that we are told to turn [our] back on them! St. Paul says, Be not deceived: evil companionships corrupt good morals (1Corinthians 15:33). We cannot avoid all connections with evil people. We pass them in the marketplace. We may talk and laugh with them in school, in business, in the pizza parlor. We may share with them at AA. Jesus, himself, was quite friendly and winsome with evil people. But companionships and close friendships are another matter. At the point which friends try to entice us, to lure us into evil, we are to part company with them.

It is difficult to part company with friends. One of the great character-tests which we face in life is to make such a choice. We must prepare to face rejection and vilification when we pull out of a relationship. When a gang member turns his back on the gang, he may even risk physical retaliation. But remember, Jesus was despised and rejected and acquainted with grief. He is cheering for you when you are tested, when you turn your back on sinners, when you take up your cross and follow Him.

DISCUSSION: Is there a certain age at which it is hardest to turn one’s back on bad friends? How could a parent best help his children to avoid close friendships with those who would lead them into temptation?

7. Predicting Consequences

Proverbs 1:15-19: My child, don’t go along with them! Stay far away from their paths. They rush to commit evil deeds. They hurry to commit murder. If a bird sees a trap being set, it knows to stay away. But these people set an ambush for themselves; they are trying to get themselves killed. Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life.

In all of nature, the law of consequences is at work. One of the first scientific laws that children learn is, For every action, there is an opposite and equal reaction. When one studies chemistry, he learns that chemicals when combined will react in predictable ways: liquids may form into a gel or solid; some will form gas; when heat is applied the gases will expand; common chemicals may explode when combined; others will form powerful acids or caustics which can burn you badly. Physics applies laws of mechanics to predict consequences. In mathematics, laws of consequence are formed into equations – laws predicting consequences. Computer scientists predict consequences with logical formulas and programs that begin if and proceed to then.

Just as we are subject to physical laws, so it is in the spiritual, moral and ethical realms – there are predictable consequences to certain ways of conducting ourselves. Proverbs help us predict these consequences. Wise people can see into the future, not perfectly, but with surprising clarity. They have learned from the Lord and from experiences, both of their own and of others. Foolish people cannot see beyond their immediate desires. They have no sense of the laws of cause and effect. They themselves are ambushed by the trap they have set for others. The wicked are more stupid than birds, who see a trap being set and stay away.

Jesus taught his disciples not to worry about tomorrow, but He did not teach them to ignore tomorrow. He tells many parables (lengthier proverbs) warning them to be ready for tomorrow, for the Master will return and demand an accounting. Worry about tomorrow is amplified when we do not plan for tomorrow. The way we can avoid worrying about tomorrow is to live today with a wisdom that connects today’s actions with tomorrow’s consequences. It has been said, When you pick up one end of a stick, you pick up the other also.

Solomon often digs deeper into behavior and consequences by exposing motives. In this Proverb he speaks of greed. 1Timothy 6:10 says, The love of money causes all kinds of trouble [CEV]. This theme runs throughout Proverbs. Solomon, himself, eventually fell prey to the lust for money, and became blinded to consequences. That greed was passed along to his son, Rehoboam, leading one day to the dividing of the united kingdom of Israel into northern and southern rivals, a consequence that began with a greedy heart.

DISCUSSION: It is one thing to be ignorant of consequences and another to ignore consequences. What is the difference? Which is greater folly? What is the best way for parents to teach consequences to their children?

8. The Appeal of Wisdom

Proverbs 1:20-23: Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square. She calls to the crowds along the main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate: "How long, you simpletons, will you insist on being simpleminded? How long will you mockers relish your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge? Come and listen to my counsel. I’ll share my heart with you and make you wise.

Wisdom has a loud voice. It shouts, it cries, it calls. Wisdom is in your face with its claims to be a superior way of life. How does Wisdom press her point to the uneducated, foolish and wicked? In several ways.

First, through embarrassment. Foolish people are eventually shamed by the trouble into which they get themselves. The glitterati of Hollywood are notable, because their troubles are so widely publicized. Embarrassment and shame are magnified through the media when celebrities act foolishly. Rehab or jail is a time out to help people come to their senses, to think of the consequences of their actions, to act more wisely. Wisdom shouts in their ears.

Second, Wisdom cries out through the lives of wise people. There is a longing in the lives of foolish people to be successful. Many of the stupid things they do are attempts to make them feel successful. But they succeed only at failure and turn a longing eye to those who act more wisely and are experiencing true success. That is what you could be like if you would make wise choices, Wisdom insists. Through the pain of failure, Wisdom speaks.

Third, Wisdom continues to speak through voices from the past. Foolish people still hear the whispers of past words of moms and dads, of school teachers, and of preachers. Wisdom, long ignored and abandoned, speaks loudly when pain overwhelms. Stored deeply in our memories are wise words that we cannot shake. Wisdom asserts itself from our past.

Mockers turn their backs on the shouts from Wisdom. They douse the flame of Wisdom in their souls. Often they rebel against Wisdom like a drunk who heads further into the gutter. Finally, when all hope has vanished, the prodigal awakes to the futility of his present foolishness and hears a knocking on the door of his heart. Opening it a crack, he is stunned to discover another way is yet open to him. But is it possible to turn, to change, to alter the present course? The voice of Wisdom cries, Not on your own, but only with my help. Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you. And in that moment, lost hope returns. As the lost one journeys homeward, his steps hasten with anticipation, and Wisdom prepares a feast on which his soul can feed and grow. And great is the joy in the household of the Father.

DISCUSSION: What does it take for a foolish person to wise up? How have you heard the voice of Wisdom most clearly?

9. Paying the Consequences

Proverbs 1:24-27: "I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention. You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered. So I will laugh when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you – when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone, and anguish and distress overwhelm you.

There comes a time when wisdom cannot help. It comes as the final rejection of wise action and thinking has passed. Consequences are closing fast upon us, and still we reject the word of wisdom. And finally we are in Disaster’s grasp. It clutches us at the throat and will not let go. The lion has his prey. Then we have no choice but to cry out for deliverance. But there is no response. Only a cold silence. Only regret. Only the sob of if only.

During these times it may seem like the end. We feel all hope has passed, that there is nowhere to turn, no one to rescue us. It is in this piteous condition that we experience the full, unabated impact of the consequences of evil, of foolish behavior, of our rebellion against God’s wisdom. In the grasp of consequences, in our emptiness, in our lostness and brokenness, there arises a flicker of light. It is a hope that God has not forgotten us. Indeed He has not, for it is failure that spawns change. God works even in His abandonment. Paul describes one who was forced to experience the full force of the Enemy in order to turn him to righteousness: Hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord (1Corinthians 5:5).

Consequences can be good teachers indeed. Parents who protect their children from the consequences of bad behavior are not loving them well. When calamity, disaster, anguish, and distress are the results of bad behavior, a parent is wise to allow his children to suffer the consequences, stepping in only when dire consequences threaten ruination. As children experience consequences they learn life lessons, especially as parents explain the problem and give advice on how to act wisely in the future.

These same lessons from consequences are vital to adult growth as well. In churches, our small groups are collective depositories of wisdom. As we share our concerns we can bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). Burdens come in many sizes and shapes, but some of the heaviest are the consequences of our foolish attitudes and behavior. Sharing failure does not come easy – it challenges our pride. But we cannot bear these burdens well until we become transparent with one another. When we risk sharing our failures with others, the insights we gain from their experiences can help direct our future choices.

DISCUSSION: Have you ever experienced a time in your life when you were in the grip of consequences and it seemed like God was ignoring you? What lessons have consequences taught you?

10. The Poison of False Assumptions

Proverbs 1:28-33: When they cry for help, I will not answer. Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me. For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the Lord. They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them. Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes. For simpletons turn away from me – to death. Fools are destroyed by their own complacency. But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.

Why is it that simpletons and fools who will not follow the ways of wisdom, when they finally come to their senses and search anxiously for wisdom do not find it? This is a puzzling question that eludes many who seek to help others who are in the grip of bad consequences. Those good souls who try to help but fail may be trying to build a new edifice on faulty foundations. Often those who have rejected God’s wisdom for much of their lives have thinking that is so warped, distorted, and screwed up, that though they search anxiously for wisdom they will not find it. When one has faulty assumptions, that which proceeds from it is false. If a theory is flawed, and a whole system of thought has arisen from that flawed theory, searching to fix life problems will only end in frustration. The baggage one carries from false foundations can be quite heavy. So how can one help?

The wise counselor seeks not simply to amend the apparent problem, the presenting issue. He looks much deeper for underlying flaws in thinking, then goes about a reconstruction process focused on those weak foundations. For example, if one has the notion that he must attain a certain level of moral goodness to have a relationship with God, then he will keep falling back into unworthiness, incompetence and alienation. Such a person should be taken back to his false understanding of the gospel, building a new foundation of grace, a new sense of imputed righteousness, being clothed anew, washed clean by the sacrifice of Christ.

Refoundationing is often impossible until old foundations crumble. Out of the ashes rises the phoenix. God Himself can do little to save a house that is built upon sand. Weak foundations must be destroyed before strong foundations can be built. Only when the foundation of self-righteousness has been destroyed will one begin to understand that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. Based upon that foundation, wisdom can grow. In the rich soil of God’s truth, wisdom will thrive. And all who listen will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm. Walking in this God-based wisdom, there is no guarantee that trouble will not come. In this world you will have trouble, said Jesus. The promise is that when harm comes, you can be untroubled by the fear of that harm. Serenity can be yours even in the storm when your foundation in God-centered. We need to remember and celebrate our foundations so that our lives remain centered in the church’s one foundation, Jesus Christ her Lord (1Corinthians 3:11).

DISCUSSION: Give some examples of the bitter fruit that fools must eat. Have you ever had to do any refoundationing in your thinking? What was it like?

CHAPTER 2

11. Mindsets Leading to Growth

Proverbs 2:1-8: My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him.

There are four steps in attaining wisdom that are listed in our text. They are attitudes or mindsets that must be present in our lives for us to receive wisdom. In our Proverb, they are in dual poetic sets: 1) listen and treasure; 2) tune and concentrate; 3) cry out and ask for; 4) search and seek. The first thing that one must overcome is the casual approach to becoming wise. We cannot gain it passively or accidentally. It will not come to those who simply sit back and wait for wisdom to smack them in the face. We must want wisdom, want it enough to assert ourselves to get it. We will not want it badly enough to pursue unless we realize the value of it, what it gives us, how it benefits us. Heroes help us in this. God sets out before us in His Word, not just teachings, but people who embody those teachings. The Genesis account of Joseph gives us a hero who is to be admired and imitated. Wisdom flows from the man and his story, producing a hungering to follow his example. God did not send a machine to redeem us, but a man, Jesus. Peter said, He is your example, and you must follow in his steps (1Peter 2:21).

When we earnestly desire wisdom, there are four attitudes that will take us there. The first is listening and treasuring. We must open our ears. This is the attitude Jesus asked for in his hearers: He who has ears, let him hear. An open mind (listening) and an open heart (treasuring) are a beginning point to receiving

Second is tuning and concentrating. We call this focusing. In gaining wisdom we must put out of our mind and environment those things which would distract us from our full attention. Old-style radios had dials that were for focusing. We turned the dial back and forth ever so slightly so that the station we sought would come in clearly, in full volume, so that other stations were not interfering with the station we sought and so that static was eliminated or reduced to a minimum. Focusing helps us delve into deeper levels of understanding. It is a learned discipline which characterizes great people.

Next, we must cry out and ask for wisdom. God has a deep desire to aid us in our quest for wisdom. In His ask-seek-knock trilogy (Luke 11:9), Jesus underscored our dependency upon God in all of life. God wants you to partner with Him in your journey.

Finally, we are told to search and seek. This is an attitude of expectation that there is a great treasure that awaits you when you dig just a little deeper. You may follow one vein until it is played out, but you can dig next week in a different direction and the mine will yield more gold. Keep on digging. There is always new treasure.

DISCUSSION: Besides Jesus, which Bible hero has meant the most to you? In getting wisdom, which of the four mindsets do you have the most difficulty maintaining?

12. Wise Choices

Proverbs 2:9-15: Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. Wisdom will save you from evil people, from those whose words are twisted. These men turn from the right way to walk down dark paths. They take pleasure in doing wrong, and they enjoy the twisted ways of evil. Their actions are crooked, and their ways are wrong.

Our choices determine the course of our lives. How we feel about a matter is important, but the choice we make is far more crucial. Wise choices will watch over you. The person of wisdom is willing to lay aside his feelings in order to make a calculated decision. A fair juror, in the sequestered secrecy of the deliberation room, will press himself and others to consider the facts of the case rather than his like or dislike of the defendant. It takes discipline and practice to not merely act out ones feelings.

Wise choices are the stuff of which successful people are made. Not that they never make foolish choices – they do. To err is human…. Unwise choices are fodder for the wise choices that wise people make. They are less likely to make the same mistake twice; their batting average increases over time. Successful people have a growing awareness of what is "right, just and fair." These three factors provide important clues to wise choices that successful people make.

Rightness is a theological issue. It is the way that God views the choice you must make. Righteousness resides in the nature of God. That is why the wise person fears God, respects Him, and upholds His laws. He asks what God has revealed in His Word that would bear on the matter. He puts the matter to the test of What would Jesus do? He makes a choice that is pleasing to God.

The next question to ask before making a choice concerns justice. Are you treating your neighbor honorably? It is not merely a matter of raw justice but of justice tempered by mercy. It is not a matter of simply giving another what he deserves but of weighing his motives, his record and his attitude. We are to remember that God has compassion for us in our weakness.

The final issue is fairness. At first glance, this question may seem to be the same as the last issue – justice. But fairness goes beyond the justice due the one primarily effected by your decision. Fairness recognizes that there are others, third parties, who will be effected by your choice. How will this decision effect them? For example, if I fail to execute justice in favor of mercy, will that show partiality? Will righteous standards be upheld in the community?

Wise choices have the ability to save you from the dark paths of those intent on doing evil, but you must first determine wisely what is right, just and fair.

DISCUSSION: What are some of the factors that we must consider in order to make right, just and fair choices? How does the voice of evil speak to us when we must make decisions?

13. Wisdom and Sexual Purity

Proverbs 2:16-19: Wisdom will save you from the immoral woman, from the seductive words of the promiscuous woman. She has abandoned her husband and ignores the covenant she made before God. Entering her house leads to death; it is the road to the grave. The man who visits her is doomed. He will never reach the paths of life.

Temptations abound in the human arena. St. Paul attributes much of our struggle against sin to our sinful nature (flesh in the KJV). In Galatians 5:19, he says that the acts of the sinful nature are obvious. Then, as if they were not obvious, he rattles off a list of 15 temptations that we struggle with which arise from the spiritual battle inside each of us – the sinful nature versus the Spirit. Sins which we commit may be provoked from outside, but Paul insists that the real battle is against the inside pull of the flesh. Paul’s list of 15 begins with the most obvious – sexual immorality. In the listings of evils in the Bible, sexual immorality is usually near the top. The book of Proverbs deals with the inappropriate use of our sexuality many times. The basic premise of Scripture is this: beware, for if you misuse your sexual powers (sex drive), you will pay a heavy toll eventually.

Sexual immorality entraps those who are unaware of the consequences. The ultimate consequence is death. Sexual immorality leads to death, the grave and doom. Eternal life, even if once possessed, hangs in the balance. If unabated, sexual immorality will eventually lead one to renounce his relationship with the Lord. But even before the final verdict is in, Satan, like a giant python, begins to squeeze the life out of his victim. Adulterers experience pain upon pain long before death. Guilt takes a heavy toll on self esteem. Fear of being caught steals the joy out of life. Family and friends lack respect when the sinfulness comes to light. Trust is broken. Even in the best circumstances, it takes a long time for a mate to rebuild trust in one who has broken his vows. Even though these consequences can be remediated by repentance, that which has been lost can never be fully regained.

Wisdom involves the ability to see far down the road. If you know what an adulterous relationship will lead to, you are less likely to be snared by the trap. Seductive words lose their power if you are able to measure the seducer. Do you really want to get intimate with a person who abandons her loved one, who knows so little of love that she would devastate him for a moment of passion? Would you be able to have a trusting relationship with one who ignores her covenant, whose word cannot be trusted, who disavows the God before whom she has vowed?

The path that leads to life is one of sexual purity, of being wise to the seductive power of those who are on the road to death.

DISCUSSION: In what ways has our culture abandoned the Judeo-Christian ethic of sexual purity, and in what ways does it still accept it? How can Christians overcome sexual temptations?

14. In the Steps of Good People

Proverbs 2:20-22: Follow the steps of good men instead, and stay on the paths of the righteous. For only the godly will live in the land, and those with integrity will remain in it. But the wicked will be removed from the land, and the treacherous will be uprooted.

We are all followers to some degree. Rare are those pioneers who walk through virgin territory where no one has walked before. Even such pioneers have honed their skills by following instructors, parents, models and heroes throughout their lives. Bernard of Chartres used to say that we are like dwarfs on the shoulders of giants, so that we can see more than they, and things at a greater distance, not by virtue of any sharpness of sight on our part, or any physical distinction, but because we are carried high and raised up by their giant size (Metalogicon, John of Salisbury, 1159 AD). Our dependency and connectedness is reflected by John Donne (1572-1631) who wrote: No man is an island, entire of itself…any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee (Meditation XVII).

We do not live in isolation of those, past and present, who have become models for our thinking, moods, habits and behavior. We have not chosen all our models, but God has graciously placed them in our lives. We have known wise and good heroes, but we have also felt the sorrow when some of our balcony people have turned dishonorable. In the end, we are held responsible for making choices about whom we will follow. To follow in the steps of good men, we must cease following after fools. As we must choose our friends, so we must choose who are not our friends. To befriend someone just because he chooses to befriend you leads to serial letdowns, because not all who would befriend you are noble people of integrity. Remove the wicked from your land; uproot the treacherous from your territory.

Instead choose to follow in the steps of those who have proven themselves worthy. Make your heroes those who reflect true wisdom through the fear of the Lord. You can follow in the steps of great men if you listen to their wise words. You can stand on the shoulders of giants if you imitate their behavior. You can be inspired to be your best as you read the stories of those who lived inspired lives. Such a person was William Wilberforce (1759-1833) who spend a lifetime opposing slavery before leading Great Britain to abolish it a short time before his death. His wisdom, power and tenacity helped inspire the movement in America that led to the abolition of slavery here in 1863.

For integrity to remain in (or return to) our land, we must follow in the steps of good people and stay on the paths of the righteous.

DISCUSSION: Who are your most important balcony people, both historical and present-day? In what ways have they made you a better person?

CHAPTER 3

15. Retaining Wisdom

Proverbs 3:1-2: My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart. If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying.

Discrimination. What do you think of when you hear that word? Bias against a poor person? An older person losing her job to a young inexperienced worker? A black person being denied access to a country club? A woman hitting the glass ceiling at work, not getting a promotion that goes to one of the boys? Discrimination has quite a bad name in our culture. But discrimination has another face. It literally means to make a clear distinction; to make sensible decisions; to judge wisely (American Heritage Dictionary). Author Christopher Hitchens thinks the word is misunderstood. He says: It especially annoys me when racists are accused of ‘discrimination.’ The ability to discriminate is a precious facility; by judging all members of one ‘race’ to be the same, the racist precisely shows himself incapable of discrimination. Discrimination, in its good sense, is an especially important possession of the wise person. It is the ability to sort out good from bad. It is the filter that keeps evil out and lets righteousness enter into one’s heart.

There are some things that we are to forget or let loose of. There are other things that we are to store up in our hearts. In doing this, we will live long and well. This filtering process is one key to gaining wisdom. The other key is conservation. We must somehow retain that which we have allowed to come into our lives to enrich us. Wisdom is a powerful force for good in our lives, but the truth is, we tend to leak. Ignored, wisdom gradually seeps out of our lives. What can we do to conserve that which is such a blessing to our lives? The answer eluded old man Solomon. As he aged, he experienced a pattern of moral and psychological decline. The lessons he vigorously promoted through his Proverbs fell into disrepair in his own life.

Several disciplines are useful in the conservation of wisdom. First, nurture the fear of the Lord in your life through wholehearted and consistent worship, both personal and corporate. Second, maintain a childlike openness to new knowledge and understanding. Become a lifelong learner. Third, pass on wisdom and spiritual understanding to others. Ironically, we receive what we give. The teacher learns what he teaches. You will continue to grow as you help others to grow. Finally, celebrate the gift of the knowledge and understanding of God and his righteousness. Rejoicing is a godly discipline that seals within our hearts the positive attitudes that strengthen and preserve the truths that we have received from God’s revelation.

DISCUSSION: What do you need to do to seal the wisdom-leaks in your own life? When will you do that?

16. Building Relationships

Proverbs 3:3-4: Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.

Relationships are vital to our existence. Without close, loving connections people wither – in both body and soul. In 1989, when Communism collapsed in Romania, the world was horrified to find babies housed in mass orphanages, without adequate care and very little human contact. Many such infants were adopted in America, but many of those orphans experienced lifelong damage from contact-deprivation (New York Times, Sept. 25, 2005). Successful relationships – how can we achieve them, even as adults? Those who never learn how to develop intimate relationships have a part of their soul which