Papa B
Proverbs 3:5-8
Pro 3:5-8 ESV Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. (6) In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (7) Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. (8) It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
Solomon said earlier in Proverbs that wisdom comes from God. Because of this it is sheer folly to think that we can come up with a better way than God. Solomon tells us how to “lean not on our own understanding”. We do this by acknowledging God in all our ways. When Solomon says that the the Lord will make our paths straight the Hebrew word translated as ’straight’ is yâshar; meaning to be straight or even; figuratively to be (causatively to make) right, pleasant, prosperous [H3474 Strong's Hebrew Dictionary]
Our lives are not always easy, but if we put everything into the perspective of acknowledging God in everything we do, God will work in our lives to make our way yâshar. A clear path from the Lord is healing to our flesh and refreshment to our bones.
Oh Father, help me not to think that I have the master plan. I will acknowledge you in everything that I do because you have made my paths straight.
Proverbs 2:1-5
Pro 2:1-5 ESV My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, (2) making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; (3) yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, (4) if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, (5) then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
Solomon is encouraging is children to seek to become wise, to desire it like they would a hidden treasure. The pursuit of wisdom leads you to the LORD.
Practical application: I should make my ear attentive to God’s instruction and make it my heart’s desire to gain understanding. If I just fill my heart with knowledge I’ll end up prideful, but if I seek wisdom the process will teach me to fear the LORD.
Proverbs 1:20-33
Pro 1:20-33 ESV Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; (21) at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: (22) “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? (23) If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. (24) Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, (25) because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, (26) I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, (27) when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. (28) Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. (29) Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, (30) would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, (31) therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. (32) For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; (33) but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”
Wisdom doesn’t hide from us. Wisdom is always there, available for us to seek after. One of the interesting ideas that Solomon really pushes home in this passage is there is a consequence for pursuing foolishness. In verse 32 we see Solomon saying the death of the fool comes from rejecting correction and counsel.
Practical application: God has not hidden understanding from us. He desires us to come to him for wisdom and understanding. I need to be listening for His counsel and reproof.
Proverbs 1:7-9
Pro 1:7-9 ESV
(7) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. (8) Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, (9) for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.
Some children resist instruction and training from their parents but Solomon admonishes children to not reject the teachings of their parents. A father’s instruction and a mother’s teaching is meant for the edification of the child. Solomon frames this with the understanding the fearing God is the beginning of knowledge.
Practical application: We should not despise receiving instruction. Learning is a gift from God and we should think of every opportunity to learn (even from mistakes) as a custom tailored gift from the Lord.
Proverbs 1:1-6
Pro 1:1-7 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: (2) To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, (3) to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; (4) to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth– (5) Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, (6) to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.
Solomon is telling us what types of instructions will be addressed. He points out that it is his intent to “give prudence to the simple” and “knowledge and discretion to the youth”. Knowing this is important because it tells us of the intended audience of Proverbs. There is a nugget of wisdom (are you surprised?) tucked into verse 5. The wise listen to increase learning and the one who understands obtains guidance.
Practical usage: LISTEN to increase learning. These proverbs can be applied or misapplied to many situations, but the intent we should have when we study Proverbs is to sharpen our discernment, to gain guidance in righteousness, and to understand how to apply justice.