More Wisdom from Proverbs
God’s Spirit
speaks through the book of Proverbs in Old Testament times with more wisdom for
His people. The main point of the book of Proverbs is that wisdom apart from
God is impossible Our God is a faithful and merciful God. A God of unfailing love and a God of justice.
A God who can do no wrong. And a God who calls us, His children, to be like our
heavenly Father, and be merciful, loving and faithful.
One of God’s promises in the book of Proverbs
is that He will provide and lead and protect us through life if we are willing.
He promises us: “Trust in the Lord with
all your heart. And lean not on your own
understanding. In all your ways
acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) And another promise in the
book of Proverbs says: “A person’s heart plans his or her way, but the Lord
directs her or his steps.” (Proverbs
16:9)
Also, “The
preparations of the heart belong to humans, But the answer is from the Lord.”
(Proverbs 16:1) It is exciting to realize that we don’t have to run our own
lives all by ourselves. But we can come under the protection and guidance of
our loving heavenly Father if we trust Him and try to obey Him.
In the book
of Proverbs, Solomon lists seven things that our heavenly Father hates: God hates the proud. (We Christians are to be
humble.) And God hates violence. People
who shed innocent blood. Our heavenly
Father hates it when people stir up trouble and anger between family
members. And He hates it when people
think up wicked plans or give a false witness about another person, getting
them into trouble. (Proverbs 6:16-19) A whole chapter in Proverbs is given to warning
humans of the perils of adultery. Perils
for the person who cheats on his/her marriage.
The Holy
Spirit is not mentioned directly in the book of Proverbs, but the person named “Wisdom”
is mentioned over and over again throughout the book. The “Wisdom” in Proverbs becomes a Person
calling out to each of us to take her in. To let her lead us. Bible scholars believe
that this Person named “Wisdom” in Proverbs is really the Holy Spirit,
((Proverbs 1:23) The Holy Spirit in the
New Testament is given to us when we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord and
He will help and teach us to follow the “wisdom”
of Proverbs, and He will give us the strength to do it.
All through
the book of Proverbs, wisdom is contrasted against folly. Proverbs teaches that there are just two paths
in life and humans must choose one of the two. The book of Proverbs contrasts the good path
of “Wisdom” against the evil path of folly.
Wisdom is many things. Wisdom is righteousness.
and Wisdom is life. It is justice and
honor and truth and industry. Wisdom is
fidelity and love and peace.
Humans can
choose the path of righteousness or the path of evil. The path of Life or the
path of death. Honor or dishonor. Truth or
falsehood. Love or hate. Fidelity or
adultery. Peace or violence. Industry or laziness. “Wisdom” travels up and
down the highways and byways of this earth calling out to humans to take the right
path – the path of wisdom.
Much of the
book of Proverbs is taken up with warnings for us to stay away from the sins
that will destroy us and begging us to follow the things that will lead to the
good life. Here are some of my favorite verses in Proverbs.
“The memory
of the righteous is blessed. But the
name of the wicked will rot.” (Proverbs
10:7)
“Hatred
stirs up strife, but love covers a multitude of sins” (Proverbs 10:12)
“The
blessings of the Lord makes one rich.
And He adds no sorrow with it.” (Proverbs 10:22)
“When the
whirlwind passes by, the wicked are no more.
But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.” (Proverbs 10:25)
“The
righteous will never be removed. But the wicked will not inhabit the earth.”
(Proverbs 10:30)
A righteous
person regards the life of his/her animal.
But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.” (Proverbs 12:10)
“The wise
woman builds her house, but the foolish woman pulls it down with her hands.” (Proverbs 14:1)
“There is a
way that seems right to a person, but it’s end is the way of death.” (Proverbs
14:12)
“Better is a
dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred.” (Proverbs 15:17)
“In the fear
of the Lord there is strong confidence.
And His children will have a place of refuge.” (Proverbs 14:26)
“Better is a
little with righteousness, than vast revenues of monies without justice.”
(Proverbs 16:8)
“Pride goes
before destruction. And a haughty spirit
before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)
And my
favorite: “In mercy and truth atonement and forgiveness is provided for
sins: And by the fear of the Lord one
departs from evil.” (Proverbs 16:6)
.
Posts
