The Path Toward Wisdom - PROVERBS START

If you are wondering if I skipped the Psalms I assure you I did not. I covered them after the New Testament in 2014. So we are jumping from Job to Proverbs, from one wisdom literature to another, although, the content of Proverbs will be much more palpable. 

I have in my Bible the following phrase from the introduction to Proverbs: "Practical wisdom for living is the central concern of the book of Proverbs."

Practical wisdom is only good, however, if you heed it. One thing that's common throughout Proverbs is the amount of parallelism both synonymous - same thought restated to emphasize wisdom and antithetical parallelism - contrasting thoughts to expose the importance of wisdom. Sometimes Proverbs repeats wise advice and other times it contrasts it with folly. We will see this throughout the book. 

The book opens with a chapter that is just one large antithetical parallel strategy. First, we are introduced to the benefits of wisdom:

Proverbs 1:1–7 (ESV) 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. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

What in that list does NOT help your life? These are great tools: instruction, understanding, wise dealing, prudence, discretion, and increased learning.  Then the final line and perhaps the undercurrent of all wisdom: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge."

Our lives are lived between two calls. Wisdom's call to us to come and grow and learn and deal well with our neighbors and our lives and the sinner's enticement toward sin. Notice the next portion of the chapter:

Proverbs 1:10–16 (ESV) 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 ambush the innocent without reason; 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 plunder; 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.

The writer understands the calls of both wisdom and folly. They call to us all. And yet their results could not be more different! 

Proverbs 1:20–23 (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.

Notice the first thing we must understand concerning wisdom. The regular world does much to drown her out. She calls but the market is busy and the streets are noisy and the simple embrace simplicity. Yet she cries out. 

Do not think wisdom is unavailable to you. She's just drowned out by the world around you. Notice the promise in verse 23. If we are willing to be challenged by wisdom's call. If we are willing to stop doing our own thing on our own terms, she will pour out her Spirit for us! And the Word of Wisdom will be known to us. I cannot think of a better promise. 

Father, make us to listen to wisdom. Help us to receive correction and in the Spirit's power, make us know your Words.