The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for attainingwisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young-- let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance-- for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1:1-7
The bible was written so those easily deceived or duped may find the way to have peace with God. For the most part we have to say the average Christian falls into the group who are easily mislead. By the same token the world is deceived because they don’t listen to the father of every human being who does what is right in their eyes. The verses above spell out the purpose for the bible and give us motivation to read and study he bible.
Solomon is writing his instructions to his children so they will know what he wanted long after his death. When you carefully read the proverbs it’s as if it were a letter from God addressed to his children. Each of the following verse reference has the phrase “My Son” of which some contains the instruction to pay attention and listen to.
Proverbs 1:8, 1:10, 1:15, 2:1, 3:1, 3:11, 3:21, 4:10, 4:20, 5:1, 5:20, 6:1, 6:3, 6:20, 7:1, 19:27, 23:15, 23:19, 23:26, 24:13, 24:21, 27:11, 31:2,
Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge (Proverbs 19:27 ). Is God saying stray from the words of knowledge and you’ll find yourself up the stream without a paddle with no one to rescue you on judgment day?
My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. "Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children. Hosea 4:6
People are easily influenced by what they hear specially when they don’t have knowledge to the contrary. God’s word is the instructions for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life. It’s because God wants you to handle your affairs in a practical manner and expects you to exercise good judgment with common sense. He wants you to be careful how you conduct yourself in regard to his interest and your dealings with other people.
Trusting other people can be dangerous especially when you are not alert to the danger involved or are prone to believe with blind confidence. Truth is always verified in the bible and is taught with this principle.
This will be my third visit to you. "Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses." 2 Corinthians 13:1
Notice how a single truth is shown in more than one way in the following verses.
So he said to me, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty. Zechariah 4:6 ********************************************** He will guard the feet of his saints, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness. "It is not by strength that one prevails; 1 Samuel 2:9 ********************************************** All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give all of you into our hands." 1 Samuel 17:47 ********************************************** Yet I will show love to the house of Judah; and I will save them — not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but by the Lord their God." Hosea 1:7
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We can howl at the moon, complain about our problems, address our needs but nothing happens until we put our faith in God. The truth is as solid as a rock it’s not by human strength that man prevails. God has the solutions to our problems if only we were to listen to him and apply his wisdom to our lives.
My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, Proverbs 3:1
Keep his words close at hand for they will crown your mind with grace and enhance your speech with words of wisdom. God’s words will always provide the way to escape from being trapped by evil.
No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me," declares the Lord. Isaiah 54:17
The discerning knows that God will guide you into all truth. The unwise demonstrates a lack of wisdom and falls head first into an problematical situation with no possibility of escape or rescue. They listen to people who lack the wisdom of experience stemming from success. All they find is misinformation, which is the mother of deception which is directly associated with ruin and destruction.
The mindless person gives little attention to his purpose in life. He has not established a direction or reason for living. On the other hand God wants his children to exercise good judgment in handling practical matters. God expects his children to learn from the success people have as well as the mistakes people have made. It is a process of learning over time and experience.
The passage above concludes with the following principle.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is demonstrated with a deep respect of who God is and what he capable of doing. Those who despise wisdom and discipline ignore God and those who understand the worth of wisdom and discipline know God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1) then created man to populate the earth. Man was put in the Garden of Eden as the planting of God and mnkind is also the fruit of the earth that God will harvest when he returns.
At the time of his return God is going to sort his harvest and the acceptable fruit will enter his kingdom but the unfit fruit will be destroyed due to the obvious quality of their lives.
What we find is that Proverbs 1:2-3 is the outcome of paying attention to our father’s instructions. By listening to our father’s words we will learn his will but when we understand his will it leads to our approval and doing what God approves of. It eventually ends up with you and me doing what is right; just, proper and fair to one another. Overall God’s word develops the golden rule practice of doing everything the way you expect to be treated. 10/02/2014
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