Renee🌻

When Wisdom Cries: Proverbs 1

I cannot believe we have ended the book of Psalms already! Alas, it brings us to yet another great book of the Bible in the Old Testament: The Proverbs.

The book of Proverbs is a roadmap, if you will, of the “Wise/Dark Sayings” of the second son of King David and Bathsheba—Solomon.

King Solomon

First, let’s examine a small bit of information about this wise king who wrote much of the Proverbs:

  • Solomon means “peaceable.” God’s blessing name—Jedidiah—“beloved of the Lord.”
  • He asked for a wise and understanding heart to rule over God’s people. God also promised him riches, honor and long life.
  • He wrote two of the Psalms, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon, as well.
  • His father committed murder, he was the one instead who built the Temple of God in Jerusalem.
  • His downfall: the influence of his many wives whom he allowed to worship and set up altars to their many gods.

What lessons are to be learned in the Proverbs? The answer and explanation is given right at the beginning in chapter 1, verses 1-6.

  • To know wisdom and instruction
  • To recognize the words of understanding
  • To receive instruction in wise dealings, in righteousness, justice and equity.
  • To give prudence to the naive/simple
  • To give knowledge and discretion to the young.
  • That the wise and understanding may hear and increase in wisdom and sound counsels.

Wisdom begins with God

Main Street in my little town. How fitting that the sign should say “pure.” That is what wisdom is summed up in the following verses! Here is the best definition of what wisdom is and is not.

“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”

‭‭James‬ ‭3:13-17‬ ‭

 

What is Wisdom?

  • first PURE
  • then peaceable
  • gentle
  • easy to be entreated
  • full of mercy and good fruits
  • without partiality (favoritism/respect of persons)
  • without hypocrisy (pretense)

5 Types of People in the Proverbs:

  1. Wise— fears God, wins souls, turns from evil, listens to godly counsel, good influence on others, mature, shows and brings joy and happiness to others
  2. Foolish—doesn’t believe in God or have spiritual understanding, his ways are right in his own eyes, doesn’t need or listen to godly counsel/instruction, a mouth that speaks foolishness, feet swift to mischief, doesn’t flee temptation, meddles in others business; stirs up trouble, slanderer, doesn’t respect parents and brings shame to them, quick-tempered, aren’t ignorant just unwilling to change.
  3. Simple—easily persuaded and deceived, but has potential to respond in a positive manner to the Word of God, (perhaps due to young age; inexperience) reckless, follows others.
  4. Scoffer—hates and insults instructions, (and the person who gives them) doesn’t receive instruction or correction, unwilling to change, full of pride, leads others into temptation and trouble.
  5. Sluggard—has poor work habits, depends upon others to help him through, self-indulgent, lacks initiative, can’t make decisions in critical situations, lazy and procrastinates to his own destruction.

Warning is given to the simple and foolish to heed the call of wisdom in verses 8-19 and gives the consequences —compares wisdom to a woman crying out in the streets in verse 20.

“My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭1:10, 16‬ ‭‬‬

These particular two verses really stood out to me. It seems where there is ANY kind of drama present, this is the real reason behind it—evil and wickedness.

In conclusion to the chapter, here are three blessings and benefits offered to those who will seek to know wisdom:

  • They shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck. (Verse 9)
  • Behold, I (Wisdom—God) will pour out my SPIRIT unto you, I will make known my words unto you. (Verse 23)
  • But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” (Verse 33)

But this was THAT which was spoken by the prophet Joel in Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:16-18

This He spake of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive

I stand in awe and amazement from the hidden treasures of God’s great wisdom and Word! For He IS the Word, according to John 1:1. He promises all who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness shall be filled! If we seek, we shall find, if we knock, the door will be opened to us. Will you hear His Voice today? Will you let Him come in and sup with you?

Dear Jesus, how precious is your wisdom and words of life! Help us to bind it about our neck, put it on the walls of our homes, our hearts and teach our children it’s counsels. May we never be too busy or fail to hear Your Voice when you knock at our heart’s door to visit! Fill us to overflowing! In Jesus Name, Amen!

Thanks for joining me on another adventure with Blogging Through the Bible, where like-minded sisters share their thoughts on each chapter of the Bible. 😊 It’s a blessing to have you here! Feel free to join in the discussion in the comments below.

More chapters in this series can be found at Blogging Through the Bible Archives and here:

23 comments

  1. Wonderful post. I may think of this post for a while when I do research in Proverbs.

    And the Pure gasoline station sign brings back some old memories. I was in the backwoods a year or two ago – close to being ever-loving-lost, and I was getting low on gas and I found a station that “said” that they were still an operating Pure gas station. At least they had the sign in front and the logo on the gas pumps. I looked around to see the camera crew from “Twilight Zone”.

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    • It’s awesome to study in the Bible! I know I’m not a scholar, by no means, but we have so many tools at our fingertips these days. My Blue Letter Bible app is awesome! It’s good getting our thinkers going though, isn’t it?
      I love that our city has been restoring some of the antiques around town. It’s sad that the actual gas station is no longer in service. There was another station in town that got turned into a Mexican restaurant, sadly. And one of the awesome old cafe’s got turned into a Chinese restaurant. I don’t know where that sign went. They removed it off the top of the building. I was actually sitting outside with 2 of my siblings at the restaurant who resurrected the original name of the restaurant, The Coffee Pot. It had a huge coffee pot on top of the building. Maybe they will get a sign made for it soon! My mom took us to eat the best lemon pie around when we were kids!

      That made me chuckle, the thought of the Twilight Zone crew nearby…or even a scene from an old scary movie, getting lost in the sticks! 🙂

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      • There is an upscale donut shop in Seattle called the Top Pot. They used the old sign. It used to be Top Spot, but the “s” burned out. The donuts are expensive, but they are the size of dinner plates. It was great that they repurposed the old sign.

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      • I did not realize it, but there is a sign that has been put up for that restaurant I was telling you about. It’s not the original though. I’m going to post some of the pics I got today and a better view of the service station either the “Pure” sign.

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  2. I love the way you broke down this selection of readings, Renee. Proverbs are excellent reading, but one chapter can go a million different ways! Bravo for your finding a way to bring them cohesively together, and this was a complete joy to read. “Old signs” from the Bible and “old signs” in the here and now… how cool is that? 🙂 Bless you!

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  4. What a super introduction to our series! I’m so glad you are blogging with us (and that you got Proverbs 1!). I especially loved the info on Solomon and the 5 kinds of people. I love it when you are reading the Bible and categories or other patterns hit you. Fun stuff!

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    • Angela, it’s a huge blessing to be blogging with you wonderful ladies! Thank you so much! After studying Solomon, I realized there was more info on him, but for the sake of time I cut it short. It is really neat when we study a chapter in the Bible and learn something we never knew before or even see ourselves in one of those categories! Definitely fun stuff! 🙂

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      • Amen! Not only have I grown a ton personally doing it, but my blogging has come a long way a lot faster because of my experiences with BTTB. We are so glad you are with us!

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      • It’s gotten me back to studying in depth again. Digging deep for treasures is so wonderful to do with friends. I’m glad to be a part of a great group of ladies! 💜

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    • Psalms has always been my favorite, I’ve never done a study on Proverbs before. Thank you so much! I have read it through and randomly read passages here and there. Going into an in-depth study with these other ladies is going to be awesome! Proverbs and James are both really great books from the Bible. Thanks for reading with me!

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    • Tangie, so sweet of you to say. Thanks so much! 🤗💕

      Share away! 😀 Anytime.
      Stacey Lynn Wells at Words From the Wheel made the logo. She is so creative. 😁 She has also archived all the posts on her website.

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