Proverbs 12:1 (NKJV) Knowledge or Stupidity

Today, we are starting a new chapter in Proverbs, and this first verse speaks of the difference between those that thirst for knowledge and those that reject correction or training.

Proverbs 12:1

1 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge,

But he who hates correction is stupid.

instruction: 1. a direction or order 2. the process or act of imparting knowledge; teaching; education

knowledge: 1. The state or fact of knowing. 2. Familiarity, awareness, or understanding gained through experience or study. 3. The sum or range of what has been perceived, discovered, or learned.

correction: 1. The act or process of correcting. 2. Something offered or substituted for a mistake or fault

stupid: 1. Slow to learn or understand; obtuse. 2. Tending to make poor decisions or careless mistakes. 3. Marked by a lack of intelligence or care; foolish or careless

Using the definitions of the main words in today’s verse, we find that those that love receiving directions or orders that help them to learn will find that they will come to love HAVING that knowledge… it comes in handy so often somewhere along the line. Others also end up looking up to knowledgeable people.

In contrast, those that dislike or “hate” being corrected and being taught correctly, will find that they will be slower to learn. They will also tend to make poor decisions or careless mistakes.

As we have seen in so many verses in this book, God wants us to seek wisdom and knowledge BECAUSE He doesn’t want us to make poor decisions and careless mistakes throughout our lives. He wants us to have abundantly blessed lives because He loves us.

Proverbs 11: 14 The Need for Counsel

Proverbs 11: 14 (NKJV)

14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall;

But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

Counsel: 1. The act of exchanging opinions and ideas; consultation. 2. Advice or guidance, especially as solicited from a knowledgeable person. 3. A plan of action. 4. Private, guarded thoughts or opinions: 5. A lawyer or group of lawyers giving legal advice and especially conducting a case in court.

Counselors: 1. A person who gives counsel; an adviser. 2. An attorney, especially a trial lawyer.

In the Jewish culture, as we have seen before, the elders and wise men of the community would gather at the gates or certain special places in the towns and cities to discuss important matters. Often the younger men (Jewish men were considered to be “men” after their bar mitzvah at age 13) would come to learn by listening to the elder’s discussions. This is one of the main ways that they would learn.

With this type of cultural life, the young person would learn how wise it was to listen to or “take counsel” from older, more knowledgable people around them. They would see that those that despised listening to, and learning from, these leaders would cause people to have many problems and fall into many of life’s “traps.” Conversely, those that do mingle with, and learn from, the wise, will make wise decisions.

We need to understand that when we have problems or big decisions to make, we should step back and find someone who is proficient in that type of problem or decision, and consult with them. It would be wise to discuss the various points, so that we will be able to make informed decisions before we make our plan of action. We should beware of trying to figure out “big things” without taking “counsel,” for God says that could cause us to “fall.”

Proverbs 10 : 13 & 14 Wise or Foolish Lips...

Today’s verses give us some more attributes of those that are wise, and those that are foolish.

Proverbs 10: 13 & 14 (NKJV)

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding,

But a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding.

14 Wise people store up knowledge,

But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

Both of our verses today start out speaking about wisdom. Verse 13 tells us that a person that is wise and understanding, speaks wise words… wisdom is “found” on his lips, and verse 14 goes on to tell us that a wise person will “store up knowledge.” They don’t just “hear” it, they seek after it and put it into their heads, hearts and actions, so that they will remember it.

The second part of both of these verses show contrasts to the first parts. Verse 13 contrasts those who are “devoid of understanding” to those that “have understanding.” “A rod is for the back…” speaks of people who are caught and punished for doing foolish, ungodly things. All of us do these types of things at different times of our lives… especially when we are young. Hopefully these incidences become less frequent as we grow in knowledge and understanding of God and His ways.

God also tells us that “those He loves, He chastens…” when they need it, and there are several places in the Bible that speak about this principle. Just as we give our children the choices to choose between following our rules and not following them, if they will eventually NOT be safe if they don’t follow, then we will, if we are wise parents, discipline them so that they will stay on “safe paths.” God does the same for us, because He loves us even MORE than we love our own children.

The first part of verse 13, which as we saw, speaks of having wisdom on his lips, contrasts with the last part of verse 14 which tells us that people that speak foolishness are near destruction. As we have studied before, our words flow from what is in our hearts, and if they are full of ungodly things (The fool says, in his heart, there is NO God…) then each time the “foolishness” flows, it draws us closer to destruction because it draws us AWAY from God.

Proverbs 10: 1

The Book of Proverbs is broken up into several parts. The first 9 chapters, as we have seen in our studies so far, were written by Solomon and specifically contrasted the value of searching for wisdom and the foolishness of following “folly” or our own sinful nature.

This next section that starts in Chapter 10 and continues through Chapter 22: 16 is a collection of single verse proverbs, in most cases. They are short, proverbs that are like “snapshots” of things that God would like us to see and remember. Throughout this section, we will probably only study one or two of these at a time, so that we can have time to meditate on them between each study. I may be able to start posting more often, as well.

Proverbs 10:1 (NKJV)

1 The proverbs of Solomon:
A wise son makes a glad father,
But a foolish son is the grief of his mother.

The first verse of this new chapter states that Solomon is the author of these Proverbs just like the beginning of the book did. There is a part toward the end that many believe was written by someone other than Solomon. It is interesting to note that in the Hebrew word for Solomon, the numerical value of the consonants add up to 375, the exact number of verses in this section of Proverbs. It is believed that these proverbs were taken from a larger number of sayings, but chosen for this reason.

Verse 1 reminds us that when a son makes wise choices in his life, his parents will be proud and happy, but that they (especially the mother, as mother’s tend to react more with emotions) are filled with grief when he follows a foolish path.

Proverbs 8: 1 - 3

Today we start chapter 8 of Proverbs. This chapter is all about the “Excellence of Wisdom.” It goes over the attributes of wisdom and the things that result from following Godly wisdom. There are many principles in this chapter that, if followed, will bring prosperity in body, soul and spirit, and it even speaks of the possibility of getting “wealth” as well. This is a totally uplifting chapter with only the final verse again stressing the warning of NOT following wisdom.

Proverbs 8: 1 - 3 (NKJV)

The Excellence of Wisdom
1 Does not wisdom cry out,

And understanding lift up her voice?

2 She takes her stand on the top of the high hill,

Beside the way, where the paths meet.

3 She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city,

At the entrance of the doors:

Chapter 8 again portrays wisdom as a woman calling out to those who would listen to her. As we saw in chapter 7, foolishness was portrayed as an adulterous woman who leads into the “lusts of the flesh” and this contrasts with those verses.

Verses 1 and 2 portray the call of “Wisdom” as a call to an abundant life of God’s blessings. It is a call that God wants all of His people to listen to and follow. It is there… out in the open… in obvious places… loudly proclaiming itself to any that would open their hearts to God’s call upon their lives.

Verse 3 continues with this idea and is also based on the Jewish customs of the day where the older men would gather by the gates and in public places to discuss important matters. The young person that wanted to gain knowledge and understanding would be free to go to these places and sit and listen, or be taught, about important issues of life, area news, etc. from men that had lived long lives and gained knowledge and wisdom through those lives.

By the time they reached this age, especially in those days, only the wiser men would still be around to be at these discussions. The ones that hadn’t learned wisdom, would have died, been incarcerated, or wouldn’t be interested in speaking in a group such as this.

I think that having respect for older people that have lived much of their lives and come to a place of peace and comfort through following God was God’s original plan for young people to learn. The book of Timothy in the New Testament covers some of these areas. If we take the time to learn from older people that have lived through “youth’s mistakes,” learned from them, then went to God and found Him to be a forgiver of those sins and a lover of their souls, then we can avoid many of the pitfalls that they have gone through.

In previous chapters and verses, we have seen that God’s plan was that parents started their children out young, teaching them at home to have respect for their elders, and guiding them to wise, interesting people of God. A young person that is taught that kind of love and respect from a young age, will tend to gravitate toward wise, older people throughout their lives. That would be what God would want for us as parents of very young children. Once they hit adolescence, it is much harder for them to talk to their own parents, but if they have been taught properly, through this principle, then they will gravitate toward other older people that they have grown to trust.

If we are older, now, ourselves, then we need to take the time to sit with younger people and share, WHEN THEY ask for advice or want to talk. Wisdom can’t be pushed on another, but it can be shared. These men, which sat at the gates, were available. They didn’t go out seeking and chasing down young people to preach at them.

Proverbs 7:21- 27

Today we are going to finish chapter 7 and this current discussion on adultery. The bulk of this chapter, as we have seen, is written as a sort of “play” that portrays the seduction of a “foolish” young man by an adulterous wife whose husband is away on a business trip. The young man was out in the evening (dark) and sort of “looking for trouble,” and this woman was using all of the five senses to cause “the lusts of the flesh” to rise up within him. Now let’s look at today’s verses.

Proverbs 7:21- 27 (NKJV)

21 With her enticing speech she caused him to yield,

With her flattering lips she seduced him.

22 Immediately he went after her,

as an ox goes to the slaughter,

Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks,
(Footnote: some versions read: as a dog to bonds,

while another reads: as a lamb . . . to bonds—)

23 Till an arrow struck his liver.

As a bird hastens to the snare,

He did not know it would cost his life.

24 Now therefore, listen to me, my children;

Pay attention to the words of my mouth:

25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,

Do not stray into her paths;

26 For she has cast down many wounded,

And all who were slain by her were strong men.

27 Her house is the way to hell, [Sheol]

Descending to the chambers of death.

As we see in verse 21, her seduction has worked, and he has followed her. Verse 22 tells us that he has followed her “as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks.” The next verse lets us know that this young man’s foolishness would cost him his very life.

The last four verses of the chapter expound on the moral of this story that has been told by a parent to their child. The young one is told to “pay attention” and “Don’t GO there…” Even “strong men” have been destroyed by this method.

Venereal diseases were just as rampant back then as they are now, and several of the kings of the Bible expired from them. Spiritually speaking, this was also one of the ten commandments and breaking it would ultimately send the foolish young person to hell.

I praise God that our sins have been covered and we can ask for forgiveness if we have fallen into this trap somewhere in our lives. God can heal both our physical and our spiritual infidelities and bring us redemption and freedom from their penalties through the work of Jesus, His son, if we make Him the Lord of our lives.

Note: Picture by Linda Brewer

Proverbs 7:1 - 20

Today, we start our study in Chapter 7 of Proverbs. The Bible discussion continues on the subject of adultery. In THIS chapter, it is written almost like a “Theatrical Play.” and again, warns young people against listening to her. Today, we will look at the first 20 verses, which gives an example of HOW the adulteress seduces a young, foolish man that is ALREADY looking for trouble.

I feel, that since we have studied this area already, at least 3 separate times, that I should just post the verses, for the most part, so that we can read through them, with only a few comments.

As I have said before, if GOD puts something down over and over again, then that subject must be VERY important to HIM. Since the whole point of this study is to seek HIS wisdom, then I don’t want to skip any of His words, but I also don’t want to beat them into the ground either.

NOTE: For those of you who may have missed some of the past studies on this subject, you can click on the post tag of “adultery” and I believe that will take you to the past studies where this subject has been gone over in detail. (Prov. 2:16-19, Prov. 5 –all-, Prov. 6:20-35)

Proverbs 7: 1-20 (NKJV)

1 My son, keep my words,

And treasure my commands within you.

2 Keep my commands and live,

And my law as the apple of your eye.

3 Bind them on your fingers;

Write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”

And call understanding your nearest kin,

5 That they may keep you from the immoral woman,

From the seductress who flatters with her words.

The Crafty Harlot
6 For at the window of my house

I looked through my lattice,

7 And saw among the simple,

I perceived among the youths,

A young man devoid of understanding,

8 Passing along the street near her corner;

And he took the path to her house

9 In the twilight, in the evening,

In the black and dark night.

10 And there a woman met him,

With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart.

11 She was loud and rebellious,

Her feet would not stay at home.

12 At times she was outside,

at times in the open square,

Lurking at every corner.

13 So she caught him and kissed him;

With an impudent face she said to him:

14 “ I have peace offerings with me;

Today I have paid my vows.

15 So I came out to meet you,

Diligently to seek your face,

And I have found you.

16 I have spread my bed with tapestry,

Colored coverings of Egyptian linen.

17 I have perfumed my bed

With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

18 Come, let us take our fill of love until morning;

Let us delight ourselves with love.

19 For my husband is not at home;

He has gone on a long journey;

20 He has taken a bag of money with him,

And will come home on the appointed day.”

Verses 1-5 admonish us, again, to listen to the wise teachings of our elders… parents… mentors. We should take them into our heart and soul. Verses 6-9 paint a picture of a foolish young man who is looking for trouble. We can see this because he is doing it in secret… “And he took the path to her house 9 In the twilight, in the evening, In the black and dark night.”

Verses 10-20 describe a wealthy wife, who is bored because her husband is gone and she is out to ensnare foolish young men by dressing and acting the part of the harlot, or prostitute. Verses 10 – 12 describe her attitude and cunningness, while verses 13-18 give details of the ways she seduces the foolish young man.

She draws him in with her seductive nature and kisses, then builds him up with flattery by saying that HE is exactly who she was looking for and wants (Vs. 15.) She further entices him by describing how nice (tempting) her bed is with it’s soft coverings and perfumes, and then she enflames his passions by describing what they can do together.

Notice she uses his eyes - with her dress and actions, his mouth – with her kisses, and his ears and senses of touch and smell – by telling him things he wants to hear and describing the bedding and perfume, etc. In other words, she is playing on all five senses and filling them with “lusts of the flesh.”

She goes on to tell him that he will be safe from discovery because her husband is gone on an extended business trip. Next time, we will cover the next part of this story or “play.”

Proverbs 6: 20 – 29

Today’s verses are another warning to young men about committing adultery. From the repetition that the Bible uses in this area, God must really think it is one of the most important things a young person can learn about, as we have discussed in prior studies. Here are today’s verses:

Proverbs 6: 20 - 29 (NIV)
Warning Against Adultery

20 My son, keep your father's commands
and do not forsake your mother's teaching.
21 Bind them upon your heart forever;

fasten them around your neck.
22 When you walk, they will guide you;

when you sleep, they will watch over you;

when you awake, they will speak to you.

23 For these commands are a lamp,

this teaching is a light,

and the corrections of discipline are the way to life,

24 keeping you from the immoral woman,

from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife.
25 Do not lust in your heart after her beauty

or let her captivate you with her eyes,
26 for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread,

and the adulteress preys upon your very life.
27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap

without his clothes being burned?
28 Can a man walk on hot coals

without his feet being scorched?
29 So is he who sleeps with another man's wife;

no one who touches her will go unpunished.

The first four of today’s verses remind us that our “father’s commands” and “mother’s teaching”… the lessons a good parent would continually impart to a young person throughout their youth (spiritual or physical) IF REMEMBERED and ACTED upon, will shine for others to see, guide them throughout their lives, give them comfort so they can sleep peacefully, etc. They also remind us, in verse 23, that “the corrections of discipline are the way to life…” As we have seen in other studies in this area, proper “discipline,” done in a wise way, is to be expected to keep us on the right path. If we listen the first time, we don’t have to have a harsher discipline later on.

Verses 24 thru 29 cover this chapter’s warnings on adultery. The first verses we looked at tie together with these, as we see in verse 24. Both types of adultery are mentioned in this verse… a man turning to a prostitute or immoral woman, and a man having an affair with a “wayward wife.”

NOTE: During Bible times, “prostitutes” and prostitution was often a form of Temple worship employed by many of the religions of that time, so this sin also often had spiritual implications involved that would, of course, be another problem as far as God was concerned.

Verse 25 talks about a “lust of the flesh” that is activated by the eyes in this case. Remember, our senses are wonderful gifts of God, but as with all of His gifts to us, we need to keep them under HIS control, and not ours.

Verse 26 tells us that to a prostitute, a person is simply a way to make money for food, etc. There is no love involved to feed that person’s soul. It goes on to say that getting involved in adultery can get you killed, as the penalty in this time period was death by stoning. Adultery also sucks the life out of people for it causes them to live a life of lies, and we have seen who the father of lies is in past verses.

The last three verses go on to give word pictures of what adultery is like, ending with another warning. It equates it with “scooping fire into his [a person’s] lap,” and “walking on hot coals.” Playing with fire WILL end up getting a person burned, and God says it will NOT go unpunished! ALL parties will be burned sooner or later...