Good morning,
The book of Proverbs is about wisdom. It is Solomon, King of Israel, instructing his son. Wisdom means how to live wise or skillfully.
“The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.” (Proverbs 1:1-6)
This week we will look at the purpose for the book of Proverbs in chapter 1:1-6.
To Give (v4)
“To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.”
Subtilty, wisdom, discretion, or prudence. Simple, naïve young people open to any influence. Knowledge, the apprehension of reality, including an experiential knowledge of God. Discretion, the power of formulating and carrying out the right measures.
The Proverbs are to give wisdom to naïve young people and experiential knowledge of God and the power to formulate and carry out right measures to the young men.
Having “received”, the Proverbs now provide us with wisdom, knowledge and discretion.
Each of these verses build on the other. The more wisdom we have, the more we mature in our relationship to God. We are God’s workmanship.
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Philippians 1:6)
“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” (Colossians 4:5-6)
God continues to give us His wisdom. He is the one who is continuing working in our lives.
The question is, will we let Him?
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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