Reading: Proverbs 1-3
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God (Prov. 2:1-5).
God gave Solomon a most precious gift. And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge My people, over whom I have made thee king: Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like (I Kings 3:11-12). As a direct result of that gift, Solomon guided his people into an age of peace and prosperity, the likes of which they had never known before (4:25). Solomon’s desire to preserve God’s wisdom for future generations led him to compose the Book of Proverbs. His stated purpose is for others To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion (Prov. 1:2-4).
One of the first things we notice as we enter the Book of Proverbs is that, even in his wisdom, Solomon struggled with the sin of excessive pride. My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee – although technically correct in the fact that the words and commandments were issued by him under his authority as king, they were not truly Solomon’s words; they flowed from the wisdom of God. As we read through the Book of Proverbs, we would be remiss to view it simply as a book of advice from a long-dead king. The words contained herein are given to us by God so that we might better understand the reasons for His Commandments. Verse by verse, God is offering us encouragement and instructions on how to get the most we can out of the time He has given us here on earth. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God (Col. 1:10).
If you have ever cried out to the Lord, “Why?” here is your chance to find answers. God offers us more cause-and-effect explanations within these verses than anywhere else in His holy Word. Not everything we read over the coming week will be easy for us to understand and accept, but we would be foolish to dismiss anything just because it does not immediately conform to our way of thinking. God intends this book to challenge our pre-conceived notions and earthly understandings. He wants to shake us out of our complacency and make us stop and take a serious look at how we are living our lives in relation to how He believes that we should be living them. Are you ready to accept His challenge?
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates (II Cor. 13:5)?
Thought for Today: We do not have to fully understand God’s wisdom, just accept it.
Christ Revealed: As the Creator who founded the earth . . . He established the heavens (Prov. 3:19). All things were created by Him, and for Him (Col. 1:16; Eph. 3:9; Heb. 1:2-3).
Word Studies: 1:4 give subtilty to the simple = impart insight (prudence) to the teachable; 1:11 lurk privily = wait secretly; 1:28 early = diligently; 2:1 hide . . . with thee = receive and treasure My Commandments in your heart; 2:7 buckler = a shield used in hand-to-hand combat; 2:12 froward = opposed to God; 2:16 strange woman = adulteress; 3:26 thy foot from being taken = your life from all danger.
Pray for StaffRyan McCrary • Country: Timor-Leste (1,201,542) South-east Asia • Major Languages: Tetum, Portuguese • Religious Freedom • 98% Catholic 1.0% Muslim; 1.0% Protestant • Prayer Suggestion: Sing praises to the Lord (Ps. 30:4).
Optional Reading: Titus I