GOOD MORNING SIBLINGS!
Today’s readings are Proverbs 1-3
Click here to read today’s passages on BibleGateway.
Rabbit Trails
Quick Facts:
- The primary author of Proverbs is believed to be King Solomon with the exception of Chapters 30 and 31, who have different authors and let us know at the beginning who they are.
- The Hebrew title for this book is Mishlei, which means parables.
- The primary focus of Proverbs is in imparting wisdom on how to live according to YHWH’s word.
- We are not born with wisdom and unlike intellect, it is not something we can gain simply by educating ourselves. Wisdom comes from a direct relationship and regard for the Father, the source of all wisdom.
- There are 915 verses in Proverbs and 31 chapters.
- Because of the chapters falling in line with the average amount of days in a month, many people read a chapter in proverbs a day on a continual rotating basis in addition to any other reading plan they follow.
When Solomon asked YHWH for wisdom, what we are reading in this book is most assuredly a result of that blessing from the Father.
In these precious nugget filled chapters, we will learn so many things, such as: how to treat our parents, work ethics, learning to control our tongue, how to raise our children, how to live peacefully among our neighbors, the follies of pride and the virtues of humility, and even how to relate to the Father himself!
Proverbs is designed to warn us away from unGodly living and teach us how to set that aside and step in line with the Father’s wisdom.
I’ve never met a single person whose life couldn’t benefit from a daily application of Proverbs, especially myself!
Key statements:
Proverbs 1:7 -The fear of YHWH is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
The Hebrew word that originally appeared in place of fear was yirah, which may more accurately be translated to reverence. The beginning of wisdom is to understand what the source of that wisdom is. Many people today consider themselves to be the source of wisdom. The world has taught us to make gods of ourselves. These teachings are evident in statements like “Just follow your heart.” “You have to make yourself happy above all.” “You do you.” “Keep it real, speak your mind.” Each of these statements stand in direct contrast and contradiction to the word of YHWH. But in order for Him to be God in our lives, we have to humble ourselves and realize that if we want wisdom, we must drink from the source of it.
Proverbs 2 features another if/then statement. You’ll recall that there are several of these throughout the Word and they come from an unchanging God (Malachi 3:6).
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for its hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of YHWH and find knowledge of God
All of the bold black statements are conditional on our part and all the bold red statements are what YHWH will do in response to that level of faithfulness.
Let’s talk about that word: Faithful. When a person is faithful, that means they do not stray from their relationship, they do not betray the one they are in relationship with, and they do not go elsewhere other than that relationship, to try to find love. In a broken world with so many marriages having issues with affairs, YHWH desires us to be with someone who will be faithful to us- and He desires all of His children to be faithful to Him. A repetitive study of proverbs will enable us to achieve both,
Proverbs 3:1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments….
Why does the Father, over and over, throughout His word, tell us not to forget and order us to remember? Because He knows that we are prone to forget. Sometimes it is an accident but more often than not, it is because we choose to forget. Biblical amnesia – when you read a passage that requires you to alter something in your life that you do not want to alter, so you willingly dismiss it. This is choosing self as god over YHWH as God.
Let your heart keep my commandments… Not just your mind, but your heart. We do this out of our love for Him, not a sense of ingrained duty, but because we LOVE him. Experts estimate that there are over 2.18 BILLION Christians in the world. Out of that number, I’m comfortable saying that well over a billion would say that they are willing to die for YHWH. And that is all good and well. But what the Father is really looking for is far more rare – people willing to live for Him.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in YHWH with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and He will make your paths straight.
Much of modern Christianity has taught us to interpret this text as “Say you trust in God and that is good enough. However you see things is what really matters anyway. Keep going full steam ahead, trusting your heart and doing whatever makes you happy, because if God really loves you that is what is most important to Him anyway so just treat Him like a genie in a bottle, call Him with times get tough and then do your own thing the moment things are better again.” That is the world’s teaching about YHWH and it is a teaching that is absolutely meant to lead us away from His wisdom. Unfortunately, it is very popular and highly effective.
Proverbs 3:11-12
My son, do not despise the Lord‘s discipline
or be weary of his reproof,
12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights.
Do not despise discipline from the Father because this is evidence that He loves us enough to work on us, to bring us closer to Him, to aid us in living our lives for His purpose.
Proverbs 3:13 is a great example of this:
Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
and the one who gets understanding,
This is a descriptor of someone who has an active, living, daily seeking relationship with the Father. Continue to read the rest of this chapter to see how this relationship manifests itself in the life of one who submits themselves to YHWH.
This book is filled with easily digested, apparent, and mostly obvious wisdom. This is fruit that is ripe and easy to pick. May we use our reading to bring us closer to Him, to amplify His wisdom in our minds, and to apply it to our lives immediately and deeply.
Test everything, hold tight to what is good.~ 1 Thess 5:21
We are saved by Grace alone: Obedience is not the root of our salvation, it is the fruit!
May YHWH bless the reading of His Word!