"God wraps facts in beauty". So it came to me in last Friday's walk. And I see it in these next ten Wisdom verses in Proverbs. I took not all the verses on wisdom- Lord knows, Solomon hammered some things over and over- but the ones I felt God pointing out in a different way. I pray I can show them as God wants them as we go along.
#1 Pro 13:1 A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
Now I know we have hit something similar to this before- the joy a Father gets when his son listens and acts wisely. Here is the other side of that coin: it is MY benefit to listen to my Father. He wants the good for me that I might not yet see.
#2 Pro 13:14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
We have seen this many ways: The Spirit being poured out, the living water Jesus offered the woman at the well. But here's a spin for you: The translation of the word "law" comes from a word that means this...
yârâh yârâ'
yaw-raw', yaw-raw'
A primitive root; properly to flow as water (that is, to rain);
The Law is the flow that God built into creation, that flow springs from the fountain of God's Spirit within us. This is what Paul was trying to get through to the legalists in Romans 2:
Rom 2:14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.
If you are in tune with God, if the Spirit flows in you, the law is a natural outcome in your life.
#3 Pro 13:20 He who walks with the wise shall be wise, but a companion with fools shall be destroyed.
Even though, as we saw last time, "If you are wise, you are wise to your own benefit", if you want wisdom to grow, to become a habit, you need to spend life with others who have found this wisdom. Pro 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
#4 Pro 14:1 Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
This isn't a carpentry lesson. The word translated 'builds' is prefaced with the instruction, 'literally and figuratively'; she is building a HOME, a family, a moral structure. The word 'house' also has a stricture: "in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc." The phrase 'with her own hands' for the foolish woman indicates that, whether she means to or not, all her power is directed at ruining everything.
#5 Pro 14:3 By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
I like the further translation for 'a rod for his back'; it is "a switch of pride." We should all remember that the proverbial 'hickory switch' hurt more than the paddle ever did; and this switch is made of foolish, damnable pride.
#6 Pro 14:8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them.
Keil and Delitzch point out that most people consider this deception is a self-deception, but it isn't the truest meaning of the words used. Leaving out their overly technical description, the core of it is this:
Thus the contrast will be this: the wisdom of the prudent shows itself in this, that he considers his conduct (×”ָבִין as Pro_7:7, cf. Psa_5:2), i.e., regulates it carefully, examining and considering (Pro_13:16) it according to right and duty; and that on the contrary the folly of fools shows itself in this, that they aim at the malevolent deception of their neighbour, and try all kinds of secret ways for the gaining of this end.
In short, be wary- they ARE out to get you.
#7 Pro 14:16 A wise person is cautious and turns from evil, but a fool throws off restraint and is overconfident.
One translation is the the fool 'trusts in himself.' Of course, the wise person has already been warned about this:
Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
Pro 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Pro 3:7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
If you trust in yourself, you're on your own. That's where the overconfidence comes in.
#8 Pro 14:35 The favour of a king is to a wise servant, And an object of his wrath is one causing shame!
I was going to use a different translation, but as I looked at others, I saw that the one I was going to use- and a lot of others- put more emphasis on the ACTION; the Young's Literal which I did use, puts the emphasis on CHARACTER. I heard it in the sermon Sunday: Actions can deceive, but you can't hide motives from God.
#9 Pro 15:12 A scorner does not love one who corrects him, nor will he go to the wise.
"All talk, no listen" fits in here. It's not a matter for the scorner of gaining wisdom or knowledge, or even being right: It is simply defending the first stupid thing out of your mouth to the death. A personality type I have a lot of experience with, unfortunately.
#10 Pro 15:33 The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
To fear the Lord- to have reverence to Him- REQUIRES humility. That gains you wisdom, which LEADS to honor. In fact, I tried to write certain sentences in this very post MY way- and after a beating from the Spirit moving in my conscience, they were re-written GOD'S way. It was when I said, "No, I want it the way I wrote it", that I heard myself and listened. Thank you, Father, for the lessons WITHIN the lesson.
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