Wednesday Bible Study: A Deep Dig into Proverbs IX

This week, I move into Proverbs 3, and there I found a chapter divided into 4 main parts, and today, in my typical backwards fashion, am led to talk about the fourth section- a string of "Do nots" that run from vv 21 to 32.  It actually kicks off with a couple of transitional verses, which lead from the earlier part- a listing of the blessings of Wisdom- to the section in question:

Pro 3:19  The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; 
Pro 3:20  by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew. 

So after a layer of the blessings of wisdom, we are reminded that it and understanding are the cornerstones on which God built everything; and that to access these blessings, we have to keep in mind how to LIVE them.  And since it it relatively easy for we humans to not notice we're doing something wrong unless it gets pointed out to us, God gives us a list of fairly common "Urkels"- in other words, "Did I do that?"

First one has a very close tie to those transitional verses:

Pro 3:21  My son, do not lose sight of these-- keep sound wisdom and discretion, 
Pro 3:22  and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. 
Pro 3:23  Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble. 
Pro 3:24  If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 

"Do not lose sight"- Literally, don't turn your eyes away from these.  As I looked into "sound wisdom" and "discretion", I thought it seemed similar to the "wisdom and understanding" of the previous verses. BUT, as I discovered digging in, there is a big difference.  When God applies wisdom and understanding, that's what it means, wisdom and understanding.  In contrast, "sound wisdom" is more looking to God to substantiate HIS wisdom; "Discretion" involves having a plan , purposefully discerning what God considers right and wrong.  To put it another way, these characteristics are natural to God; WE, however, have to WORK at them.

Second set:

Pro 3:25  Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, 

Pro 3:26  for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. 

In a very real way, this boils down to, "don't be startled by that which goes 'bump' in the night". If you are keeping your eyes on God's attributes, you shouldn't let yourself be shaken by sudden occurrences- or by what happens to "the other guy."  Because, hey, God's got it!  We're going through one of these ourselves lately, and it is reassuring to know that with all the things God has gotten us through of late, we can be sure He's got this one, too.

Third and fourth sets:

Pro 3:27  Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. 

Pro 3:28  Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it"--when you have it with you. 

I put these together because they have to do with two sides of giving- and by giving, the easy application is charity, but it goes deeper than that.  Romans 13 is a rather lengthy dissertation on this, from which I have cut to the chase:

Rom 13:7  Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. 

Rom 13:8  Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 

Rom 13:9  For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 

Rom 13:10  Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 

Because here's the thing: Of everything we have, including our ability to work and live in society, we are just stewards- we OWE good to those around us according to our ability to give.  And these two verses in Proverbs remind us that we are not to discriminate by the person owed to, nor be negligent of doing it WHEN necessary, and without 'fiddling around' about it.

If we had that understanding dialed in, God could have whittled all this down to, "DO GOOD."

Fifth set:

Pro 3:29  Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you. 

The word for 'plan' here had an interesting story (if you are into the semantics) but comes out like this- 'Don't DIG UP evil things about or to use against someone who trusts you do be a decent chap.'  The actual word used is best translated "plough"- don't plough up evil.  This applies to plotting against someone; applies to "harmless gossip", too.

Sixth set:

Pro 3:30  Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm. 

I was going to make the joke that, being a Martin- for which arguing was the national spectator sport- that this is a toughie.  But in a world where we insult people we've never met on social media and shoot at people who 'cut us off' in traffic, it is a far more wide ranging warning.  It ties into Paul's warnings on anger in Ephesians 4:

Eph 4:25  Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 

Eph 4:26  Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 

Eph 4:27  and give no opportunity to the devil. 

Seventh and final set:

Pro 3:31  Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, 

Pro 3:32  for the devious person is an abomination to the LORD, but the upright are in his confidence. 

The only question I had (and have) here is the connection God makes between violence and deviousness.  And the answer, to my mind, is that both are seeking power over someone else that they did not earn through righteous honor.  Or control, which is a facet of the same thing.  Notice God isn't warning us to not BE this kind of person; if we are doing #1, seeking His wisdom and applying it, we shouldn't BE controlling.  But He is warning us that sometimes these people get their way, and we shouldn't want the prizes they get that way.  God has better prizes waiting for us, and that is what that third chunk of chapter 3 is about- which, God willing, we'll get to next time.