He
layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)
The Blessings Found In Embracing Proverbs:
Prov 1:5-9
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.
7) The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of knowledge: [but] fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8) My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and
forsake not the law of thy mother:
9) For they [shall
be] an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
INTRODUCTION:
After identifying himself
and explaining his motives for writing Proverbs, Solomon now explains to us
some of the blessings we will receive from a study and application of the
truths found in this book.
EXPOSITION:
A wise man will hear, and
will increase learning;…
Anyone
who places their attention on the teachings in Proverbs is a wise man. Two benefits of his studies will be an
increase in knowledge and a greater level of spiritual skill as he applies the
proverbs to his life.
…and a man of
understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
A
man who understands the benefits of a study of Proverbs will be willing to give
of his time and efforts to procure the wise advice that can be found within its
pages.
To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise,
and their dark sayings.
The
wise advice in Proverbs can only be received when they are properly
understood. These proverbs are words
that carry with them much wisdom, although they are much like a riddle that may
be difficult to unravel. (Hebrews 5:14, 2 Peter 3:16)
The fear of the LORD [is] the
beginning of knowledge: …
Like
all parts of His Word, an attitude of great reverence for the Lord and His
instructions is needed to begin a study of Proverbs. By doing this, the purpose for man is
fulfilled…
(Ecc 12:13) Let us hear the conclusion of the whole
matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty
of man.
…[but] fools despise wisdom and
instruction.
Because
a fool does not value the Word, they count the Lord’s wisdom and instruction
not worthy of pursuit.
(Joh 3:19) And this is the condemnation, that light is
come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their
deeds were evil.
My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of
thy mother:
By
the phrase “my son” Solomon could be speaking to his son, Rehoboam, (Matthew
1:7), but he was probably addressing those who were under his tutelage as being
his “son” (1 Kings 4:29-34). What was
His advice? He taught them to submit to
the Godly teachings of those who are in authority over them. Whether the advice of a parent, teacher,
employer, or other authority; this principle can be applied in a wide variety
of life areas.
This
principle has special significance when applied to the teachings of God, the
ultimate Authority over all:
1. As Redeemer, our Lord holds a special type of
authority over His people as the One who purchased them with His shed
blood. The Christian is His purchased
possession, with Him as their ultimate authority (1 Pet 1:18-19, 1 Cor 6:20).
2. As Creator, the Lord is the One who holds ultimate
authority over all mankind (Rom 9:20-21).
He can do with His creation as He desires and creation is responsible to
submit to His desires, no questions asked.
Because
our Lord holds authority over all men, lost and saved alike, we are all
responsible to hear, and not forsake, His teachings to us. A portion of those teachings are found in the
book of Proverbs.
For they [shall be] an
ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
When
authority holders speak Godly wisdom from a heart of love and concern, the
application of their teachings will enhance the recipients’ appearance in the
eyes of God and man, much like jewelry beautifies its wearers.
Why
are their teachings described as ornaments of “grace”? These instructions are not deserved by the
hearers, but they are given through the grace of God; while resulting in more
kind, gracious lives of those who apply these teachings to their lives. (Psalms
119:98-100, Proverbs 3:19-22)
SUMMARY:
Truly,
heeding to the Word of the Lord of is great benefit that is given through His
grace. We should be motivated to expend
great effort to learn and apply His Word to our lives out of obligation as well
as out of a knowledge of the great benefits that they hold for each one of
us. Solomon, through the inspiration of
Almighty God, penned the book of Proverbs as a guidebook for living Godly lives
through the application of Godly knowledge, understanding and wisdom.
By
God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value
that they deserve.
May the
Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.
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