Devotion for Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Today’s Passage:

Proverbs 1:10-16
My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:  My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

Pastor Ben’s Commentary:

Solomon speaks to the reader as one of his sons.  He is giving fatherly advice to the reader to help them make wise decisions.  This is a common way he communicates throughout the book.

In today’s passage, Solomon tells his son not to consent to people who want him to get involved in their wrong doing.  He says it may look like a good idea at the time because they’ll speak of easy riches, companionship, and luxury.  He then goes on to say that it won’t add up to what they say it will be.  You’ll be a part of potentially destructive behavior to your life and others.

Application:
1. People who do wrong are always looking for others to do wrong with them.  This school year you will be invited to take part in behavior that is wrong, and potentially dangerous to the future that God has for you.  Take this advice.  Steer clear.  Don’t give in. Don’t go with them!

2. Sin looks enticing, but is actually destructive.  There is an old saying that is very true.  “Sin will take you farther than you’ll want to go, keep you longer than you’ll want to stay, and cost you more than you’ll want to pay.”

In the comments today, quote your favorite verse in today’s passage and how it will help you at school this week.

Why are we doing Proverbs this week?
By now you have either started school already, or you are starting school today.  The first couple weeks of school can be so important to setting the tone for how your whole year is going to be.  It’s going to take lots of wisdom to make the right choices about how you’re going to live at school this year.  We need all the wisdom we can get.

On Sunday, we will be starting our Connection Group Series, and Devotional Series on the book of James.  It’s a pretty incredible book of the Bible.  Many people compare the book of James in the New Testament, to the book of Proverbs in the Old Testament.

So this week, we’re going to get some wisdom from the book of Proverbs to help you start the year out right.
I’m praying for you guys that are in school this week!

Today’s Passage:

Proverbs 1:1-9
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;s4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.s5 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.s

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.s8 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.

Pastor Ben’s Commentary:

These verses are the introduction to the book of Proverbs.  They talk about what kind of book proverbs is (wisdom literature-“the words of the wise, and their dark saying”), the purpose of this book (“to perceive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgement, and equity; to give subtility to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.”), and the source of the wisdom of this book (“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”).

Application:
1. God’s Word, in proverbs, can help the young person get knowledge and discretion. (v.4) Discretion here means “discernment.”  Discernment is the ability to perceive and choose the right, Godly, and wise choice. It takes knowledge to have discretion.  You’ve got to be able to have all the facts, and know all the facts to make the right choice.  God’s Word can help you do that.

2. God has placed parents in your life to help you gain and understand wisdom.   (v.8-9)  God has chosen to put you into the home that He has for you, with the parents that you have.  Your parents can be an amazing resource for you to make the right decisions and to grow.  You might say, “Pastor Ben, you just don’t know my parents.  They don’t have wisdom can help me.”  Trust me- your parents, although not perfect, are smarter than you think.  They can help you, if you have a teachable attitude.  Solomon here says that when we listen and do the commands of our parents it is like a crown on our heads, or an expensive necklace around our neck.  What does this mean?  When we do what our parents tell us, it will increase our value and repuatation to other people.  Just like jewelry makes a woman more beautiful, so heeding our parents wisdom enhances who we are.

In the comments today, quote your favorite verse in today’s passage and how it will help you at school this week.