Tag: Wisdom

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4 Probabilities of Living Wisely- Proverbs- Week 3- Day 1

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

(21) My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:  (22)  So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.  (23)  Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.  (24)  When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.  (25)  Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.  (26)  For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.  

Proverbs 3:21-26

Explanation:
Solomon continues to instruct his son in the ways of wisdom and we get to listen again. As we begin verse 21, Solomon says “let not them depart from thine eyes”. To properly interpret this text we have to know what the word “them” is referencing. Let’s look at the two previous verses:

The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.  (20)  By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

Pro 3:19-20 

The word “them” in verse 21 refers to “wisdom” and “understanding” in verse 19. Verse 19 and 20 tell us that God created the world using wisdom and understanding. The way the created world functions is according to wisdom and understanding.

So it is in this context that Solomon tells his son to keep a hold of wisdom and understanding. “Don’t let them go, son!”, cries the father. “Keep them in front of you”. Why? Because when we live in accordance with wisdom and understanding there are four probabilities that Solomon mentions to his son that are the result.

Probability #1- Life. (v.22a).Solomon says that the understanding and wise person has a quality of inner life. The person that lives wisely lives in alignment with what God desires. Their inner person is right with God and with others. The outer behavior is in line with their inward thought life, emotional life, and spiritual life.

Probability #2- Decoration. (v22b). Solomon says that understanding and wisdom will be “grace to thy neck”. Like a necklace adorns the wearer, so wisdom and understanding dress up the person that lives by them. They become known as people of wisdom and understanding. It becomes the visible character quality of someones life.

Probability #3- Protection. (v23-24). We should avoid thinking that wisdom and understanding are like lucky charms. They are not rabbits feet to somehow magically keep us from bad circumstances. Wisdom and understanding help us to make choices that keep us from being in trouble. They keep us from taking bad steps. They keep us from creating needless enemies, and pointless difficulties.

Probability #4- Confidence. (25-26). Wisdom and understanding help us to have a peace of mind and a lack of fear. When we have made wise decisions and trust in the Lord, He becomes our confidence. He becomes our peace of mind.

Application:
Think about these 4 probabilities. Are they characteristic of what you are experiencing in your life?

  1. Do you have an inner quality of life brought about by wise choices?
  2. Do you have an outer quality of reputation brought about by wise choices?
  3. Do you constantly reap difficulty and problems that are borne out of the results of unwise choices?
  4. Do you have an inner confidence and peace of mind because you have lived out what God has commanded and trust in him?

Response:
What is the wisest decision you can make for your life today? Decide and then act.

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We need wise people! Proverbs- Week 2- Day 1

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:  (2)  For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. 

Proverbs 3:1-2 

Explanation:

When studying the Bible we must be very careful to interpret it correctly.  The responsibility of the reader is to understand the intention and meaning that the author is trying to convey.  Many considerations must be made in trying to discover the meaning of any given text.  One important consideration is the genre of the writing.  You may not interpret a proverb in the same way you would interpret historic narrative or an epistle.  A poem is different than a letter, for instance, and this contributes to understanding the author’s intent.

Where this applies in today’s text, and really many places in the book of proverbs, can be found in this question:  Are the proverbs to be taken as promises or probabilities? 

In this text Solomon urges his son to not forget the laws and commandments that he had given to him.  Forgetting deals with the mind and behavior.  He also deals with the heart, signifying that it is not just an intellectual endeavor, but a spiritual, emotional, and internal commitment that must be made.

Solomon then goes on to say, “for length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.”  If this were to be taken as promise, then anyone who has ever lived this way and been murdered at a young age would be exhibit A in a refutation of the veracity of scripture.  The truth is that Solomon is not telling his son that this way of thinking is a magic trick to ensure that bad things will never happen to him.  This is not an endorsement of some kind of karma working mysteriously in the world for those who attempt to live wisely.  At the same time, this is not some wishy-washy general statement with so many qualifications that it becomes a pointless mentality to adopt.  Solomon is stating a profound probability.  It is an observation and instruction related to the reality and probability of how the world works according to God’s design. 

Application:

When the young listen, take to heart, and obey the wisdom and instruction of their parents and other wise and mature people in their lives the probability of their life being extended and improved is significantly effected in a positive way.  Conversely, those who ignore the wisdom and instruction of the wise people in their life find that the length and quality of their life is affected negatively as well. 

These realities can be seen in the lives of people that we meet every day.  Go out your door, and talk to people.  You’ll find people that wear their choices, good and bad, on their faces and in their bodies.  Though this shouldn’t be taken as a promise to immunity from difficulty, yet it should be taken quite seriously.

Do you want peace?  Health? Quality of life?  Length of life?  Then listen to and take to heart the wisdom of the elders in your life.

You might be thinking, but I’m not really around many older people.  What do I do?  Where can I access these wise, mature people and get their knowledge and input?

  1. There may be wise people in your family.  Get around them.  Make a phone call.  Do whatever you can to let them speak into your life.
  2. There are many wise people in solid, Bible-believing local churches.  The Bible speaks specifically of the need for the older to teach the younger in the context of the local, New Testament assembly.  There are many wise people who are looking to do that in a variety of ways in good, Godly churches.
  3. You can access wise counsel through books and other media.  You can access the wisdom of great people who are preachers, authors, bloggers, and practitioners.  We have more access to more content (good and bad) today than at any other time of history.  Let wise people you know point you to wisdom in solid sources.
  4. The ultimate and inerrant source of wisdom is the Word of God.  As we study the book of proverbs we will see unparalleled wisdom that finds it ultimate source in God Himself.  Remember, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.  Any wisdom that comes from any other source finds its ultimate source in the person of God himself.

Response:

  • Which one of these four sources of wisdom do you need to access today?
  • What wisdom are you ignoring that is affecting your peace and length of life today?
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Don’t go there! Proverbs- Week 1- Day 5

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: (16) For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.  (17)  Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.  (18)  And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.  (19)  So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.   

Proverbs 1:15-19

Explanation:

Let us review what we have learned this week.

  • The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.
  • Listen and obey the wisdom of your elders.
  • Do not consent to the enticement of evil doers.
  • Evil doers will try to entice you through the prospect of prosperity through evil doing.

In today’s text, Solomon continues to articulate wisdom to his son regarding this issue of being enticed to sin.  He says not to even go near these kinds of people.  “Walk not though in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path”.  This would include consenting and following them in this proposition.  I believe it would also include even going around these kinds of people and finding yourself in a situation where they could entice you.  Solomon’s father, David, put it this way in Psalm 1:1:

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.   

Psalm 1:1

Notice the three postures in this verse- Walking, standing and sitting.  The problem is that walking can lead to standing and standing to sitting.  The evil influence, if left unchecked, can grow, and the converse of this verse can become true in our lives.  We forfeit blessing when we allow evil people to influence us toward folly.  Back in Proverbs 1:18 it states that these people lie in wait for their own blood.  Many people who tried to get rich quick by victimizing others have found themselves impoverished, physically harmed, and facing the overwhelming consequences of their own behavior.

For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.  

Psalm 1:6

Application:

There are times when it may seem that evil people prosper but know that God will not be mocked.  People will reap what they sew. 

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Galatians 6:7 

In a very real sense, the person who fears the Lord and walks according to wisdom will experience ultimate blessing.  The person who does not fear the Lord and involves themselves in greedy schemes to victimize others for gain will ultimately pay for the things that they do.

The good news is that although all of us have been foolish, greedy, and done evil, Jesus Christ, God’s Son, took our punishment on the cross.  If we place our faith in trust in Him, He has promised to save us.  He then sends His Spirit to conform us to the image of Christ.  He can change our behavior by transforming our thinking and desires.

Response:

  • Take a few moments to evaluate what you are sowing and reaping.
  • Are your relationships characterized by people who fear the Lord, or people who are involved in folly?  Are you soaring with eagles or running with turkeys?
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Listen, kids! Proverbs- Week 1- Day 2

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

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.

Proverbs 1:8-9

Explanation:

Solomon has begun the book by laying out the purpose of the literature. The purpose of these Proverbs is to give wisdom and instruction to the young, to the simple, and to those that will listen. This culminated to the most foundational beginning and primary truth. That truth is that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge”.

It is in that context that Solomon begins to speak to his son. We as readers get to lean in and listen to this instruction. Certainly we can believe that any father would give their son the best advice they can give. There is little incentive to give your own children bad advice. They bear your name! God granted Solomon his request for wisdom, and so the ability to read the kingly advice of Solomon to his son is of utmost value.

Solomon tells his son to “hear” the instruction of thy father. The word translated “hear” does not just mean to physically comprehend what is being said. The word means to physically comprehend with an inclination towards obedience. Listen and obey the instruction of your Father. The idea is continued in the parallelism of the phrase. “Forsake not the law of thy mother”. Clearly this is not just speaking about physically listening, but also obeying.

In verse 9 he references “they”. What is “they” referring to? It is referring to the instruction of the father, and the law of the mother. This instruction and law will be an “ornament of grace”. The word for ornament is used twice in proverbs. It is used here, and also in Proverbs 4:9.

She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

Proverbs 4:9

The picture of this word is a wreath or a crown on the head. It is something that decorates the person wearing it. The idea is that this instruction and law will bring favor to your life by the obedience the son gives to it. Similarly they will be “chains about thy neck”. To wear jewelry and crowns at this time would be a sign of prosperity, favor, and riches.

Solomon is saying that heeding the instruction and law of your parents tends to lead to life, favor and blessing.

Application:

For children still living in their parents’ home, the application of this verse is pretty direct. There is blessing and favor for the child that listens and seeks to obey the guidance of their parents. The new testament repeats this directive and promise.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.  (2)  Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)  (3)  That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

Ephesians 6:1-3

For the adult not in the home, the truth is no less direct. We should remember and not forsake the wise instruction and guidance handed down to us from our parents. If your parent wasn’t particularly wise, it doesn’t mean that there is not anything wise you could learn from them. There are others older and wiser. There are elders you may have access to in your local church from which to gain wisdom and instruction.

In the context of this passage, we all have access to the wisdom of the Lord contained in the scripture. We should heed the wisdom and instruction contained in the pages of scripture. When we obey the wisdom given to us it will bring us blessing.

Response:

  • What is something that you are doing that is unwise?
  • Is there anything that your parents taught you to do that you are forsaking?
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Listen, kids! Proverbs- Week 1- Day 2 6