Today we start at 12 day study of Solomon’s “nuggets” of wisdom found in the book of Proverbs. Honestly, there is so much wisdom recorded here, I wish we could take one chapter a day. But in order to stay on track with the rest of the church, we will cover 2 or 3 a day. Don’t read through this quickly. Take some time. Divide each day’s reading into small sections if you need to. Just don’t miss the incredible “nuggets” of wisdom from Solomon.
Because there will be so much “good stuff” each day, it will be impossible to comment on everything. So if we have not touched on what you thought was really important in that day’s reading, please add your comment. Many will be blessed by our study of Solomon’s wisdom.
Proverbs 1-3
Where do we start to gain wisdom? According to Solomon, the beginning of knowledge is in fearing the LORD. Does that mean we are to be afraid of God? Does it mean that we have to recognize that He is the one in charge, and it is not our place to argue with Him? Does it mean that we realize that He knows what is best, and we trust what He says?
Solomon gave us a warning about rejecting wisdom. As he was discussing this issue, he talked about three types of people who are dangerous to us: the simple, the fools, and the mockers. The “simple” are people who live without thinking and are too lazy to change the way they live. Fools are much “smarter” and think about what they are doing, they have just made the decision to live by their own rules, apart from God and the advice of godly people in their lives. Mockers are rebels against God. They think they are better than everyone else and they let them know about it. They put others down and make them feel insecure about themselves. They are destructive.
We have to be careful about two things. First, we must make sure that we are not hanging out with people like this because they will influence who we are. Second, we must make sure that we have not become a simple person, a fool, or a mocker. Examine how you are living. Examine how you treat others.
God’s response to the simple, the fools, and the mockers is not something we want. Read Proverbs 1:23-33. Choose wisely how you live. Seek wisdom – but make sure you are seeking wisdom from the right place.
The Proverbs are ancient sayings that Solomon wrote down. They are one or two liners. Truth wrapped up in a sentence. Kinda' like todays sound bites that you hear in the news.
You could write a whole speach or sermon about just one proverb... the truth in the proverb is far reaching. In several cases, there's many that are very similar. And some are even meant to be a little funny... and true:
Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife. (Pr. 21:9)
I recommend that you read the proverbs from your own Bible and underline the ones that stand out to you.
Solomon addresses this to his child or to his student as the scroll is written. He wants to teach about life and how it relates to Godliness, discipline, family life, money, love, marriage, friendship, sin, repentance, and more... it's here in the proverbs.
Click here to go to todays reading Proverbs 1-3
Sample:
3:1 My child, never forget the things I have taught you.
Store my commands in your heart.
2 If you do this, you will live many years, and your
life will be satisfying.
3 Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them
around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.
4 Then you will find favor with both God and people, and
you will earn a good reputation.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do
not depend on your own understanding.6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will
show you which path to take.Here's some modern day proverbs strung together by lynyrd skynyrd...
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