PROVERBS
Principles to live by.
Thoughts come from a wide variety of sources. Some from messages I have heard from individuals, some from assemblies Bible studies, some from home life and some from books I have read. The Holy Spirit is the Teacher who makes them real to me.
- "What the Bible Teaches, Proverbs.” by A.J. Higgins. John Ritchie Ltd.
- "The Life Application Bible." Tyndale House and Zondervan
- “Proverbs, a devotional commentary.” By William MacDonald. Gospel Folio Press
David, who wrote many of the psalms, was a very intense man who lived in danger of one kind or another for much of his life. The highs and lows of his soul and spirit are reflected in his writing. He was a valiant soldier on the field of battle, and benevolent king who truly cared for his people, and a man who loved His Lord. But he seemed to have a restless spirit when there were no challenges facing him. Yet, this man had the heart of a poet and song-writer. Perhaps it was because of his courage and vision as well as his willingness to express his inner person in passionate love for the Lord, that he was called by God, “a man after Mine own heart.”
The Lord is strong and mighty in battle over His enemies, sin and the devil. He defeated them all – even death. But there is another side to our Lord that is so wonderful. His love surpassed all other loves of mankind, nations or any other kind of love. His grace is beyond measure, from the gracious words of His mouth to His multiplied actions of grace given when grace is needed. How wonderfully human our Lord Jesus Christ was when He lived here among men. How glorious is His divine nature that is infinite in all its ways!
David seemed to be of a “kindred spirit” with our Lord in his way of thinking, acting and doing. How I would like to have such a unique relationship with my Lord! But He knows who I am and what I am capable of doing, and what He is able to entrust to me and share with me.
Solomon, David’s son, was a very different man than his father. He seemed to have been a quiet reflective person who took a lot of time to think and meditate. As long as thinking and meditating are on the right things, they are good. It is when a person like that gets sidetracked by what is going on around him in the world, and in the lives of other people, and starts to look at things through their eyes, and takes actions like they do, that trouble comes. Our thoughts and actions must be guided and controlled by the word of God.
The wisdom of Solomon did not come from his reflective personality nor from his meditation. He knew his own limitations, and knew from his meditations, that he was lacking the ability and intellect to lead the nation as it should be led. He had learned enough about himself and God, to know his greatest need was God in his life. Any wise person knows their limitations and has sense enough to admit their need of help for others, and especially from God. Even so, Solomon was God’s chosen man. God had plainly pointed him out as the next king. But he was incapable of doing what was needed without divine guidance and understanding that was beyond him.
How that humble man must have pleased God! So, God gave him what he asked and needed – and then gave him much more. We too have obstacles that are too difficult to overcome in our own strength. When we lack wisdom, we need to “ask of God,” and He gives from His abundance what we need.
It is from this man who had a godly heritage, and a sense of his own need, that the principles for living in the way God intends, and appropriate conduct in the many areas of life with common sense, come to us in the book of Proverbs. His father prayed for Solomon. That would have surely left an impact on him. David taught him with godly counsel, so that now in his new role as king, he has been somewhat prepared. But He needed more, He needed God and the wisdom of God.
As a result of our parentage, we hopefully learn certain things that can help us in life. When we are in fellowship with God, we learn from Him. He can use what we have been taught by parents and other wise people for our benefit. God’s favor toward us, like in the case of Solomon, added to what we have been taught, and then the learning received from our own life-experiences, equips us to live by the principles given in the book of Proverbs. It is one thing to have knowledge, that is to know facts, but it quite different to have wisdom to know what to do with the facts.
Without wisdom, knowledge is useless. This book of Proverbs is a great assist in learning how to live out daily what we know to be true.
God wants us to be wise. When we choose to do what He wants, He will give us the wisdom to do it. The word of God in the Bible gives us all the information we need to live right, form the right relationships and make the right decisions. May we always appreciate those who taught us right when we were young. May we always apply the truth and wisdom of God to the situations we face in our busy lives as adults. May those of us who are older, be willing to take the time to pass on to others, that which we have learned and experienced, at least to those who want to hear. May we learn the lessons of this book and apply the principles that are needed to live “a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty.”
The Proverbs then, gives us a verbal portrait of the wise man. In his character, he is teachable, not a know-it-all. In his daily living, he is committed to righteousness because he fears the Lord. In his nature he is humble, not a proud man who considers himself better than others. He is temperate, not touchy. He has a calm spirit, and though he may be cautious, he moves ahead. With care, he thinks before he acts or speaks. He is not a vindictive person, but knows how to forgive, and is willing to. He is patient, and a person who wants the best for others.
He is committed to the relationships he is in. He values the relationship he has with the Lord, with his/her spouse and with his family, friends and neighbors. His words can be counted on because they are honest and trustworthy. He knows the power and character of his words, and the fact that words can be a great help or cause great hurt. What he has to say is not superficial trivia, but from his heart with careful reflection, he is committed to speaking the truth. These subjects and more are addressed in the book of Proverbs. So, in a general way, we are looking at the book more from a devotional view rather than getting a message from each verse or phrase. Others have done that with great intellectual skill. The point of this is to reach the heart, so that in open devotion to the Lord, we practice these principles of living and experience the joy of doing things God’s way.