1:1 tells us that the chapters we are about to read were written by king Solomon. The word that is going to come up more than any other is ‘wisdom'. In 1 Kings 3 we find how the Lord gave Solomon great wisdom (v.13) above any other man. This had very practical out-workings and he became the richest man in the world as the result. This wisdom could not be contained and so it was natural for him to want to record and pass on some of the things he had learned.

Mind not Heart

Psalms are songs of the heart. Proverbs are teachings for the mind. Yes, the heart will be transformed if we really take in these chapters, but it has first to be a mind thing. With that in mind, we need to understand from the outset that these chapters are pure teaching and we should not even study them unless we are ready to be taught by the Lord and have our minds transformed to become conformed to His. Because they are fairly intense and not what many of us are used to, we will be providing ‘Recaps' after every chapter, to start with at least.

The Structure & Content

The structure of this set of studies is as follows:

Ch.1	"Introduction & Warning"
Ch.2	"Conditions and Benefits of Wisdom"
Ch.3	"More Benefits of Wisdom "
Ch.4	"The Supremacy of Wisdom"
Ch.5-7	"Expanded Warnings"
Ch. 8 & 9	"Wisdom Personified"

As we have already noted above, and you can see from these headings, the word that is going to come up again and again is 'wisdom'. What is wisdom? Well these chapters will tell you. In general wisdom is found in a dictionary, described as "the ability to make right use of knowledge" or, if that sounds a bit heavy, "knowing how to do things in life".

Perhaps another way of putting it is, "knowing how to live". When we come on in the next Series of studies to the proverbs themselves in chapter 10 on, the heading we'll put over them is, "How Life Works". When we look at modern life in Western nations especially, we see how life doesn't work! The reason for it is spelled out by Solomon: wisdom starts with God! So, where we have a nation that has largely turned away from God, we'll find a nation where there is social and moral upheaval.

These chapters are almost a many-faceted essay by Solomon about wisdom, why we need it, how we get it, and what happens when we don't have it. Wisdom starts with knowing and understanding God's design for human living, and then applying it. That is what these chapters are all about.

At various points you may be tempted to feel, "This is heavy", but when you feel that, ask the Lord afresh for help and press on. When you see the whole package you will see the wonder of these writings. These studies WILL take effort and do require perseverance, but if you stick with them, you will find them immensely rewarding.

Part 1 : “Introduction & Warning”

Chapter 1 first of all gives us the reasons for, or usefulness of, Proverbs. This is followed by a statement that occurs a number of times, that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. This is followed by a warning not to get enticed away into bad company and a warning against rejecting wisdom. From the outset we'll see that God is at the heart of wisdom, but bad behaviour is the fruit of the absence of wisdom. Wisdom, we'll see therefore, is essential to keep us on the right path with the Lord - and comes from the Lord.

Chapter: Proverbs 1

Passage: Proverbs 1:1-4

A. Find out :

1. Whose Proverbs are these? v.1

2. What do they first attain? v.2a

3. What do they bring understanding to? v.2b

4. What sort of life do they bring? v.3a

5. What does that entail? v.3b

6. What else do they bring and so whom? v.4

B. Think:

1. What do you already know of Solomon?

2. How does Solomon seem to have a clears purpose in writing?

3. What is his objective?

C. Comment:

The temptation is just to skim over these verses but we miss a wealth of truth if we do. They are verses written by a man who was described as the wisest man in all the world.(1 Kings 4:30 ,31)

First of all note that Solomon records these proverbs with a purpose – to bring a better life. They are first of all to bring wisdom (v.2a) which simply means “the knowledge how to” which applied here means the knowledge how to live a good life. That life will be a disciplined or self-controlled life (v.2a,3a). Many people live lives that are out of control where they are dominated by passions or circumstances. Solomon has an alternative in mind.

These proverbs will also bring words of insight, (v.2b) words that will come bringing deep intuitive awareness of the truths of life. As a result of this the individual will live a life that is right, just & fair, (v.3b) i.e. they will be good people in the way they live with other people. Those who are simple (ordinary) will receive prudence, (v.4a) the ability to distinguish wise and good paths for themselves while young people (v.4b) will learn knowledge and discretion, a wise caution in all matters.

Each of these characteristics challenge us about the nature of the life we live. Proverbs are means to provoke us to better living.

D. Application:

1. Am I careless about the type of life I lead?

2. Is my life characterised by a self controlled awareness of what is good

and right so I am able to distinguish wise and good paths for my feet?

Chapter: Proverbs 1

Passage: Proverbs 1:5-7

A. Find out :

1. Who should listen and why? v.5a

2. Who else should get what? v.5b

3. To understand what four things? v.6

4. What is the beginning of real knowledge? v.7a

5. What do fools despise? v.7b

B. Think:

1. How will the wise and discerning get benefit from the proverbs?

2. Why do you think fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge?

3. Why do you think fools (see Bible footnote) despise wisdom?

C. Comment:

As Solomon continues this list of benefits that come from this book we find he turns to a gentle challenge (v.5), “Let the wise…”, i.e. wise people, you will do well to read these proverbs for they will add to the learning you already have. Note here a direct link seen in Solomon's eyes between wisdom and learning, the one should follow the other, or should at least resource the other (it is possible to have much learning but still not be wise!). Wise people and discerning people are probably the same. Discernment is an aspect of wisdom – it is the searching ability to distinguish between good and evil, thus through the proverbs the discerning person will be guided.

Then Solomon returns to the list of benefits from these proverbs (v.6) – simply, they will help understand all forms of indirect teaching – proverbs, parables, sayings and riddles, i.e. they will bring clarity to all these other forms of teaching found in the world.

Finally he makes this all-encompassing statement about the fear of the Lord. This fear is simply an awesome respect for God that puts God first in all issues. Knowledge starts with God and ends with God. If it is not related to God it is incomplete, only partial. Morally deficient people (fools) of course object to instruction of any kind because they prefer doing their own thing! May we not be that assort of person, but one who seeks God for His wisdom!

D. Application:

1. Do I seek to be a wise person? Do I have a teachable heart?

2. Do I understand that God has to be the start and finish of everything

in my life?

Chapter: Proverbs 1

Passage: Proverbs 1:8-15

A. Find out :

1. Who does Solomon tell what to do? v.8

2. How will these things appear? v.9

3. What does he warn not to do? v.10

4. What might they say? v.11,12

5. What will be the enticement? v.13,14

6. What does he tell his son not to do? v.15

B. Think:

1. Why does he say to accept teaching?

2. What sort of sinners does he first warn against?

3. What, again, will be the enticement?

C. Comment:

In the first two verses of this passage, Solomon counsels his son to have a teachable heart. Whether is his own son (of whom he had many) or young people in general doesn't matter. If you listen to your parents' teaching, he says, it will enhance your life. The effect of receiving that teaching will be visible! The head is the place of knowledge and wisdom will be visible in this young person's life. The neck is the place of authority, where seals or chains of office are worn. Thus this teaching will create in authority or nobleness in this young person.

In the following verses he devotes himself to his first warning, against violent people who may seek to draw the young person into a “let's get rich quick without work” mentality. There are unpleasant people out there, he says, who have no scruples and have no qualms about mugging innocent people and taking what they have. Mugging is not a twenty first century phenomena! Mugging is an easy way to get money and that is its charm to the evil person.

Although the illustration is one of violence, mugging can mean taking advantage of any weaker person. The call is not to take advantage of any other person for personal gain, a call sadly needed today. Taking advantage can be in many different forms, but we are simply to avoid any and every appearance of doing that.

D. Application:

1. Have I a teachable heart?

2. Do I have a get something for nothing attitude?

3. Do I take advantage of other people?

Chapter: Proverbs 1

Passage: Proverbs 1:15-19

A. Find out :

1. What is the son not to do? v.15

2. Where do the feet of sinners take them? v.16

3. What does he say is useless? v.17

4. What does he say these people actually do? v.18

5. Whose end will it always be? v.19a

6. What happens to them? v.19b

B. Think:

1. Who was the “them” of verse 15a?

2. What does Solomon say is their objective?

3. But what does he say is their end?

C. Comment:

In verses 10 to 14 Solomon explained the enticement for the young person: the temptation of get rich quick through violence. Now he reiterates his plea in verse 15 that he gave in verse 10: don't go with them. What follows is his warning of the outcome of such folly.

In verse 16 he reiterates their intention: to use violence to achieve their ends. This is all they see, but for the rest of the world the whole thing is as obvious as a bird catcher putting his net out in full view of the birds (v.17) and that is stupid. The rest of us can see how obviously stupid this course of action is, but the people involved in it just can't see it. There is an old saying that “those who live by the sword, die by the sword” and that's really what Solomon is saying here. If you enter into a life of violence, that violence will come back on your own head in a variety of ways.

First there is the possible violence that may come from people defending themselves.

Second, there is the violence of the Law taking action against you.

Third, there so often tends to be violence among the violent, violent people are so often violent to other violent people.

Fourth, a violent attitude is self destructive, you own personality is warped and certainly there can be no spiritual life where there is a violent heart. Spiritual death, if not physical death, is a very real outcome to a life of violence.

D. Application:

1. Do we have the fruit of gentleness? (Gal 5:22,23)

2. Can we see the folly of sin, of it's practical out workings of death?

Chapter: Proverbs 1

Passage: Proverbs 1:20-27

A. Find out :

1. In what 4 places does wisdom do what? v.20,21

2. What 3 groups are chided for what? v.22

3. What would wisdom have done when? v.23

4. What had they done? v.24,25

5. What will wisdom do when? v.27,27

B. Think:

1. How does Solomon personify “wisdom”?

2. Where is wisdom both needed and seen?

3. What is the folly of rejecting wisdom?

C. Comment:

Solomon personifies wisdom, calling her ‘she', and envisions her calling out at key points in the life of the city - in the streets generally (in ordinary daily interaction), in squares (in meeting places), at the gates (the places then of local governing). In life generally, when we come together and when authority seeks to rule, says Solomon, wisdom is needed and cries out to be heard and applied. We need wisdom (the knowledge of “how to do life”) all the time.

But then he recognises there are various people who don't care about wisdom – simple people, people who delight in their ignorance, then mockers, those who deride right thinking, and finally fools, those who are simply stupid because they are foolish, doing foolish things, thinking foolishly, ignoring God and His ways and laws.

All wisdom comes from God and God calls out to people continuously to heed His ways, yet many reject Him. If they had turned and listened and responded He would have gladly poured out His heart to them (as He did to us) but they refused to listen, so He rebukes them and still they refuse to listen. In this fallen world things WILL go wrong and at those times such people will fall. In the New Testament, Jesus' parable about the wise and foolish man (Mt 7:24 -27) mirrors this. Wisdom is freely available if we heed or seek God (James 1:5). Failure to do so means our eventual downfall.

D. Application:

1. Am I aware of my daily need for wisdom? Do I ask for it?

2. Do I heed what God says and live by it?

Chapter: Proverbs 1

Passage: Proverbs 1:28-33

A. Find out :

1. What will not happen? v.28

2. Why? v.29,30

3. What will be the consequences? v.31

4. How will they be destroyed? v.32

5. What will be the fruit of listening to God? v.33

B. Think:

1. What is the first stage of this downward process?

2. How is God's decision the second stage?

3. What is the outcome?

C. Comment:

Within these verses is a very clear pattern or process. First of all there is a hardness of heart in individuals who hate knowledge and fail to respect God (v.29). They ignore God's advice and even ignore His rebuke (v.30). The first stage of the process is the clear choice of foolish men. Our call is to avoid hardness of heart!

The second stage of the process is frightening! God allows them to do it and steps back so they reap the fruit of it. The second stage is the choice of God. We must always remember that God gives us free will, the right to choose our course of action. Beware!

The third stage is catastrophe coming. This may be an outside event or circumstances or it may simply be the outworking of the folly of the people in question (v.31). The waywardness of the simple (v.32) is the going off the track of righteousness by those who refuse to think and consider. Destruction is the end. Fools are complacent and say, “It will be all right!” and of course it isn't. They too are destroyed. In this last stage they cry out for help but by then it is too late, the pattern has been set and their cry is one for help, not of repentance. They are left with the fruit of their folly.

To contrast all this, Solomon finishes (v.33) with the affirmation that those who listen and respond to God will know security and protection. Having a living relationship with God has very practical outworking.

D. Application:

1. The key is will I listen to God from the outset.

2. It is never too late for repentance.

RECAP - "Introduction & Warning" - Proverbs 1

SUMMARY :

In this first group of 6 studies we have seen Solomon :

- state the benefits of using the Proverbs (v.1-6)

- declare that all wisdom starts with God (v.7)

- warn his son against being enticed away (v.8-10)

- warn against violent muggers (v.11-19)

- declare the need for wisdom in every area of life (v.20,21)

- rebuke the simple, mockers and fools (v.22,23)

- warn them that disaster will overcome them (v.24-32)

- declare that the wise will listen and learn. (v.33)

COMMENT :

This first chapter gives reasons for the need of these Proverbs and the need for wisdom. They give us the things we need for a good life, and this is contrasted by the harsh lives of the violent or the stupid lives of the foolish. We choose what sort of people we will be. This teaching helps us be clear about it. It has been a chapter of teaching and of warning, and that is what we will find in each of these early chapters of this book. It is one thing to know but it is another thing to do. We must make sure we are doing people as well as knowing people.

LESSONS?

1. I am called to be aware of the quality of my lifestyle.

2. I am to have a teachable yearning heart if I am to respond.

3. I am to have a gentle heart not a violent one.

4. It is folly to ignore these things.

5. All wisdom comes from God. I need Him.

PRAY :

Thank the Lord that He willingly gives wisdom (Jas 1:5). Ask Him to help you have an open, teachable heart. Ask for wisdom for the day and week that is ahead of you.

PART 2 : "Conditions for and Benefits of Wisdom"

In the next Chapter, Solomon first gives conditions for us to receive wisdom, then declares that all the fruits of wisdom come from God, and then gives a number of things that wisdom will do for you. We will see that wisdom is essential for our lives, and we would do well to heed these verses and really take them to heart.