Proverbs chapters 1-9. Fresh Thinking for Youngsters and their Parents
A teenager was becoming frustrated with everything. Others seemed to be having happy relationships but not her. Others were getting into the netball, hockey and tennis teams but not her. Her life was a drudgery, she wanted to live and have excitements as others seem to. Then an older school friend invited her to a party with boys, booze and some drugs. A sense of rebellion took her along and it was such fun. Boys seemed interested in her, she felt relaxed, though that might have been that cigarette someone offered her or perhaps that pill. This was the life – so liberating! The problem was that this started a downhill spiral. She couldn’t be bothered with school work any more, other activities were much more fun. Her new friends seemed intent on enjoying themselves, even if they went beyond what was normally considered good moral behaviour. But so what – it was fun. Then she became pregnant and about the same time was referred to a drug addiction unit.
Too often discontented people will fall into gratifying their wants with short term remedies such as drugs, alcohol, promiscuity, greed or just taking life easy. They are forms of escapism or running away.
This all sounds very modern but it is nothing new. King Solomon (970 -931 BC) wrote to his son, who was facing similar temptations. His advice is found in the opening nine chapters of his book of Proverbs. The advice given is so needed today but unfortunately it is seldom taught any more in our schools. It is even too seldom taught in our churches, whose prime role should be to teach people the whole Word of God. Paul wrote to Titus,
“You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.” Titus 2:1
The Concern of the book of Proverbs
In 1997 Tony Blair was elected as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and he declared that the priorities of his government would be ‘education, education, education.’ This is also the theme of Solomon in these chapters, although he regards education as being more about helping people make right decisions than about accruing information for exams. What did he want for his son?
“ . . . for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair.” Proverbs 1:3
His starting point is that there is an ultimate authority from whom everything else of value stems. When this authority is rejected, it is a short step to rejecting all authority and it is then easy to follow anything that satisfies emotional needs.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Proverbs 1:7
To ‘fear the Lord’ is to accept his authority over our lives. Solomon insists that ultimately the wisdom he wants to share with his son is derived from God who has revealed this to all people in his Word.
“For the LORD gives wisdom and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:6
This is the underlying teaching of the whole Bible, both Old and New Testaments – God has spoken to us through His Word. Paul wrote to Timothy,
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of god may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16
The end of this section in Proverbs has a similar message,
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10
No person can be wise who has not steeped themselves in God’s word. It is here that we can find a knowledge of God, it is here that we can learn about the man who is the incarnation of God. If anyone wants to discover God’s truths there is no better place to start that by reading John’s description of the life of Jesus. We cannot fear God unless we have first learned about him.
The basis of Solomon’s world-view is that mankind is under the authority of our creator and God.
“By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place.” Proverbs 3:19
Yet today there are some in influential positions who disagree, saying ‘There is no God – we are on our own.’ In an interview with the Guardian newspaper the late eminent physicist, Stephen Hawking, said,
“Heaven is a fairy tale for people afraid of the dark.”
In response Prof John Lennox, of Oxford University, addressing a Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast quipped,
“If religion is a fairy tale of those afraid of the dark, then atheism is a fairy tale of those opposed to the light.”
Jesus called himself, ‘the light of the world’ and any study of the effects he has had in the world will confirm that he has been a great light. Reject God and it is extremely difficult to derive a logical and moral world view.
The Russian philosopher, Vladimir Solvyov sarcastically questioned the ethical reasoning of secular humanism in the following way,
“Man descended from apes, therefore we must love each other.”
It is difficult for the atheist to explain why, if it was natural for the strong to eat the weak in the past, that people aren’t allowed to do this today? There is something in us that rejects such behaviour. Could it be that we are made in the image of God with his values installed in us?
Alternative ethical systems rely on coercion in some way, the driving forces coming from either a threatening dictatorial system or control of the media by strong people, sometimes religious. Solomon clearly wants children to be raised in a family environment where there is a clear understanding that there is right and wrong and that these are God’s values. The wisdom that Solomon wants to impart to his son is the same wisdom that brought about the creation of the world – it is God’s wisdom. Just before the above verse that describes how the Lord’s wisdom and understanding brought the world into existence, comes the following,
“Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding.” Proverbs 3:13
It is clear that in Solomon’s mind there is a link between God having wisdom and understanding that enabled him to create our world and our admiration and need of these qualities. God created our world rationally and with purpose; it is not chaotic, random and meaningless. It is only God who gives us significance in our short lives and for Solomon this God is knowable.
Proverbs 3:1-12 gives an overview of what Solomon is wanting to share. There are six directives and each is associated with a consequence. It is striking that the last five all directly refer to God or the Lord, this is the perspective of the wise person. There is no separation of secular life from religious life. Both are intimately associated; the fear of God results in loving caring relationships and trust. The rejection of God results inevitably, within one or two generations, in a rejection of wise living. In contrast a personal faith in God results in a new way of living. Faith:
“. . . sees each moment as the Lord’s time, each relationship as the Lord’s opportunity, each duty as the Lord’s command, and each blessing as the Lord’s gift.”1
Two Voices
So often young children will make demands of others by saying ‘I want’. For too many of us this continues into adolescence and even adulthood. Our ‘wants’ take precedence over what is right. Solomon starts these nine chapters by urging his son to listen to the wisdom he is sharing with him and not to succumb to the temptation of his sensual appetites. Sensual needs are God-given but should only be satisfied within God’s parameters. The book of Proverbs is educational; the often repeated refrain, ‘Hear, my son,” makes this clear. Wisdom such as this is mainly imbibed in the home from both mother and father. The book of Proverbs is unique when compared to ancient Middle Eastern literature in that it twice mentions the role of both mother and father and is a reminder that instruction in the home has always been fundamental for God’s people.
“Listen, my son to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.” Proverbs 1:8
The basis of Solomon’s advice is that there are clear links between our actions and their consequences. Behave ‘foolishly’ and we will reap disaster. Wisdom is the ability to live as God wants and the results will be beneficial. Wisdom is repeatedly contrasted with folly.
“ . . . but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Proverbs 1:7
Solomon realises that although temptations to veer off the right path are strong there is in all people an inner voice recognising that there still is a right or wise path:
“Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud, ‘To you, O men, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind. You who are simple gain prudence,; you who are foolish gain understanding.” Proverbs 8:1-5
The quest to be wise is not an easy one – it involves hard work. Solomon compares this desire to the quest of silver miners or other treasure hunters to obtain what they most desire:
“If you call out for wisdom and cry out aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:3-5
Temptations
Solomon recognises that there are many temptations that will draw us away from God and his path:
Laziness
We are often tempted to live a life of ease – and laziness leads to poverty. A lazy man robs himself of his time, his talents, his income and his potential. Solomon points out that in God’s natural world there are glorious examples that we should learn from.
“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise . . . How long will you lie there you sluggard? Will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little holding of the hands to rest – and poverty will come on you like a bandit . . .” Proverbs 6:6-10
Sexual Promiscuity
This is a recurring theme in these chapters. Solomon keeps returning to it, suggesting it was a major problem in his day. How we need to hear this today with promiscuous sex being so common and destructive. It comes in many forms but all are linked, a person who is addicted to pornography, which is ‘virtual prostitution’, is all too likely to engage in real promiscuous relationships. These are all strongly addictive, as Solomon recognised all those years ago.
“The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of sin hold him fast. He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly.” Proverbs 5:22-23
We think no-one can see the wrong-doings undertaken in the dark. How wrong that is. We may delude some around us for a short time, but not God. In one of the sections addressing the problem of the allurement of a seductive woman, Solomon reminds his son,
“For a man’s ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all his paths. The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of sin hold him fast.” Proverbs 5:21
In God’s eyes there is clearly a right way to behave, with awful consequences for these who deviate from this path. Just as the Lord set boundaries in the natural world, so he has set boundaries for our behaviour.
“ . . . when he gave the sea its boundary so that the waters would not overstep his command . . . Now, my son, listen to me; blessed are those who do keep my ways.” Proverbs 8:29
Throughout the Bible, adultery is a term used both for marital infidelity and spiritual infidelity. In view of Solomon’s repeated refrain that wisdom is of God, it is likely that he is also warning his son, and us, against turning our backs on the one true God. Jesus called the pseudo-religious of his day a ‘wicked and adulterous generation” (Matthew 12:39). James also warned us,
“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred towards God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” James 4:4
Money
Solomon warns his son against making the acquisition of money more important than doing what is right. How many rich business men today need to understand this! In Proverbs 1:10-19 a young man is seduced by friends into getting rich by unscrupulous, criminal ways. The promised returns are high but the pickings are poisonous fruit.
“These men lie in wait for their own blood; they waylay only themselves! Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it.” Proverbs 1:18-19
The decision to follow a godless path will not only destroy individuals and families but will also destroy the fabric of societies. Few people know the opposite of ‘integrity’. One answer is ‘dis-integrity’ or ‘disintegration’. ‘Integrity’ is doing what is right in God’s eyes; failure to live this way inevitably results in the disintegration of personal, family and eventually a nations life. History has confirmed this again and again. The Roman Empire collapsed essentially because integrity was lost.
The Benefits of Wisdom
Solomon recognised that those people who had lived ‘wisely’ were more contented as well as successful. In contrast the plight others faced were, at least in part, contributed to by foolish actions in the past and too often these past mistakes are compounded by continued foolish decisions. Yet is is never too late to start again on God’s path. Wisdom is the ability to make sound judgments, discerning the right from the wrong and wisdom is a gift of God that he loves to share.
Insomnia is a symptom of a restless person. Solomon noted that wisdom was associated with good sleep because the heart is at rest - that person knows they are in God’s hands and that he cares.
“My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be life for you . . . then you will go on your way safely, and your foot will not stumble; when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs 3:21-24
Illness, death and other disasters are inevitable in life but the ‘wise’ remain secure. Solomon clearly recognises that his Lord is personal and cares deeply for the eternal welfare of his own people.
“Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.” Proverbs 3:25-26
Besides the emotional benefits, there will be secondary fiscal benefits because the wise man is trusted and appreciated by others.
No wonder Solomon pleads with youngsters and there parents to make wisdom, the fear of the Lord, their priority in life.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and knowledge.” Proverbs 1:7
BVP
1 Hubbard D A ‘Proverbs’, The Communicator’s Commentary, Word Books, p 48
