Proverbs 1:6-10

 

Prov 1:6 (KJB)

To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

 

To understand - To bring into insight or to discern

Interpretation - A figure of speech or an allegory

Dark sayings - Riddle, allegory, or difficult saying

 

The third reason Proverbs was penned was to give students the ability to study the Scriptures and to discern the truths which are sometimes hidden in the passages. Some proverbs are easy to understand while some require time to study them to get the full import. An allegory in the Bible is considered an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Paul used allegory in Galatians 4. These dark sayings become illuminated when we study them through the eyes of the indwelling Holy Spirit. (John 16:13 KJV) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. The Holy Spirit will give the true believer insight in all parts of the Bible including Proverbs. Once we understand these sayings, they increase our wisdom mightily.

 

Prov 1:7 (KJB)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

 

Despise - To regard with contempt

 

Here Solomon tells us that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. The fear which is in view here is not the type of fear one might have who is afraid of someone but here it is referring to one who has obedience or is in awe of God’s magnificence. Once we begin to see God as awesome, we begin to start knowing things about Him and His creation and within the context of those two things our knowledge of God begins to grow and then the natural outgrowth of that is we begin to grow. On the other hand the fool regards wisdom and instruction with contempt. No one is going to show them anything because they know it all. Isn’t it something when we are young, we see our parents as ignorant and senseless and as we grow older we begin to see how wise many of them really were. Young people should begin, as soon as possible, to learn to love wisdom and instruction. It makes the difference between living a proper and ordered life and one that is fragmented which normally leads to destruction.

 

Prov 1:8 (KJB)

My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

 

Law - Instruction (Torah)

 

We all know that the Torah is the first five books of Moses and here God is counseling us to hear the instruction or discipline of our fathers and never to disregard the Torah or instruction of our mothers. Many times we do not understand at the time why parents do certain things but sometimes it becomes apparent why they do the things they do. Spiritually speaking we must never forsake the teachings of Scripture which are given to us by the Father and we must never forsake the law of our Mother. (Gal 4:26 KJV) But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. In Galatians 4:26, we read that the heavenly Jerusalem above is the mother of us all. The name Jerusalem means “city of peace.” Here Paul is stating that the Jerusalem which is above is free and the mother of all those under salvation by grace alone. The Bible speaks of the heavenly Jerusalem as being the body of believers. (Heb 12:22 KJV) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, He speaks of it being the mother and a mother gives birth and that is what happens every time one of the Elect becomes saved, it is like a mother giving birth. Here the mother of us all gives birth to another Elect saved by grace. So the earthly Jerusalem is identified with the bondage of the law and the heavenly Jerusalem, otherwise know as spiritual Jerusalem, is identified with the freedom of salvation by grace alone without having to keep any of the tenets of the law. Believers have an earthly mother and a heavenly mother with an earthly father and a Heavenly Father.

 

Prov 1:9 (KJB)

For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

 

When children are obeying their parents, they are likened to expensive pieces of jewelry which are displayed proudly on a conspicuous place on the body. The head and neck are very visible to everyone and when there is beautiful jewelry adorning these parts, they are openly being displayed in all their beauty. It is like children who are obedient to their parents, the parents put them on display because they are like valuable jewelry in God’s kingdom. They start out early in life with a life of wisdom in contrast to the fool who disobeys their parents and begins a life of self-destruction and embarrassment to their parents. These ornaments portray the beauty of wisdom’s benefits. The fool will come to poverty but the wise will be adorned with honor and with increased wisdom as they continue to seek it. (Prov 13:18 KJV) Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

 

Prov 1:10 (KJB)

My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

 

Entice - Try to persuade you

Consent thou not - Do not be willing

 

Here is one of the most straightforward warnings in the Bible. If an unsaved person tries to persuade you to sin, do not be willing to forsake wisdom and go with them. There are people who see others prospering in the Lord’s work and immediately Satan tries to hinder them by sending others to try and tempt them. We must use the example of Nehemiah. (Neh 6:3 KJV) And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? Sanballat and Geshem wanted Nehemiah to meet with them in one of the villages in the plain of Ono. The plain of Ono was about 30 miles northwest of Jerusalem. This means Nehemiah would have had to travel about 1 ½ days each way and who knows what fate would have met him there by the hand of his enemies. Nehemiah used much wisdom because he knew his enemies wanted the work to stop at Jerusalem. It is the same today as Satan tries to hinder the work of the Kingdom of God by diverting Christians. I cannot tell you how many times I have started to write something and then the phone rings. Here Solomon is warning that if sinners try to divert you from what you are doing in the Kingdom, do not be willing to go with them because the works you are doing will suffer and eventually will be put on the shelf and the work will not get done. Solomon knows that when sinners come knocking on our door, we can either choose to follow and sin or close the door and continue in obedience.

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