Joshua 1:8 AMP This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.
- God is the source of all wisdom.
- The reverence of God is the beginning of Wisdom.
- Knowledge is taking in the Word of God.
- Wisdom is the correct application of knowledge from God’s Word.
- Wisdom comes when we ask God for it.
- The way that we retain wisdom is to meditate on God’s Word.
Proverbs 1:1-2 NKJV The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: (2) To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding,
chokmâh (khok-maw’) wisdom (in a good sense): – skillful, wisdom, wisely, wit. Literally means to pound it in!
How did you learn the multiplication tables? You pounded it in to your thinking and consciousness.
- A Proverb is a two line poem.
Hebrew: Mashal (maw-shawl) properly a pithy maxim, usually of a metaphorical nature; hence a simile (as an adage, poem, discourse), a rule or a standard.
A stick that we use to stabilize a plant – something that does not change that will cause the plant to grow in the direction that we want it to.
Proverbs 1:1-7 NKJV The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: (2) To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding, (3) To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity; (4) To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion– (5) A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, (6) To understand a proverb and an enigma (the interpretation), The words of the wise and their riddles. (7) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
There are six types of Proverbs:
- Synonymous Proverb – both lines are saying basically the same thing but in a little different way.
Proverbs 3:13 NKJV Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding;
Proverbs 11:25 NKJV The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.
Proverbs 11:30 NKJV The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise.
- Antithetical Proverb – the thought is presented in the first line and the negative result is presented in the second line
Proverbs 14:30 NKJV A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is rottenness to the bones.
(Bones is mentioned several time in Proverbs because your blood is produced by your bones and if you have healthy bones, you will have a healthy life.)
Proverbs 17:22 NKJV A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.
Proverbs 15:5 NKJV A fool despises his father’s instruction, But he who receives correction is prudent. (wise in practical things)
- Synthetic Proverb – Both lines have a different thought but there is something in common in the thoughts.
Proverbs 10:18 NKJV Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, And whoever spreads slander is a fool.
- Integral Proverb – the second line completes the thought of the first.
Proverbs 13:14 NKJV The law of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death.
Proverbs 19:20 NKJV Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days.
Proverbs 22:6 NKJV Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:10 NKJV Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave; Yes, strife and reproach will cease.
Proverbs 22:15 NKJV Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him.
- Parabolic Proverb – the first line illustrates the second line
Proverbs 11:22 NKJV As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, So is a lovely woman who lacks discretion.
Proverbs 11:22 MSG Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful face on an empty head.
Proverbs 25:25 NKJV As cold water to a weary soul, So is good news from a far country.
Proverbs 26:9 NKJV Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Proverbs 26:20 NKJV Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.
Proverbs 26:20 NIV Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.
Proverbs 27:15 NIV A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;
Proverbs 27:15 CEV The steady dripping of rain and the nagging of a wife are one and the same.
- Comparative Proverb – the first line tells us something better than the second
Proverbs 15:16-17 NKJV Better is a little with the fear of the LORD, Than great treasure with trouble. (17) Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred.
Proverbs 17:1 NKJV Better is a dry morsel with quietness, Than a house full of feasting with strife.
Proverbs 21:9 NKJV Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
Go back to Proverbs 1:
Proverbs 1:2 NKJV To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding,
Wisdom – the correct application or the use of knowledge.
Once we get knowledge we must convert it to wisdom.
James 1:5 NKJV If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
This verse does not say to ask God for knowledge. We have the responsibility to gain that. Wisdom to correctly apply knowledge comes from God.
The knowledge of God’s Word will not help you until you begin to walk it out. Help me to be a doer of the Word of God.
Instruction – actually means “discipline”
Understanding – revealing of the knowledge that we have – “connecting of the dots”
Proverbs 1:3 NKJV The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: (2) To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding, (3) To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity;
Justice – treat people fairly in a just manner in life.
Judgment – Knowing what to say “yes” and “no” to.
Equity: – Keeping a smooth, right flow in your life.
Proverbs 1:4 NKJV To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion—
Prudence to the simple – naïve, common sense to the naïve or immature person
Proverbs 1:4 GNB They can make an inexperienced person clever and teach young people how to be resourceful.
Proverbs 1:4 MSG To teach the inexperienced the ropes and give our young people a grasp on reality.
Discretion – the ability to look at a situation and assess it and make the right decisions.
Proverbs 1:5 NKJV A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
A wise man will HEAR and increase learning. Always have an attitude the hear what God is saying, no matter how often you have heard the subject before.
You can never have enough wisdom!