Proverbs 4: 1 to 9 - Wisdom is Supreme

¹ Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction;
pay attention and gain understanding.

² I give you sound learning,
so do not forsake my teaching.

³ When I was a boy in my father's house,
still tender, and an only child of my mother,

⁴ he taught me and said,
"Lay hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands and you will live.

⁵ Get wisdom, get understanding;
do not forget my words or swerve from them.

⁶ Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.

⁷ Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

⁸ Esteem her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.

⁹ She will set a garland of grace on your head
and present you with a crown of splendor."

A father's plea to his son to get wisdom. Wisdom is always portrayed as a woman in the book of Proverbs. This woman is in stark contrast to the foolish woman and the adulterous woman who we are constantly warned to beware of.

Firstly who is this lady called Wisdom? The New Testament reveals to us that 'Wisdom' is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ himself ( Read: 1 Cor 1:24, Colossians 2:3, 1 Cor 1:30). So now how can Wisdom be a woman? The answer is that in both Hebrew and Greek the noun wisdom is feminine (Much like our Indian languages where there may not be a neutral gender.)

These verses urge us to get hold of wisdom though it cost us all we have. Are you truly seeking for wisdom, then go to the one person who is wisdom. Wisdom not of man but of God.

Ref: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+4&version=NIV ; 'Be Wise' by William MacDonald.

Proverbs 3: 27 to 35 - Do Good

²⁷ Do not withhold good from those who deserve it,
when it is in your power to act.

²⁸ Do not say to your neighbor,
"Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow"—
when you now have it with you.

²⁹ Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
who lives trustfully near you.

³⁰ Do not accuse a man for no reason—
when he has done you no harm.

³¹ Do not envy a violent man
or choose any of his ways,

³² for the LORD detests a perverse man
but takes the upright into his confidence.

³³ The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.

³⁴ He mocks proud mockers
but gives grace to the humble.

³⁵ The wise inherit honor,
but fools he holds up to shame.

Ref: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%203&version=NIV

So here I am back again after a really long time. I'm sorry that I sorely neglected this blog after getting caught up in a dozen different things in the past month. The month of April was a busy but wonderful month; I got to spend time teaching children at a VBS, crossed over to the dark side of 20's ;) and joined a writing course that was a long cherished dream but too expensive for me to afford at one time. All along this blog has been at the back of my mind nagging me to write. Today I'm going to quote from William MacDonald's book on Proverbs 'Be Wise'. (my thoughts in italics)

" 27. Here are four verses that begin with the words "Do not..." Do not refuse any inward prompting to do good. It came from the Lord. You miss a great blessing when you fail to act. Have you been putting of some action of good that the Lord has been prompting you to do? we always complain about lack of time or we sit waiting for the right time when now is the right time.

28. Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do for your neighbor today. Tomorrow may be too late. A soul may be lost, a heart may be broken or a life may be ruined.

29. Don't plot against your neighbour. There is something very valuable about the tie between neighbors. Our Lord Jesus goes one step further asking us to love our neighbors, like the good Samaritan.

30. Don't strive with a man who hasn't done anything wrong to you. Inasmuch as possible live at peace with all men (Rom 12:18).

In the last four verses of this chapter, the writer contrast four types of people in whom the Lord finds no delight and four who please him...

34. Those who treat the word of the Lord with scorn and contempt are subject to divine contempt. But he showers humble people with His favor.

35. God will honor those who show their wisdom by trusting and obeying Him. Fools will inherit nothing better than shame and disgrace. We all reap what we sow. "