Read
How Proverbs
1 These are the proverbs
of King Solomon of Israel,
the son of David.
2Proverbs will teach you
wisdom and self-control
and how to understand
sayings with deep meanings.
3You will learn what is right
and honest and fair.
4From these, an ordinary person
can learn to be smart,
and young people can gain
knowledge and good sense.
5If you are already wise,
you will become even wiser.
And if you are smart,
you will learn to understand
6proverbs and sayings,
as well as words of wisdom,
and all kinds of riddles.
7 Respect and obey the Lord!
This is the beginning
of knowledge.
Only a fool rejects wisdom
and good advice.
Reflect
We all want our lives to be better. A better life comes through making wise decisions. Wise decisions, though, don’t come naturally. They are hard work.
This is the goal of the book of Proverbs. If we study and gain wisdom, we will become better people; with better control over our decisions and a better understanding of the world around us. Whatever we already have, more will be added: “If you are already wise, you will become even wiser. And if you are smart, you will learn to understand” (Proverbs 1:5). We will be equipped to deal with the riddles of life.
Give a hard butterscotch candy to a small child, and they will try to chew it, even if their parents warn them not to. Proverbs are much like butterscotches – if we try to chew them up and quickly digest them, there won’t be much enjoyment. Proverbs are to be slowly savoured, digested over time for maximum effect. In the ancient world, readers would have read proverbs aloud in group settings, amplifying the savouring that occurred.
But unlike butterscotches, the proverbs in the Bible are often bitter not sweet. They are typically warnings, not promises.
We agree we want wisdom – but where do we start? Do we educate ourselves? Or meditate on proverbs? Or find a teacher and sit at their feet?
This is the way many people approach it. Yet, the Bible tells us something different – the place where wisdom begins is with God. Obeying God allows us to tap into God’s wisdom; it is from God that wisdom starts to take root in our lives.
Whatever wisdom we have, may God grant us more, as we obey Him. Whatever understanding we have, may God grant us more, as we respect Him.
Respond
Father God, what you say is trustworthy and true. Please write your word on my heart and cause me to increase in knowledge and wisdom. Teach me your will for me so in all my ways I may truly worship you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Douglas & Noël Estes
Douglas Estes is Assistant Professor of New Testament and Practical Theology and director of the DMin Program at South University—Columbia. Prior to this he was a pastor for 16 years. He has written or edited six books and contributes to a variety of publications including Bible Study Magazine and Christianity Today. His wife Noël was a Marriage and Family Therapist, before making a career of raising their four children and becoming a DMin student. Some recent publications include: Questions and Rhetoric in the Greek New Testament (Zondervan, 2017) and, as co-editor, How John Works (SBL Press, 2016). Also: "The Exoplanets Declare the Glory of God" (Christianity Today, March 2016).