Have you ever met someone that seemed "simple" and yet when you sat and talked to them you found they were very wise? You can even see it in your kids - they will say something that makes you think about life in a deeper way or they will see life in such a simple way it will open your eyes to something you could't see on your own. That is wisdom - working thru the simple. That is what this chapter is all about. Wisdom calls out to the simple to come to her for understanding and insight. She doesn't turn them away but begs them to come to her and she will help them. I love the honesty these Proverbs show us about our nature and how we can change if we will open our hearts to change and learn and grow.
Wisdom's appeal to the simple
vs 1-6 Wisdom has built her house......she has set everything up and has the table ready and then she begins to call to the simple. "Leave you foolish ways and begin to live....learn to be wise."
vs 7-9 Reprove a scorner and he will hate you...reprove a wise man and he will love you...
You can easily know a person who is seeking wisdom by their response to correction. Arrogance and pride keep us from wisdom!
vs 10-12 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
Wisdome will actually multiply your days and add years to your life. I think it's because you have less stress when you have wisdom working in your life.
vs 13-18 The foolish woman is...... these verses can open our eyes to what "foolishness" looks like. Foolishness loves to pull the righteous from wisdom but all she succeeds in is looking more foolish and drawing the foolish toward her.
The contrasts of Proverbs opens out eyes to the truth. Comparing the "foolish" to "wisdom" shines light on truth. What truth has the Lord enlighten for you? Every time I read this book I am encouraged to think before I speak and to stop before I act and to reevaluate my priorities and ask the Lord how I need to change. I can also see how I have alread changed and how my desires change the more I read this book.
How would you interpret Proverbs 9:12 - If you become wise you will be the one to benefit?
1 comment:
What the Lord spoke to me in verse 9-12 about how we will benefit from wisdom is..
Verse 9--If we are wise, we can receive instruction or correction....we are "teachable". It says "give instruction". Those words mean to "apply a command." We can receive a command with someone, and have a good attitude, but to receive it, we also apply it to our life (or I guess if it doesn't change us then we aren't really receiving it). Correction/instruction comes in so many ways...from the conviction of the Holy Spirit, from "wise counsel" (there is wisdom in the counsel of many), from authority God has placed in our lives (parents, pastors, bosses---and they don't all need to be even Christians for God to use them in our lives.). That word "teach" means to use discernment, Godly knowledge, using care and recognition, being aware, to perceive, etc. That is good instruction to us for when we "teach" or bring "instruction" or correction to someone. We can't just say whatever comes to the top of our minds, and just spew our opinion of someone's circumstance hoping that will change them. We cautiously consider with discernment and recognition, perceiving where someone is at, aware of their circumstance, and bring it in a way they can receive with Godly wisdom and concern.
Verse 10 says fear is the beginning of wisdom. If we don't fear the Lord, then we won't get wisdom. Fearing the Lord is knowing that He sees EVERYTHING. He sees our heart attitudes, our secret actions, everything we do and think. That is the beginning of wisdom.
Verse 11--I love the reward of wisdom, that our days will be multiplied and years added to us. There is a peace that comes with walking in the fear of God, and walking in understanding and wisdom. We don't need to walk in insecurity, in fear of man, in stress, in trying to work it all out ourselves. We trust in Him, and exercise wisdom, and we don't need to live in any regret. I am with pastor susan, letting some stress go probably adds years in itself!
I thought verse 12 was interesting too....if you are wise, you are wise for yourself. If you scoff, you will bear it alone. If we are wise women, we have wisdom at work in our lives. If we throw it out, scoff at wisdom, if we reject wisdom and the messengers who bring wisdom, then we go it all alone. I don't like that at all...I don't like having to figure things out all alone all the time, and that is not God's heart either. He loves it when we come around, along side, and surround ourselves with others to walk with us.
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