Neal's Blog

Proverbs was written by King David (yes David and Goliath, that David’s son Solomon).  Solomon was told by God, if I remember correctly, that he could ask for anything that his heart desired.  He ask for wisdom.

I’m reminded in the first 6 verses, no matter how old I am, I should always be open to learning something new.  In the computer field that changes daily, this can get really tiring.  It is much easier to “rest” on current technology instead of reading about upcoming technologies.

In the next verses 7 to 19, I’m reminded to put God first.  I believe we are to submit to God, he should be number one in our life.  Submit is such a “bad” term in today’s society.  It sounds like weakness.  I believe it is just the opposite, when done in the proper context. It shows strength, in the ability to tame unbridled passions that tend to usually get us in trouble.  I’m also reminded of the important lessons that I learned growing up, how to treat people, how to work, how to be responsible, how to have fun, all of which I learned from my parents.

I hadn’t read “The Message’s” translation of this passage yet, and found the rest of the verbiage in this section rather funny.  The point is pretty clear, if our close friends are dragging us down, if they aren’t encouraging us for the good, then we don’t need to be around them.

The next set of verses, 20-33 warn against rejecting wisdom.  What person, in their right mind would reject wisdom?  Easily said, but pride, stubbornness, selfishness, can and have cause me and others that I know to rejected advice throughout my life.  Advice, that I know is wise advice, advice that has come from someone that has experienced life, learned from their mistakes, and become wiser from what they’ve learned, and is trying to prevent me from making the same mistakes as them. Yet I chose to not listen.

In the NIV translation, Simpletons (The Message’s word) is called “simple ones.”The Hebrew word rendered simple in Proverbs generally denotes one without moral direction and inclined to evil.  I would like to think that is not me, or most of the people that I know that reject wisdom.  But are we just as “ignorant” as someone that has no moral direction, for not listening?  Interesting question?

33, is a reminder what wisdom can bring

“but whoever listens to me [wisdom] will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.” Proverbs 1:33 (NIV)

A Manual for Living

1-6 These are the wise sayings of Solomon, David’s son, Israel’s king—Written down so we’ll know how to live well and right, to understand what life means and where it’s going; A manual for living, for learning what’s right and just and fair; To teach the inexperienced the ropes and give our young people a grasp on reality.
There’s something here also for seasoned men and women, still a thing or two for the experienced to learn—
Fresh wisdom to probe and penetrate, the rhymes and reasons of wise men and women.

Start with God

7 Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.

8-19 Pay close attention, friend, to what your father tells you; never forget what you learned at your mother’s knee.
Wear their counsel like flowers in your hair, like rings on your fingers. Dear friend, if bad companions tempt you,
don’t go along with them. If they say—”Let’s go out and raise some hell.

Let’s beat up some old man, mug some old woman.
Let’s pick them clean and get them ready for their funerals.
We’ll load up on top-quality loot.
We’ll haul it home by the truckload.

Join us for the time of your life!
With us, it’s share and share alike!”— Oh, friend, don’t give them a second look; don’t listen to them for a minute.
They’re racing to a very bad end, hurrying to ruin everything they lay hands on.
Nobody robs a bank with everyone watching, Yet that’s what these people are doing—they’re doing themselves in.
When you grab all you can get, that’s what happens: the more you get, the less you are.

Lady Wisdom

20-21 Lady Wisdom goes out in the street and shouts. At the town center she makes her speech.
In the middle of the traffic she takes her stand. At the busiest corner she calls out:

22-24 “Simpletons! How long will you wallow in ignorance? Cynics! How long will you feed your cynicism?
Idiots! How long will you refuse to learn?

About face! I can revise your life. Look, I’m ready to pour out my spirit on you; I’m ready to tell you all I know.
As it is, I’ve called, but you’ve turned a deaf ear; I’ve reached out to you, but you’ve ignored me.

25-28 “Since you laugh at my counsel and make a joke of my advice, How can I take you seriously?
I’ll turn the tables and joke about your troubles!
What if the roof falls in, and your whole life goes to pieces?
What if catastrophe strikes and there’s nothing to show for your life but rubble and ashes?
You’ll need me then. You’ll call for me, but don’t expect an answer.
No matter how hard you look, you won’t find me.

29-33 “Because you hated Knowledge and had nothing to do with the Fear-of-God,
Because you wouldn’t take my advice and brushed aside all my offers to train you,
Well, you’ve made your bed—now lie in it; you wanted your own way—now, how do you like it?
Don’t you see what happens, you simpletons, you idiots? Carelessness kills; complacency is murder. First pay attention to me, and then relax. Now you can take it easy—you’re in good hands.”