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The first nine chapters of Proverbs serve as an introduction to the book detailing the precepts and value of wisdom. This chapter starts a new section of the book, beginning the collection of Solomon’s proverbs. He addresses a wide-range of topics in the form of single verse sayings that deal with issues in our everyday lives. There is a disjointed organization in this chapter, with each proverb jumping around from one topic to the next. Solomon gives contrasts between the righteous and the wicked, the wise and the foolish, and the diligent and the idle. We are going to focus today specifically on the proverbs concerning our words. 

The book of Proverbs has a lot to say about our words and is filled with great wisdom regarding how we are to speak. Our words and the words of others have incredible power. Proverbs 18:21 says that the tongue can bring life or death. It can encourage or discourage. It can build up or tear down. There are numerous ways that this chapter describes the tongue. For the wise, the tongue is depicted as a fountain of life (v. 11), choice silver (v. 20), and a place where knowledge is stored (v. 14). For the foolish, the tongue is depicted as something that conceals violence (v. 11), spreads slander (v. 18), and invites ruin (v. 14). What comes out of our mouth is evidence of either our wisdom or our foolishness. 

Many of us remember words that have been spoken over us. Either words that have lifted us up, or words that have torn us down. Some of the greatest hurts we might have felt are from the words of others. Words impact people. We get the opportunity as believers to speak words of life over those around us. Words that are kind. Words that are sweet. Words that are healing. Proverbs 16:24 says that “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” We can bring healing and sweetness to the souls of people simply through the words we use. Ephesians 4:29 tells us that we are not to let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. The words of the wise build up and benefit others.

Don’t neglect the small opportunities to encourage others with your words. Tell people that they matter, that they are valuable, and that their life has incredible purpose. Remind people that they are not alone, that the Lord is with them, and that you believe in them. Encourage people that they are made in the image of God, that they are beautiful, and that they are deeply loved. Speak the good news over people, that God loved them so much that He sent His son to die for them. Lets build one another up with our words and spur one another on towards love and good deeds.

Proverbs is well-known as a book of short verses of practical advice, which we will dive into starting tomorrow, but Proverbs 1-9 introduce us to the characteristics of the wise and foolish through the story of two women. We have met the characters of Wisdom and Folly (aka “the adulterous woman”) already in Proverbs 1-8, and Proverbs 9 brings them together in one chapter to give us a concise summary so we may recognize their call in our lives. We’ll take a look at the differences in these characters, and then dive into how that applies to our lives.

First, we see that wisdom values preparation; folly finds convenience. Wisdom prepares a place for those who are inexperienced, providing shelter and nourishment, investing in others. Folly, on the other hand, invests no effort, choosing to sit on her front porch and speak to those who happen by her way.

Next, we see that wisdom instructs; folly distracts. Wisdom broadcasts the call to come so that everyone can hear the invitation. She recognizes the cacophony of messages in this world and clearly tells all to come to her for help. Folly, meanwhile, distracts passers-by from their efforts, keeping them from their purpose.

Finally, wisdom offers meaning, but folly offers emptiness. Wisdom invites everyone to a safe place to learn truth and to live a meaningful life. Folly has nothing to offer but empty words and bad ideas that lead to death.

So we come to the end of this chapter with a good overview of the two paths we can choose. We can choose the path of Wisdom–an open invitation to come to a place intentionally prepared to meet all our needs and offering an abundant life. Or we can choose the path of Folly–a convenient option to the path of least resistance offering lies and emptiness. 

In our daily lives, this choice shows up in how we choose to spend our time, talents, and treasures. It may look like: the choice between doing what is right ethically or doing what is easy economically. It could be the difference between diving into God’s Word each morning or going back to sleep. Maybe it’s investing in a community need or buying something we don’t need. Or perhaps for you it’s arguing over worldly things instead of learning about Godly things. 

The choice between wisdom and folly started in the Garden of Eden and continues today. Jesus summarizes this situation in John 10:10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Wisdom through God offers clarity to the confusion in this crazy broken world. We are called to refuse and avoid the convenience, distraction, and emptiness of folly that leads to confusion and emptiness. Instead, God calls us to wisdom–to value preparation, instruction, and truth guiding us to the meaningful life He designed for us. 

Proverbs 8 is a speech from Lady Wisdom, calling us to moral living. Lady Wisdom is not literally a human character. Solomon is using a literary device called personification, giving human-like attributes to the non-human concept of wisdom throughout these couple of chapters. This section of Proverbs, chapters 1-9, is distinctly different from the pithy statements of most of the book. Instead of giving us specific advice for when we are at a crossroads, Solomon first takes time to introduce us to both wisdom and folly. The first third of this book serves as an introduction to the actual proverbs. 

Verses 1-5 tell us who Lady Wisdom is giving her speech to. She raises her voice in the busiest and most visible parts of the city, and she addresses all mankind. By painting this word picture of a woman giving a speech in a city, Solomon teaches two things about wisdom. First, wisdom is available in all places. Second, wisdom is offered to anybody. We need neither to go anywhere special, nor possess a special level of intellect to obtain wisdom.

We see a repeated theme in verses 10-11 and 18-21, where wisdom is compared to gold, silver, and rubies. How is it that Solomon can say that wisdom is worth more than the most valuable possessions of his day? Wisdom can be defined as the ability to make moral decisions. For someone to be able to attain any sort of material wealth that is lasting, they must have this ability. If a thief steals gold, he can be caught and lose his wealth. But wisdom buys us far more than just an ability to attain precious materials, it also teaches us how to build up wealth that is not monetary. We are unable to live in a right relationship with our friends, family, and especially our Creator without having wisdom. We know that in these relationships we can find a type of joy that far outlasts anything that money can buy for us.

What a picture Proverbs 7 is of the deceitfulness of sexual sin (and sin in general). Throughout this chapter we watch the simple man become ensnared by the adulterous woman in the same way a fly is caught in a spider web. If we are not careful and vigilant, this will be our story. There is much for us to learn from this text but there are two immediate warnings we should learn from this chapter: we should be careful about where we walk and we should never try to walk through temptation by ourselves.

As the simple man walked down the street, the young man was undoubtedly fantasizing about what his night would hold. He was so consumed by his lust that he didn’t realize that every step he took moved him closer to the destruction and pain that would come for him in the morning. It is so easy to become distracted by the false promises of sin. Think about the false ways sin promises to fulfill us:

• “This is where life is found.” 
• “You will feel better if you just…” 
• “No one will ever know.” 

The reality is that sin will always lead to death, and it will rot you from the inside out if it goes unconfessed. The key to defending ourselves is in the first four verses of this proverb. We should memorize and live according to God’s Word. Ephesians 6 refers to God’s Word as the Sword of the Spirit, and we see Jesus defending against the Devil’s attacks with this sword in Matthew 4. We need to heed the warnings of these scriptures, or we will be defenseless when the time comes for us to decide which path we are going to take.

If there is somewhere in our lives that matches the description of “the street near her corner,” let us be weary of it. Do not wait another minute to loop in someone in your Life Group. Give them the tools to help you take another path. Make sure certain apps or websites are blocked on your phone, take a different route to the water cooler, or switch the time you go to the gym. There is no sacrifice that is too great if it will save you from something that “will cost (you your) life.

Since the Proverbs are mostly a collected grouping of wise sayings rather than one cohesive narrative, it can be difficult (at times) to isolate the theme of a chapter down to one idea. In chapter six. Solomon continues to instruct his son about the danger of indebtedness, laziness, and adultery. There is one specific grouping of verses that we will focus on today: verses 16-19.

The passage starts with a common Hebrew poetic method of stating things that God hates–the things that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a wicked-scheming heart, feet that rush to evil, a false witness, and…a person who stirs up conflict in the community. At first glance, it seems like one of those things is not like the others. Murder, lying under oath, and a wicked heart and feet that run to evil all make sense on that list. But, someone who simply is a pot-stirrer? Sure, nobody loves that person, but does God really have the same level of hatred for that as he does for murder?

It surely seems to be the case if we look throughout the rest of the Bible. Throughout scripture, we see that God really cares about unity. He is often seeking to unify, not to divide. Think about the following passages:

• The two have become one (Ephesians 5:31). 
• There is neither Greek nor Jew…for you are all one in Christ (Galatians 3:28). 
• Jesus’s prayer in John 17 is that we would be one as he and his Father are one (John 17:21). 

So there is something essential in the heart of God that abhors it when we delight in division. A level of abhorrence that rivals his feelings about the worst depravity of man.

And as we examine ourselves and our own habits, we see how easily we have slid into a world where sowing division is as simple as pushing a button, posting a meme, or liking an Instagram post. It is true that friendship with the world is enmity towards God (James 4:4) but we have so easily forgotten that God sent his son into the world not to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through him (John 3:17).

As we ponder the heart of God for the lost, evil, and dying masses, we know for certain that tribalism, animosity, and disdain are not what God would have us sow into the current cultural climate. Let us respond to the admonishment by putting down the phone, choosing not to add to the caustic conversation and instead to seek peace and pursue it (Psalm 34:14).

A theme throughout Scripture is that there is a way of foolishness and wickedness that leads to death and there is a way of righteousness and wisdom that leads to life. In this chapter, Solomon is going to show us both paths, as he pleads with his son to choose the path that brings about life.

In the first six verses we see that sexual immorality, specifically adultery, leads to death. Even though the temptation may seem to be sweeter than honey (which was the sweetest substance in Israel) and smoother than oil, it is actually as bitter as gall (the most bitter substance in Israel) and leads to death. He warns his son to keep far away from the adulteress woman (v. 8), and to “not go near the door of her house.” This is a principle repeated throughout the Scriptures. When we are faced with the enticement of evil and temptation of sin, walking in holiness isn’t merely telling yourself in your own strength to “not sin”, but instead making every effort by the grace and power of the Spirit to flee from sin. 

Paul encourages us in 2 Timothy 2:22 to “flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” Peter encourages us in 1 Peter 2:11, “Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.” We must not tip-toe around sin and try to get as close to the line as possible. We must run as far from our sin as we can, and instead chase after the way of righteousness and purity. Since our sinful desires are waging war against us, we must fight faithfully by fleeing!

Though sexual immorality leads to death, there is a way of righteousness and wisdom that brings about life. It is found in walking in God’s way and design. In this specific chapter, Solomon speaks of the joy that is found in walking in God’s design as it relates to sexual intimacy in the context of marriage. Intimacy one experiences in marriage ought to be reserved for one another alone in the safety and protection of the marriage covenant. There is joy, blessing, and satisfaction to be found in the love and physical intimacy of your spouse. This is the way God intended it. To walk in the righteousness and wisdom of purity leads to the good life God intends for us. This applies to other areas of our life too! No matter if you are single, or married, the eternal principle of walking in God’s design rather than pursuing our own sinful desires applies to us all. Sin ensnares us but walking in the wisdom of God’s best brings about freedom! 

The tone of this Proverb is thick with urgency. The author is resolved to communicate the absolute necessity to not just momentarily listen to his instruction, but to make sure his listener forever holds onto what they’ve heard. He says phrases like “pay attention”, “take hold of my words with all your heart”, “do not forget my words”. All of this communicates that this wisdom is both important, and easily ignored. Many people will not live in the way of wisdom and it will keep them from living in the way that life is meant to be lived. The author here is adamant that there is a path that leads to pain and a path that leads to peace. You cannot just live your own truth and find a steady path. It is only along the path of the righteous that people will find a life that gets better and better. This is why when you hear true wisdom, it must be guarded like it is a pearl of great price.

Since the writer is so insistent that we listen, we need to be honest with our ability to forget. Unless we take Biblical wisdom seriously, we will fall prey to the “wisdom” of the world. Every day we are inundated with thoughts and perspectives that come in opposition to Scripture. If we are to walk along the right paths, we need to be absolutely sure which wisdom is true and which is false. If we do not guard our doctrine closely we will be prone to traveling along the roads of the unrighteous. These paths are not just incorrect, but dangerous. 

Embracing Biblical wisdom also means assuming that you do not already possess all wisdom. Proverbs will tell us to do things that we don’t initially want to do. We must approach the Bible with a submissive and humble posture so we don’t just pick and choose the verses that we like. We must embrace the totality of Biblical wisdom, not just the catchy sayings. On our own, we will not choose the right path. However, with Scripture as our guide there are sure and steady paths available to those of us who will fight to listen. 

In Proverbs 3, we see Solomon’s continued instructions on how to live a wise and righteous life. On the surface it might seem as if this chapter is all over the place, but we can actually pick up on a pattern that is threaded from the beginning to end of Proverbs 3. Throughout this chapter Solomon outlines sets of instructions followed by the benefits of following those instructions. Some of these instructions involve submitting to wisdom, receiving God’s discipline, and how we should interact with the people around us that God has placed in our lives. 

Towards the beginning of this chapter, we see one of the most recognizable passages in all of Proverbs. Let’s re-read these often-memorized words of Proverbs 3:5-6:

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart    
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him, 
and he will make your paths straight.

If you have spent much time in church at all, you have probably heard those words before (and maybe even heard a sermon or two about them). Most of us want to trust in the Lord with all our heart. But how? How do we do it when the seemingly powerful voices of the world around us are consistently nudging us to lean on our own understanding? 

First, we have to acknowledge how little of the big picture we’re able to see. As much as we wish our understanding of the world was even remotely equivalent to God’s, 1 Corinthians 1:25 says, “For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” Our understanding is often driven by how we feel, not necessarily what we know to be true about God.

Secondly, we submit to him in all of our ways–both the large and small. If we wake up each day and submit each appointment, meeting, conversation, and interaction to God (no matter how significant or insignificant it might seem), we develop the muscle of living faithfully. The more we learn to live faithfully in the small parts of our lives, the more natural it will become for us to live faithfully in all parts of our lives. 

The NIV translation titles this section of Scripture “Moral Benefits to Wisdom.” In other words, Proverbs 2 is telling us why wisdom really matters. If we know that the book of Proverbs is an entire book on wisdom, then we must understand why seeking wisdom matters to know the value this part of Scripture holds.

Proverbs 2:5 tells us that if we search for wisdom, “… then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.” Why does wisdom matter to us? Because it helps us know God more. Wisdom is when our eyes are opened to who God is and what God sees, changing the way we live our lives.

This chapter also reminds us that wisdom comes from God, and that He freely gives us wisdom when we seek it. He doesn’t withhold wisdom, giving it only to specific people, but wants each of us to know him and trust him. God invites us into Scripture so that we can understand more of His heart toward us, so we can walk with Him, and so we can experience abundant life. Psalm 119:68 says, “You are good and what you do is good; teach me your decrees.” As we walk in knowing God more, our eyes are opened to His goodness on display around us.

Through gaining wisdom, we look different and live differently than the world. We walk in a way that reflects God to the world around us, seeking justice and righteousness. With wisdom, we are able to discern between what is evil and a distorted image of God, and live out God’s best. Wisdom allows us to experience the abundant goodness of God, and it allows others to see God through us. Proverbs 2 tells us that “discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.” Through wisdom, God invites us into seeing the world the way He sees it. While we do not see and know all that God can see and know, wisdom is a piece of His right perspective that gives us hope and trust as we wait for His complete redemption. This hope guards us as we walk and wait for Christ’s return.

Through the book of Proverbs, may our eyes be opened to know more of who God is and His heart toward us. May we seek Him and gain wisdom to live as salt and light in the dark world around us.

The book of Proverbs begins with an explanation for why the book was written in the first place. Solomon begins in verses 2-6 explaining some of the practical purposes of understanding the following proverbs, then he gets to the thesis statement of the book in verse 7: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Fearing the Lord means having a reverence and humility for who God is and an understanding that He holds all things together. If we will humbly submit and follow Him, wisdom and knowledge will follow. The foolish, however, reject God’s ways and live as the world does.

The second section of this chapter (v. 8-19) continues to set up the book by warning against the enticement of sin. Solomon, as we know from other Old Testament narrative books, at times throughout his life rejected wise and righteous living to chase what the world had to offer him. He chased pleasure and every other worldly desire. In the same way, we too can look to the world to fulfill our desires when we feel like God is moving too slowly or that sin is more enticing than pursuing the life God has called us to live. The wise, however, flee sin because they know that it ultimately leads to death. 

The final section of this chapter (v. 20-33) introduces a metaphor that is used throughout this book. Wisdom is personified as a beautiful woman, shouting loud enough for anyone to hear. But we know that not everyone listens to wisdom and we know that not everyone heeds her instructions. Let that be a reminder to us as we begin this study of Proverbs: We can choose to grow in wisdom this year. We can read these 31 chapters and find the principles that we need to learn and apply them to our lives, or we can choose to foolishly reject wisdom and chase after the world. Which will you choose?