Today is February 1, 2017,
As a well taught believer, we’re prone to follow the pattern
and read a Proverb a day. As I got up this morning my objective was probably
like most of you, coupled with prayer, in reading, from the bible Proverbs
Chapter 1. However the Holy Spirit had been waiting on me so that He could
breathe on what I was reading and remove the dust from my eyes and
understanding as He also blew away the spiritual cotton balls from my ears
which would have kept me from hearing Him. Once again, the Spirit of Wisdom is
opening her mouth and shouting from the roof top in order to get our attention.
This is the wisdom-mind-thought-insight-experience-knowing, from Sovereign God
given to Solomon, king of Israel and others, for our benefit, betterment, and
blessing; and yet, we still do not take heed! As you shall read the chapter below and
hopefully internalize it, it shall bring some form of conviction to you, as it
was for me reading it once again. Our Heavenly Father wants to help us so much
however we must participate in His way of life for us to win. Unfortunately,
most of us are losing out and have become blind to His way and proud of it! We think that we're getting away with much and when we look back, we'll notice that there were holes in our bags to which all of our stuff has leaked out. Wisdom
is calling out, can’t you hear her voice? She’s running towards you in the
streets, have you turned your back on her? She’s knocking on the door of your
heart-will you let her in?
I included Proverbs Chapter 1 (below) from the New Living Translation without all of the verse numbers so that you could read this like it was a letter addressed to you-from Solomon, the king of Israel.
Put on your spiritual glasses-enjoy, internalize, and take heed to these words of wisdom!
Embrace!
The Purpose of Proverbs
These are the proverbs
of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. Their purpose is to teach people
wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their
purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help
them do what is right, just and fair. These proverbs will give insight to the
simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. Let the wise listen to these
proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance
by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise
and their riddles.
“Fear of the Lord is
the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”
A Father’s Exhortation: Acquire Wisdom
My child, listen when
your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. What you
learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your
neck. My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them! They may say, “Come
and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the
innocent! Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave; let’s swallow them whole,
like those who go down to the pit of death. Think of the great things we’ll
get! We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take. Come, throw in your lot
with us; we’ll all share the loot.” My child, don’t go along with them! Stay
far away from their paths. They rush to commit evil deeds. They hurry to commit
murder. If a bird sees a trap being set, it knows to stay away. But these
people set an ambush for themselves; they are trying to get themselves killed.
Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life.
Wisdom Shouts in the Streets
Wisdom shouts in the
streets. She cries out in the public square. She calls to the crowds along the
main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate: “How long, you
simpletons, will you insist on being simpleminded? How long will you mockers
relish your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge? Come and listen to
my counsel. I’ll share my heart with you and make you wise. I called you so
often, but you wouldn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.
You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered. So I will laugh
when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you—when calamity
overtakes you like a storm, when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone, and
anguish and distress overwhelm you. When they cry for help, I will not answer.
Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me. For they hated
knowledge and chose not to fear the Lord. They rejected my advice and paid no
attention when I corrected them. Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of
living their own way, choking on their own schemes. For simpletons turn away
from me—to death. Fools are destroyed by their own complacency. But all who
listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.”
