Posted by Jeff Short on August 12, 2016 · 1 Comment
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
– Proverbs 4:7
Principal thing means wisdom is of first importance or the beginning. Obtaining wisdom is an aim of first priority. Acquiring wisdom has more to do with desire and pursuit through appointed means than intelligence (James 1:5-7). Getting refers to wealth or goods. Above all the earthly goods, get or seek wisdom. This shows the value of wisdom above all earthly treasures and worth all costs to obtain it.
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Posted by Jeff Short on August 11, 2016 · 1 Comment
Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
– Proverbs 4:6
The instruction is to love and not forsake wisdom. Wisdom is personified as a woman throughout Proverbs. There is a hint of exhortation to a man to love and cleave to wisdom as to his wife committedly. Preserving and keeping both speak to guarding or protection. Loving wisdom will guard from many of the errors of folly.
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Posted by Jeff Short on August 10, 2016 · 1 Comment
Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
– Proverbs 4:5
Solomon reiterates to get wisdom and to get understanding. It is already clear that acquiring these will cost a price and require continual effort. He also urges constancy to stay the course—forget not, decline not. He exhorts to pay the price to obtain wisdom and not let it go at any offer (Proverbs 23:23).
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Posted by Jeff Short on August 5, 2016 · 1 Comment
The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
– Proverbs 3:35
Wise rounds out the threefold description of the blessed. They are just (v. 33), lowly (v. 34), and wise (v.35). They shall inherit or come into glory. Fools mock and scorn and scoff at wisdom and extol shame. Shame, or disgrace, shall be their end. This verse brings us back to the two ways and two ends. The issues of wisdom and folly are the issues of life and death.
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Posted by Jeff Short on July 22, 2016 · 1 Comment
My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
– Proverbs 3:21
Verses 21-35 give practical instruction to walking in wisdom, which is walking with God. This verse overall speaks of a deliberate intention to keep sound wisdom and discretion. Keep them before your eyes is a way of exhorting us to continually pursue wisdom and not let slip what we have already obtained. Discretion refers to a plan and can be good or bad. Here it is positive for wise plans. Again, this shows intentionality and purpose to go this way of wisdom.
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Posted by Jeff Short on July 20, 2016 · 1 Comment
The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
– Proverbs 3:19
Verses 19 and 20 close this section on the true value of wisdom. At first glance, these verses might seem unconnected to the previous. Founding and establishing both have to do with setting something up. Here they refer to the creation of the universe and the establishing of the order of creation. By wisdom God has created and sustains the universe. The universe is run by wisdom. The implication is that wisdom should be sought and valued more highly than earthly commodities. Living and walking by wisdom is obviously to walk in harmony with the Creator and his creation.
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Posted by Jeff Short on July 19, 2016 · 1 Comment
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
– Proverbs 3:18
This verse removes doubt, if there is any, about the spiritual nature of the gifts of wisdom. Here she is a tree of life, which tree is so called because it is life giving and a tree that never dies. The Tree of Life was in the Garden of Eden at the creation (Genesis 2:9; 3:22). The way to the tree was barred by the angels after Adam sinned and, I believe, taken from the earth before the flood. The next location that is given for the tree is in the new heaven and new earth, and specifically in the new Jerusalem (Revelation 22:2).
Here it is a figure that represents everlasting life, which is real life, and access to it means full communion with God (Revelation 2:7; 22:14). Laying hold and retaining mirrors the language of apprehending Christ in faith (Hebrews 6:18; John 8:31; 1 John 2:24). Every one that has wisdom after this manner is happy or makes good progress.
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Posted by Jeff Short on July 18, 2016 · 1 Comment
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
– Proverbs 3:17
Psalm 49 considers wisdom with poverty and riches with folly. David notes that fools are often increased with material goods, but those things cannot deliver the soul and they still die like a beast without understanding (Psalm 49:16-20). Jesus expressed the similar thought this way: “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Matthew 16:26). In this section of Proverbs, wisdom is shown superior to earthly substance. It’s more preferable than silver, gold, rubies, or anything else we can desire. Wisdom does not guarantee earthly prosperity in this life, but she does bring the best gifts and all her ways are pleasantness and peace. Pleasantness is delightfulness and beauty. Peace is a state of contentment and conveys the idea of soundness or health. The way of wisdom is the good way.
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Posted by Jeff Short on July 17, 2016 · 1 Comment
Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
– Proverbs 3:16
Wisdom is personified here as a woman with gifts in both hands. Clearly, wisdom is the better way of life. The gifts of long life, riches, and honor are considered the preeminent blessings of life. In a sense they stand for the best possible earthly life. The left hand is the weaker hand and the gifts of the left hand are the lesser gifts. The right hand is the strong hand and bears the best gift. In terms of earthly life, this is a general statement for we have already seen that the wise do not always live long nor are they always wealthy. In the spiritual sense, all who have wisdom from above have length of days, riches, and honor in terms of eternal life of blessedness with Christ.
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Proverbs 4:7
Posted by Jeff Short on August 12, 2016 · 1 Comment
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Principal thing means wisdom is of first importance or the beginning. Obtaining wisdom is an aim of first priority. Acquiring wisdom has more to do with desire and pursuit through appointed means than intelligence (James 1:5-7). Getting refers to wealth or goods. Above all the earthly goods, get or seek wisdom. This shows the value of wisdom above all earthly treasures and worth all costs to obtain it.– Proverbs 4:7
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