Posted by Jeff Short on July 16, 2016 · 1 Comment
She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
– Proverbs 3:15
Solomon continues to describe the blessed state of the man who finds wisdom and gets understanding. His situation is better than the rich because he has wisdom, which is better than riches. Theologically in Proverbs, to have wisdom is to have life. It is to walk with God and thus have everlasting life. Here wisdom is accounted more precious than precious gems. The word for rubies is uncertain, but the intent of the phrase is certain. The desires of men upon earth are not always for money or precious stones. Solomon further explains wisdom is better than anything than can be desired or dreamed up. The most active imagination cannot conjure anything comparable to wisdom in worth.
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Posted by Jeff Short on July 15, 2016 · 1 Comment
For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
– Proverbs 3:14
Merchandise refers to trade and the profit from it. Here it is the profit from the trade of silver. Gain refers to income or even revenue. Fine gold is that which is mined. Both phrases are emphasizing the profit or gain from work expended. The real key in this verse is the word “better.” When we pair this verse with the verse before and those after, we find a most important distinction about wisdom. Wisdom is its own reward and, as a reward, is infinitely more valuable than anything upon this earth. Wisdom is far better than material gain and, therefore, getting wisdom is not about getting rich. Those who use the book of Proverbs to teach how to get rich or find prosperity prove they do not have wisdom themselves and are therefore unfit guides to the obtaining of wisdom.
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Posted by Jeff Short on July 14, 2016 · 1 Comment
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
– Proverbs 3:13
Verses 13-18 teach that wisdom brings every good gift that we could receive. The word for happy is often translated as blessed. It refers to a state or condition of blessedness. So is the state of the man who finds wisdom. To find means to reach out after or to gain something by going after it. To get is to draw out, like digging some precious metal out of the earth. Once again, the pursuit of wisdom is mentioned but the rewards are also given in this section. The pursuit for wisdom is not a vain pursuit so long as we start with the fear of the Lord.
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Posted by Jeff Short on July 11, 2016 · 1 Comment
So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
– Proverbs 3:10
Plenty is the general consequence of walking wisely with our wealth. Wisdom is honoring the Lord first with our substance and increase. Wisdom teaches wise spending and saving (Proverbs 10:16). Wisdom also teaches that generosity is rewarded (Proverbs 11:24-25). Solomon has more to say beside this, but his verse points to the general reward of handling substance wisely. Wisdom tends to wise stewardship and saving and folly tends to waste and poverty (Proverbs 21:20). Wisdom doesn’t guarantee every individual riches in the way we think of riches. We also should not assume that having wisdom means we will never be in want (Philippians 4:12). Solomon also goes on to teach that wisdom itself is a greater reward than physical prosperity (Proverbs 3:13-15; 8:10-11).
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Posted by Jeff Short on July 8, 2016 · 1 Comment
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
– Proverbs 3:7
Solomon gives three directions to walking in wisdom. Being wise in your own eyes is to be resistant to correction and instruction (Proverbs 9:7-8; 13:1; 15:12; 26:12). It is a mark of a fool and of pride. So, first, Solomon teaches we must be humble to receive wisdom. We must confess we lack wisdom and seek it. Positively, he says to fear the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7) and brings us to life (Proverbs 14:27). Lastly, he admonishes to turn back from working mischief. He counters our natural bent on all three points. Our natural inclinations are to think ourselves wise, not regard the Lord, and to go after evil. Walking in wisdom is counter to all three.
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Posted by Jeff Short on July 3, 2016 · 1 Comment
For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
– Proverbs 3:2
These are blessings of wisdom. This is a general truism. It doesn’t guarantee that every individual who is wise lives a long life on the earth. Solomon reminds in Ecclesiastes that advantage and prosperity are not always to the wise (Ecclesiastes 9:11). However, this is the general trend of wisdom. One who walks in wisdom generally avoids the pitfalls of folly that end life early for those who walk that way. Beside this, the days, whatever number, of the wise are generally in peace, which points to safety and a contented happiness. The one who dwells in wisdom is generally at peace with neighbors and family and not dwelling in a continual state of agitation and strife.
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 29, 2016 · 1 Comment
That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
– Proverbs 2:20
Verses 20-22 provide a summary conclusion of what has gone before. This verse ties back to the earlier verses about seeking wisdom and the rewards when we find it. Beginning in verse 12, we are told what wisdom keeps us from and here what wisdom keeps us to. Rather than going in the various ways of evil men and strange women, wisdom puts us in the way of good men and the paths of the righteous. Solomon will have more to say about companions explicitly, but we have already seen enough to know who our companions are is important.
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 21, 2016 · 1 Comment
To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;
– Proverbs 2:12
Verses 12-15 provide example of the danger wisdom protects us from. The evil man is a calamitous man who brings pain and unhappiness to others. He has a way, or a course of life, and that way brings harm to others. The second clause explains how the evil man hurts others. He speaks forward things. Froward things are perverse things or things that are contrary to right and good things. His way and speech are bent away from wisdom and so he harms those who hear him. However when wisdom enters into our hearts, we are preserved and kept by it from such danger.
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Posted by Jeff Short on June 19, 2016 · 1 Comment
When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
– Proverbs 2:10
Verses 10 and 11 give insight into how wisdom works. Wisdom gets into our hearts and minds and knowledge is pleasing or attractive to us. We come to delight in it. The more wisdom we obtain, the more we seek. Wisdom is the means of guidance that so many profess to want but few truly seek for.
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Proverbs 3:15
Posted by Jeff Short on July 16, 2016 · 1 Comment
She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
Solomon continues to describe the blessed state of the man who finds wisdom and gets understanding. His situation is better than the rich because he has wisdom, which is better than riches. Theologically in Proverbs, to have wisdom is to have life. It is to walk with God and thus have everlasting life. Here wisdom is accounted more precious than precious gems. The word for rubies is uncertain, but the intent of the phrase is certain. The desires of men upon earth are not always for money or precious stones. Solomon further explains wisdom is better than anything than can be desired or dreamed up. The most active imagination cannot conjure anything comparable to wisdom in worth.– Proverbs 3:15
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
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