Today’s readings … Numbers 4, Proverbs 1, Luke 15
Today we start reading “the proverbs of Solomon” [v.1] and the key verse that jumps out at our eyes is “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” [v.7].
Our minds should be filled with awe as to all that God must be!! The plea of Solomon is, “”Hear my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching.” [v.8] The acceptance and absorption into our minds of such teaching and instruction is like wearing “a graceful garland” – yet today how many parents are able and willing to teach true wisdom to their children? If they are able and willing – their children are surrounded by counter influences – but the need for “wisdom and instruction” has never been greater.
The message contains a strong warning about the ‘opposite’ to true wisdom, the attitude of those who have no time for God – so the blunt warning is made, “if sinners entice you do not consent” [v.10].
Virtually no one thinks of themselves as being a ‘sinner’ these days, sin is an obsolete word! But there is no middle course; the book of Proverbs makes this plain, if you are not on God’s side seeking his will and guidance in making your pathway in life, you are against him.
Wisdom is personified and “cries aloud” – at the same time “scoffers delight in their scoffing.” [v.20,22] But ‘wisdom’ says, “If you turn at my reproof, behold I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you” [v.23] and we can see that God’s Spirit has led to the Bible being written and preserved and our daily feeding on God’s word will guide our lives.
The chapter fittingly concludes, “the complacency of fools destroys them, but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”