Proverbs 1:1-33
Saturday, 20 January 2024
“Turn at my rebuke; surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.” - Proverbs 1:23
The Book of Proverbs is considered part of the wisdom literature of God’s Word where we receive practical insight for a godly life. These instructions from God help us to live sensibly and thoughtfully. Once we give heed to the wise instructions of God we will in time become mature sons and daughters in His Kingdom, thus exhibiting heavenly values and lifestyle because of this priceless wisdom.
Through this chapter we can see that how a godly father counsels his son on how to navigate his life in this world.
Intimacy leads to Imitating
In the opening chapter we see the phrase "My son"- (Prov.1:8, 10, 15...) repeatedly used. This indicates an unseen Father instructing His beloved children. A father’s instructions are always meant to be good to a child; how much more our heavenly Father! In order to grow in wisdom, one needs to start with a proper relationship with the Father. Only a true son will have the elements of the Father in him so that he or she can grow up into maturity like his or her father through intimate fellowship with each other. This is brought about in a New Testament believer by a process of being 'Born Again.' 1Peter 1:23- having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever. Each born again child has deep within him the fear of the Lord, which is the starting of true knowledge and wisdom; which others do not have in them. Prov. 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Grow in Wisdom:
The true growth in wisdom is the path of repentance ("Turn at my rebuke...”). When a person is born again, he needs to take the path of repentance to produce the right fruit. Fruit cannot be produced without having the Spirit of Truth in us. He is the enabling one who will bring forth fruits unto repentance. For this we need to be connected to the True vine - Jesus Christ. As Acts 2:38 says "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
This is the Spirit that God pours out on us when we return to Him “….the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, ..the Spirit of counsel and might , ..the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of God.” (Isaiah 11:1-3).
As we grow in this wisdom
· we will have the mind of Christ (2 Cor. 2:16) thereby understanding God’s plan in the world
· we will have a reverential fear of God as the Holy One and that He always has the final word-Job 28:28
· we will be able to resist peer pressure by refusing invitation to wrong doing – Prov. 1:10-19
· we will have our hearts engraved with His laws - Hebrews 8:10-12.
Apostle James defines heavenly wisdom for the believer: “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:17). May we seek God to daily teach us to live wisely and well (Psalm 90:12) by asking the Holy Spirit who is our helper and counselor to instruct and guide us in God’s Word.
To Act: “…but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ..” (2 Peter 3:18)
Listen: 'O Jesus Christ, Grow Thou in me'