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Proverbs

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God's appeal to us here through this portion of Proverbs is to avoid the temptation of adultery. God openly lets us know that the appeal is sweet (honey) and that the appearance may even feel right (smooth as oil) but in the end we will be left with nothing but bitterness and scars. The disciplined and prudent life will more easily avoid the trappings of adultery because it will not just possess the knowledge of this Proverb but it will apply it. It will internalize it. It will live it. When the sweet honey is presented, the disciplined life will know the sword that lies beneath.

The second portion of verse three here however shows that God is not only concerned with how we are internally but also how we live our life amongst each other. One of the most consistent themes throughout the entire Bible is one of fairness and justice. Some of the prophets of Old Testament pronounced judgment upon Israel not only for turning away from God through personal sins but through social injustice. Jesus Himself rebuked the Pharisees of His day for such:

Woe to you, teachers of law and the Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former. Matthew 23: 23

God is very much concerned with how we treat each other, and it does not matter to God if the person we are dealing with is a believer or a non-believer. As God still loved us when we were in darkness, so too should we love those who do not yet know His glorious salvation! God's appeal to us here is to live a disciplined life to avoid the common pitfalls and to treat everyone with justice and fairness.

Continuing on in the first chapter of Proverbs we find:

For giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young Proverbs 1:4

God recognizes that not everyone attains the same level of knowledge. In the world, some go on for degrees in higher education while some might pursue trade-work. God's divine appeal to humanity through proverbs is for everyone however. No matter how simple, Proverbs are timeless truths that speak directly into our lives not our resumes. For example:

To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. Proverbs 8:13

Proverbs are not that difficult to understand or apply in our lives. God's appeal to humanity is not cloaked or disguised. Here we see that God hates evil, pride and arrogance. He does not want our behavior, or our speech to reflect what He hates. You do not need a Masters Degree in theology to hear the appeal of God. So much so that He even says these teachings are for children as well. These are what we are to instill in our children as they grow up. The Lord promises that training a child in the ways of knowledge and discipline will have a lasting impact:

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22: 6

The appeal from God here is that His wisdom is readily available for all, regardless of level of sophistication or maturity. But as we continue in the outlined purposes we see that this is an ongoing process:

Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. - Proverbs 1: 5-6

Sometimes the attitude we can end up with in this life is that we have arrived. We have progressed to the point that we "know it all." That is not however of God. This last portion of the purpose of the Book of Proverbs shows that the acquisition and application of wisdom is an ongoing process. Who does God say should listen? The wise. The wise should listen to the appeal of God through Proverbs because it will add to their learning. This life is all about learning. It is an ongoing process. God always has another level for us to go to if we are yielded to Him and have a teachable spirit:

Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Proverbs 19:20

Have you ever come across an unteachable spirit? Always willing to provide correction but never willing to listen to any? The first person to provide advice but incapable of receiving any instruction? That person has not listened to the appeal of God to humanity. They will not progress in Christ to the level God wishes to take them because they think they are already there. That is not wisdom but folly. This section closes with God showing us that there are deeper things to learn as well. Parables have deeper meanings to be discovered. Riddles in life can be challenging to unravel. God is appealing to us through Proverbs to gain an even deeper understanding of life and who He is in our lives. So often we hear people lament that they do not know which way to go. What decision to make. What career move to make. Where God wants to use them for His Kingdom. The path is always straight; it is always in front of us if we are willing to look. Proverbs teaches us about making these paths straight before us:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3: 5-6

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Credentialed Minister of the Gospel for the Assemblies of God. Owner and founder of 828 ministries. Vice President for Goodwill Industries. Always remember that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to (more...)
 
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