Daily reading
Today’s reading is: Prov. 1-4
Video
Proverbs Chapter One
- Proverbs begins with an introduction to the author, and the purpose for the collection (Prov. 1:1-7).
- Solomon is the primary author of the Book (Prov. 1:1).
- There are four purposes for learning proverbs.
- To know. יָדַע yāda‘ #3045: to know. 39x in Prov.
- Wisdom. חָכְמָה chokmāh #2451: wisdom, skill, shrewdness, prudence. 42x in Prov.
- Instruction. מוּסָר muwcār #4148: discipline, correction, instruction. 30x in Prov.
- To discern the sayings of understanding. בִּין biyn #995: to discern, understand, consider, to perceive. בִּינָה biynāh #998: understanding, discernment. 39x & 14x in Prov.
- To receive instruction (muwcār) in wise behavior. שָׂכַל shākal #7919: to have insight, act prudently, wisely. 19x in Prov.
- In righteousness. צֶדֶק tsedeq #6664: justice, rightness, righteousness. 10x in Prov.
- In justice. מִשְׁפָּט mishpat #4941: judgment, justice. 20x in Prov.
- In equity. מֵישָׁרִים mēyshariym #4339: evenness, uprightness, equity. 7x in Prov.
- To give
- Prudence to the naïve. עָרְמָה ‘ormah #6195: shrewdness, craftiness, prudence. 3x in Prov.
- Knowledge and discretion to the youth. דַּעַת da‘ath #1847: knowledge, understanding. 40x in Prov. מְזִמָּה mezimmah #4209: purpose, discretion. 10x in Prov.
- To know. יָדַע yāda‘ #3045: to know. 39x in Prov.
- It is the wise man (chakam), the man of understanding (biyn) who knows that there is more to learn (Prov. 1:5,6).
- The introduction closes with a summary statement for the book (Prov. 1:7).
- The fear of the Lord יִרְאַת יְהוָה (lOx in Prov.) is the beginning of da‘ath.
- Fools despise chokmāh and muwcār. אֱוִיל ’eviyl #191: fool. 19x in Prov.
- It is the responsibility of parents to impart wisdom to their children, through the teaching of disciplined instruction (Prov. 1:8-19). Hear, my son, your father’s muwcār, and do not forsake your mother’s towrāh.
- It requires humility to listen to parents.
- It takes wisdom to not listen to peers.
- Wisdom personified (the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ Jn. 1:1) communicates the Truth, and accomplishes the Father’s purpose (Prov. 1:20-33; Isa. 55:11; Heb. 4:12; 1st Thess. 2:13).
- Wisdom is not obscure. It is shouting to us.
- Wisdom is either accepted and embraced in love, or it is rejected and hated.
Proverbs Chapter Two
- It is the responsibility of parents to instill within their children a passion for learning the Word of God (Prov. 2:1-2).
- The academic process of learning the word begins with making the believer teachable (Prov. 2:2-4).
- Make your ear attentive, and incline your heart to chokmāh and tebuwnāh.
- How do you do this? Prayer. Ask the Father. “Cry” for biynah and “lift your voice” for tebuwnāh.
- Be so eager to receive the Word, its value to you will be like silver, or hidden treasure.
- Seek and ye shall find! (Prov. 2:4-5; Matt. 7:7-8).
- God is the only source for God’s wisdom (Prov. 2:6; Jas. 1:5).
- The Word of God implanted does a marvelous work in the life of a believer (Prov. 2:10ff.; Jas. 1:21).
- The believer walking according to wisdom will be delivered from the evil man (Prov. 2:12-15), and the strange woman (Prov. 2:16-19), and will walk with good men (Prov. 2:20-22).
Proverbs Chapter Three
- It is the responsibility of parents to warn their children of the dangers of forgetfulness (Prov. 3:1).
- In general terms, principles for blessing are established for faithfulness to taking in God’s Word (Prov. 3:1-12).
- Keeping God’s Word will add peace and length of life to the believer (vv.1,2).
- Keeping God’s Word will produce a good name in the sight of God and man (vv.3,4).
- Trusting God’s faithfulness will result in straight paths (vv.5,6).
- The humble fear of the Lord produces a beneficial physical effect in the body (vv.7,8).
- Grace giving to the Lord is rewarded with greater capacity to do so (vv.9,10).
- Acceptance of divine discipline produces appreciation for divine love (vv.11,12).
- The man of wisdom and understanding is a man of great wealth (Prov. 3:13-18).
- The man of wisdom and understanding is an imitator of God, and has great confidence in God (Prov. 3:19-26).
- The man of wisdom and understanding will manifest that wisdom in his relationships within the community (Prov. 3:27-31).
- Great contrasts are set forth (Prov. 3:32-35).
- The devious versus the upright (v.32).
- The wicked versus the righteous (v.33).
- The scoffer versus the afflicted (v.34).
- The fool versus the wise (v.35).
Proverbs Chapter Four
- Solomon was raised by his father in the path of wisdom (Prov. 4:3-9), and desired to pass that wisdom along to his own sons (Prov. 4:1).
- Wisdom is the principle thing (KJV, NKJV); Wisdom is supreme (NIV); The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom (NASB); The first thing is wisdom—get wisdom (YLT).
- Abiding in the Word is vital for the believer to turn away from evil (Prov. 4:13-17,19).
- The path of the righteous is the course of God the Father, manifest through Jesus Christ, and progressing to the perfect day—the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times (Prov. 4:18; Eph. 1:10).
- Wisdom teaches the believer to guard his heart, benefiting the mouth, eyes, and feet (Prov. 4:20-27).