Shownotes
Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy
Welcome to Day 121 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.
This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.
Proverbs – Chapter 1:1-7
Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 121 of our Trek. Yesterday we continued with the beginning of our commentary on the book of Proverbs, and we discovered why Proverbs is important in our pursuit of wisdom. As I mentioned yesterday we won’t go straight through the book of Proverbs consecutively, but we will intermix the commentary with other daily wisdom nuggets. Today we are beginning the actual commentary of the book of Proverbs.
If you are not familiar with the structure of a commentary, I will read each verse or group of related verses and then share a brief observation or comment on that verse or group of verses. This type of study is one of the most effective ways to learn and apply information on a practical basis.
I would like to challenge you, though. You do not have to agree with my observations and comments of the verses. It is my hope that this format will give you an opportunity to think for yourself and grow in insight and discernment and then grow in wisdom. If you have any of your own observations, comments, or questions, please share them in the comment section of our daily journal pages.
Before we get started, I want to remind you of the drawing in celebration of the 100th day of our Wisdom-Trek. We will have a drawing on October 5th when we will be giving away 7 Wisdom-Trek t-shirts. There are only two more days to register.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. It has been a busy and full day of work activities and the day has rushed by once again. After some exercising this morning, I made additional progress on the woodwork in the formal dining room. I have it mapped out so I should be able to finish the woodwork and floors by the end of the week at least based on my current plans. I so enjoy the view from the office here, as I have the opportunity to observe the leaves just starting to change in colors.
As we head out on our Proverbs trail today, one of the most powerful skills that we can possess while hiking is the skill of observation. If we are going to enjoy and learn from our daily journey in life, it is imperative that we hone our skills of observation so that we do not miss the critical and enjoyable moments of our lives.
During our discussion on our Trek through the book of Proverbs, we will be using the tool of observation. This is equivalent to using a pair of field glasses or binoculars while hiking. It allows us to see the crucial, awe-inspiring, and breathtaking moments of life up close and personal.
As we look at the verses in Proverbs through the binoculars of our mind, we will see the treasures of wisdom in detail so that we will be able to create a legacy of wisdom, seek out discernment and insight, boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before, and live long and prosper.
During our trek through the book of Proverbs, we will learn the correct trails to take each day. This knowledge will be gained through the use of clear instructions, great truths, practical stories, practical experience, comparisons, images and poems, all of which are contained in Proverbs. Let us not delay any further as we start in Chapter 1 of Proverbs.
The Purpose of Proverbs
1 These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.
Solomon wrote both proverbs, or wise words, and songs. In all, he collected 3000 proverbs along with 1005 songs. The Book of Proverbs contains many of them. This book teaches us how we should live. It explains the way of wisdom. It warns us about being foolish.
2 Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise.
3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
Clearly Proverbs is to teach us wisdom and discipline to be self-controlled and successful. The wise person honors God, and God protects him. A foolish person refuses to obey God. There are many dangers for such a person. The Book of Proverbs explains these dangers.
Solomon tells us about four types of people. Each type of person will benefit from Solomon’s wise words. We will explore the four types today.
4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young.
· The simple person
Today, we should not call someone “simple.” We might offend him. He would think that we supposed him to be stupid.
In the Book of Proverbs, a simple person is someone who is not wise. By the word “simple,” Solomon means more than this. A simple person has not learned to be wise, so he is in danger. Evil people can easily lead simple people to do evil actions. But nobody is really good. “Everyone does evil things. Everyone fails when you use God’s standards as a measure.”
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard, Romans [3:23].
We are all simple people by God’s standards.
God wants the simple person to learn his wisdom. This begins when we invite God into our lives. Then God will help us to become wise. We must grow in wisdom, and we must grow in our knowledge of God.
· The young person
The Book of Proverbs is considered poetry. Some poems are very short, and other poems are longer.
The style of the poems may seem unusual. Sometimes, one line has the same meaning as the next (comparison). Sometimes lines differ from each other (contrast). In other places, the meaning develops from line to line. Watch out for these different styles. These poems help us to remember the proverbs.
As with us, the Jewish people believed that they should remember proverbs. Fathers taught proverbs to their sons. Mothers taught them to their daughters.
Grandchildren learned them from their grandparents. Children had to use their memories. The adults tested the children’s memories.
In this way, children learned to be wise. In the future, when problems came, they would know the right thing to do.
For the same reason, we should learn Bible verses today. We should teach them to our children and grandchildren. In this way, we shall learn true wisdom.
Many things in the world change. There are new inventions, for example television and computers. There are new illnesses, such as AIDS and SARS. There are revolutions and new governments.
Wisdom does not change. Solomon gave advice that is still good. He wrote wise words, and they are still wise today.
Today’s young people will grow old. Wisdom that we teach them now will remain with them.
5 Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance 6 by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles.
· The wise person
A wise person loves wisdom. “He loves God’s law. He is always thinking about it.” But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night, Psalm 1:2.
He always wants to learn more. He is never too tired to think about wisdom.
He still makes mistakes.
But correct the wise, and they will love you, Proverbs 9:8.
He even wants you to teach him.
Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser, Proverbs 9:9.
We can all learn more. We can all grow in knowledge. The Bible teaches us God’s wisdom.
· The intelligent person
Like the wise person, the intelligent person wants to learn. He will ask for advice. He is trying to understand God’s ways. As he studies, he will know more. He will even understand difficult words of wisdom.
7 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
When you learned English, you started with easy words. When you learn any subject, you must start with easy lessons. The first lesson in wisdom is that we must respect God. He made everything. He is greater than we are. We must give honor to him.
A person who does not know God may be clever. He may have many skills. We can learn many things from him. Such a person lacks something important. He has learned many lessons. But he has missed the first lesson. Wisdom begins when a person respects God. We should try to show a better way to this person.
The opposite of a wise person is a fool. (You would offend a person, if you called him a fool.)
A fool intends to do evil things. A simple person does evil things because he does not know wisdom. But a fool does evil things because he hates wisdom.
We want to show God’s way to such people, but this is difficult. Jesus said,
“Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you,” Matthew 7:6.
Wisdom is valuable. Sometimes we must leave a fool to be foolish. A pig does not appreciate things that are valuable to us. A fool does not appreciate the value of wisdom.
We can learn from the mistakes of fools. We must not copy their mistakes.
A fool hates wisdom and discipline. If we are wise, we shall love wisdom and discipline.
Today we just got started on our trail and discovered the purpose of Proverbs, so join us tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy. Tomorrow we will continue with chapter 1 verses 19 through 33 and look at a father’s exhortation to acquire wisdom, and we will see wisdom as she calls out in the streets to come to her.
That will finish our podcast for today. Remember to listen to your daily dose of wisdom on Wisdom-Trek.com, iTunes, Stitcher, SoundCloud, Spreaker, or YouTube. Please share Wisdom-Trek with your family and friends so they can come along with us each day.
The journal for today’s Trek can be found at Wisdom-Trek.com. Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day.
As we take this Trek together, let us always:
- Live Abundantly (Fully)
- Love Unconditionally
- Listen Intentionally
- Learn Continuously
- Lend to others Generously
- Lead with Integrity
- Leave a Living Legacy Each Day
This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you tomorrow!