Year 8, Day 292: Proverbs 1

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The book of Proverbs is a bit of an enigma.  It is a book that in some moments gives greats swaths of advice as we see in this chapter.  In other chapters we will hear a much more haphazard collection of material.  In those instances, it can make the book a bit difficult to read.  This chapter, however, is easy to decipher.

In this chapter, David is penning words of advice to his son, Solomon.  I love where David begins.  The wise hear and increase in learning.  The one who understands obtains guidance.  This leads us to the premise of the book.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.  If we wat to be wise, we would do wise to seek the counsel of His ways and obtain the guidance within.

Next, David turns to his son and gives very practical advice.  A father’s instruction and a mother’s advice are like garland for the head.  They are more than ornamental, they signify importance.  They lift up the individual as one who is honored.  It is an honor to be instructed by one’s parents.

The point that David is trying to make is that Solomon would do well to listen to his elders.  Children seldom come into life equipped with the wisdom to make decisions that will carry them through life.  That wisdom needs to come from someone, from somewhere.  It is most easily found in the adults around the youth.  It is most easily found in those who desire to mentor and shape the youth.  Wisdom is passed on from generation to generation like a garland and a pendant upon those to whom it is bestowed.

To make his point, David has wisdom speak about the world.  The world is simple.  The world typically rejects wisdom.  The world is interested in the simple things and the fun things.  The world has self-interest at its heart.  The world isn’t naturally interested in wisdom because wisdom demands that the selfish desires of the heart be cast aside.   David wants to make sure that the readers of Proverbs, primarily Solomon, understand that to pursue wisdom implies that one is separating themselves from the ways of the world.

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