PROVERS: 1:20-33: LADY WISDOM

                                                     1.    LADY WISDOM

"LADY WISDOM goes out in the streets and shouts (aloud), at the town centres (public square) she makes her speech (raises he voice). In the middle of the traffic (at the city gate) she takes her stand (makes her speech), at the busiest corner (on top of the wall) she calls (cries) out." Proverbs 1:20&21 (MSG/NIV)

WISDOM is given PERSONALITY, like a WOMAN! 

 There are two valuable  gifts offered to you:

1) THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM.

2) THE WORDS OF WISDOM. 

They help us make the right decisions , and show us how to help others make wise decisions. 

"Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts for you. I will make known to you my  teachings." Proverbs 1:23 (NIV)

WISDOM says if you listen to me, I will GUIDE YOU in  the right way. If you listen to me, I'll look after you. These PROMISES will follow you. It doesn't mean you won't have problems, but WISDOM will help you navigate these. 

"Since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, since you disregard all my advice, and do not accept my rebuke.....Then they will call to me and I will not answer; they will look for me, but will not find me." Proverbs 1:24,25&28 (NIV)

These are the consequences of "not listening to wise counsel". When you make the wrong turn in the wrong direction, THIS IS REGRET! Now you are desperate for wisdom, but it isn't TOO LATE. You may have hated knowledge at one time and not "feared the Lord", but you STILL HAVE A CHANCE. Even though you may have been complacent, wanting to follow your own way, we can ACCEPT JESUS, and HIS WISDOM and SALVATION. You have a chance for a NEW LIFE!!

"All who LISTEN TO ME WILL LIVE IN PEACE (SAFETY) , untroubled (be at ease) without fear of harm. " Proverbs 1:33 (NLT/NIV)

"We need to have a NEW RELATIONSHIP with the Lord, that helps us avoid TERROR AND PANIC. Jesus is the WISEST SAVIOUR of all, and we need to listen to the WISDOM OF HIS FATHER. He promises that we can LIVE IN SAFETY, without HARM."  Paul Washer

                                     2. WHERE WISDOM IS FOUND? - Job 28

"Where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell? No mortal comprehends its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living."                                                                                                                           Job 28:12&13 (NIV)

Wisdom and understanding are not easily found. We can only find it when we read and study SCRIPTURE. It is very precious, but it is not like "gold, silver, jewels or rubies". The only way to find it, is to KNOW GOD, for He knows where it dwells. 

"God alone knows the way to WISDOM; He knows where it can be found..... the fear of the Lord is TRUE WISDOM." Job 28:23&28b (NLT)

Without the SCRIPTURES we cannot FEAR GOD, and we cannot KNOW HIM. The more we learn the Scriptures, we will GROW IN WISDOM ANND UNDERSTANDING. God will help us make the right decisions on how to live out lives. The more we have REVERENCE for our Lord , the more we FOLLOW HIS WILL, the more we will be LED TO SERVE HIS SON JESUS. 

"THE HOLY BIBLE - NEW INTERNATIONAL BIBLE", 2011, Biblica

" THE HOLY BIBLE - NEW LIVING BIBLE", 2015, Tyndale House Publications

"THE MESSAGE - THE BIBLE IN CONTEMPORARY LANGUAGE," 1993, Eugene H Peterson, NavPress/Tyndale House Publishers

"WASHER, Paul, "Proverbs/Job" - Lessons 7, Lessons 20-26", 2020, HeartCryMissionarySociety/YouTube

"Lady Wisdom - Proverbs 1 - Christian Worship: Scripture Song", TheHolySpirit/YouTube

"Wisdom - Job 28 -  A Christian Song About Job", 2025,                          Kingdom Music/You Tube''

PROVERS 1:8-9: Listen to Our Father and Mother

This is my family! You've probably heard me tell you a lot about my Dad (s), and three months. Then Mark and I became parents, and after a lot of trying we had our son, Aaron, who then with his lovely wife, Emily,  blessed us with three beautiful granddaughters, Kaylee, Zoe and Naomi.  It's birthday month in June, so I will probably include some some "photo projects", in this BLOG; but let's get down our study.

"Listen, my son, to your father's instruction (when he corrects you),  and do not forsake (neglect) your mother's teaching (instuction) ."  Proverbs 1:8 (NIV/NLT)

                                                  1. LISTEN & LEARN

Our Father in Heaven is talking to us, just as Solomon was speaking to his sons and daughters. First, he wants us to LISTEN, and then to RETAIN what we are taught by OUR PARENTS. Wisdom comes from His mother's teaching, and without mentoring from a parent (mother or father, Christian leaders) we can make the wrong decisions.

I was always taught that my Dad took an active role in the lives of his daughters - especially when it came to reading the Bible to us. He helped us with our school work, and he spent quality time with us, especially in the years when we didn't have a mother. 

 We were not a perfect family and we made mistakes, but one thing my parents taught me was that I needed to treat them with respect. They also taught us that teachers and leaders in our Church needed to be "honoured", especially with words and moral conduct, "cleanliness and worthiness". 

 Have a great life in Christ, with positive encouragement! Everything we do in out life is going to have consequences. Whatever we do is always going to affect ourselves and others.  By listening and watching the biblical counsel of our parents, pastors and teachers, we will GROW IN "GRACE, HONOUR, NOBILITY AND VICTORY". 

"Then you LEARN FROM THEM and they will crown you with GRACE and be a chain around your neck"                                                                                                                                              Proverbs 1:9 (NIV/NLT)

Children must learn to love God. This is their No 1 priority! We probably won't have a perfect life - there will be TRIALS - but we can TRUST IN THE LORD and we can know that He is always with us. The No  1 priority is that we, as PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS is to demonstrate this FAITH!

"You must commit yourself wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again TO YOUR CHILDREN. Talk about them IN YOUR HOMES and when you are on the road. When you are going to bed, when you are getting up. Tie them on your hands,  and wear them on your foreheads as a reminder." Deuteronomy 6:6-8 (NLT)

                                                         2. RESIST THE TEMPTATION

                                                    

Jesus tells us not to withdraw from the world, but not to be tempted by its evil ways. I loved the Church and Scripture, and I wanted to be a Pastor, like my Dad. But I also loved school, and for some reason I was led into the Public School system. I started with Religious Education, Teacher Aiding; then it was in the community as an Army wife.  Finally, I became a Special Needs Teacher, after getting my Education Degree. Then it, was the 12 years with the Circus.  

The challenges "in the world", especially when working in thhe Church and in the Army life,  was to resist a lot of the temptations around us. Although weren't tempted by "drugs, alcohol and the party lifestyle", I was always afraid I may fall away from "living my Christian life" and "serving the Lord". 

In these next verses in Proverbs, we are  given some practical advice and are reminded that the Lord is always on our side in those dark times; and "nothing is too hard" to  face with Jesus on  our side. 

"If bad company tempts you (if men entice you), don't go along (give in/turn your back) on them. They may say, come and join us (come along with us and raise some hell); ........my son,  don't give them a second look; don't listen to them for a minute (do not go along with them, do not set your foot on their paths - stay away from them " Proverbs 1:10,11a, 15 (MSG/NIV/NLT)

* Don't follow the crowd, for this is not always acceptable because "the world does it". 

* Peer pressure is very strong, and "sin can be enticing", but "nothing is too hard for our Lord."

* Bad friends can destroy a life. Temptation is powerful! Gangs and Materialism can lead us into "bad ways", often into debt,jail, or maybe even death. 

Remember, when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, he went straight to the WORD OF GOD:

"Man shall not live on bread alone, BUT ON EVERY WORD that comes from THE MOUTH OF GOD." 

                                                                                     Matthew 4:4 (NIV)

Recently,  Mark and I were going over some "family" photos - with Aaron, the grandchildren, then the Circus - and we realized how many opportunities we had too minister and serve over the years. 

"So we have the opportunity to be ENTHUSIASTIC about all CHRIST JESUS HAS DONE THROUGH US, in our SERVICE TO GOD." Romans 15:17 (NLT)

"I thank Jesus Christ our Lordm who has given me the strength to do HIS WORK. He considered me TRUSTWORTHY and appointed me to SERVE HIM." 1 Timothy 1:12 (NLT)

"Lord, we pray that in the year ahed, you will give us the STRENGTH to face any TEMPTATIONS, and not to be ENTICED BY SIN." Nicky & Pippa Gumbel

"THE HOLY BIBLE - NEW INTERNATIONAL BIBLE", 2011, Biblica

" THE HOLY BIBLE - NEW LIVING BIBLE", 2015, Tyndale House Publications

"THE MESSAGE - THE BIBLE IN CONTEMPORARY LANGUAGE," 1993, Eugene H Peterson, NavPress/Tyndale House Publishers

"Gumbel, Nicky & Pippa, 2009/2026, "The Bible in One Year", Alpha/YouVersion

PROVERS 1:1-7: Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding: Learn and Grow in Discernment.

 

The BOOK OF PROVERBS is a TREASURE OF WISE SAYINGS! 

In my last two Bible Study BLOGS based on the PSALMS: Real, Relevant, Refreshing (rrr.psalms.blogspot.com) and THE GOSPELS:Growing in Christ - My Saviour and Friend (ruthspromisesfromgod.blogspot.com); I used the help of a number of online Pastors and friends:

*  Pastor David Guzik: "www.enduringword.com"

* Nicky & Pippa Gumbel": "The Bible - Classic Version" - Alpha/You Version

* Charles Swindoll - "Living Psalms", "Great Lives:Jesus" etc., Worthy Publishing

* Charles Spurgeon - "The Treasury of David - Psalms.", You Tube

* Kris Langham & Peyton Jones, "Through the Word", You Version

* Pat & David Alexander - "The Lion Handbook to the Book - 4th Edition", Lion Hudson Publications

* Max Lucado - "Just Like Jesus", NCV Devotional Bible" etc. 

Of course, I included a number of my favourite worship songs, and then for Christmas, my husband surprised me with a new book: "Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps, and Timelines".  And I can't forget my favourite "THE HOLY BIBLE - GOD'S WORD".

 Well, I have decided for my new study, I will do some "Home Schooling", online and lessons I collected over the years in teaching Religious Education, and specifically LEARNING AND GROWING in WISDOM AND KNOWLELDGE, over my many years of "fear of the Lord" (reverence and honour).

"The FEAR OF THE LORD is the BEGINNING OF WISDOM, and the KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY ONE IS UNDERSTANDING." Proverbs 9:10 (NIV)

"THE FEAR OF THE LORD is the BEGINNING OF WISDOM; all who FOLLOW HIS PRECEPTS HAVE GOOD UNDERSTANDING. To Him belong eternal praise."                                                                                                      Psalm 110:10 (NIV)    

 

                                          1. THE PURPOSE OF GAINING WISDOM

"These are the Proverbs of Solomon, David's son, king of Israel. Their purpose is to teach WISDOM AND DISCIPLINE (instruction), to HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE INSIGHT OF THE WISE." Proverbs 1:1&2 (NLT/NIV)

King David was a "man after God's own heart", and he wanted to teach his son Solomon all about the "God's redemptive power" , the wisdom that he would need to lead the people of Israel and most of all what he would need to have to live a life "glorifying and worshipping God".

I love to LEARN! From the time my Dad read the Bible to my sisters and I, every night before we went to bed, to my years of growing up, I knew I had to LISTEN TO THE WORD and I have always wanted to share it with others. I always knew that as a wife and mother I needed to GROW IN WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT, and to share this knowledge with my husband and family. Together, we needed to make thhe RIGHT DECISIONS and to WALK LIKE JESUS - OUR WISE TEACHER. 

"Proverbs opens with a statement of purpose aimed especially at the young, but no one is too old to LEARN FROM WISDOM." David Alexander

                             2. INSTRUCTION IN PRUDENT BEHAVIOUR

"Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives (receiving instruction in prudent behaviour) , to help them do what is RIGHT, JUST AND FAIR. These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowlede and discernment to the young." Proverbs 1:3&4 (NLT/NIV)

Receiving instruction in prudent behaviour means knowing the RIGHT THING TO DO AT THE RIGHT TIME. We can know GOD'S LAWS, COMMANDMENTS AND HIS WORD, but unless we OBEY THEM AND APPLY THEM TO OUR LIFE: our family,  work, Church, or any relationship, we cannot GROW!

What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge? There  may be times in our livs when we are given positions of authority - as parents, teachers, leaders in the Church, politians, like Kings, Judges, Prophets, Disciples and Jesus, the greatest leader of all. We need to read and learn their lessons from the Bible. We need to train ourselves so we can lead others. God gave specific rules to those in authority and he gives them here to us. We need to read the Scriptures EVERYDAY! That's the difference between gaining KNOWLEDGE and growing in WISDOM. "LEARN AND LIVE"!

The Holy Spirit is our guide, and He will navigate us to follow the behaviours of our Lord in our everyday lives. 

"Prudence is giving knowledge and discretion to the simple. If we make mistakes and hurt someone without thinking. YOUNG PEOPLE need this, but so do adults."                                                                                                                    Peyton Jones

"Proverbs makes a heart wise. It's a practical guide for getting along with others. They provide guidance for living an obedient life. They contain many instructions to help readers and steer them away from sin." Max Lucado

                               3. ADD LISTENING TO YOUR LEARNING

"Let the wise LISTEN (to these proverbs)  AND ADD TO THE LEARNING (becoming even wiser), and let the discerning (understanding) get guidance ."                                                                                                              Proverbs 1:5  (NIV/NLT)

I have started to add TO MY LEARNING, BY LISTENING (watching) new teachers/pastors. A new "Home Schooling" program from Pastor Paul Washer - Heart Cry Curriculum.  It's mainly for young people, but it also includes their parents, and he is a very easy listening, spiritual speaker, with a great faith in Christ Jesus. 

I still listen and learn from my other speakers: Nicky & Pippa Gumbel, Max Lucado and Charles Swindoll; with Jesus and my BIBLE always by my side. 

There are all kinds of voices in the world instructing us to LISTEN to them, but there is only one voice we need to FOLLOW - GOD'S! God tells us to "live morally" and "do what is right". We need to discipline ourselves with moral instruction, again guided by the WORD OF GOD and the HOLY SPIRIT. 

We need to be able to:

                                           * Discern wise counsel.

                                           * Listen to others instructions.

                                           * Follow the Word of God and His Will.

                                           * Live righteous, just, wise behaviours.

                                           * Glean and grow in knowledge and understanding.

                                           * MAKE IT YOUR OWN! THE GOAL IS TO LEARN!

"Don't just listen and obey. Apply these TRUTHS to your life. Submit to the wise counsel of others - parents, grandparents, pastors and elders in your Church, teachers at school". Paul Washer

"Be still, PRAY AND READ GOD'S WORD. Ask God, to help you LISTEN to what He wants to teach you. Relax, and simply enjoy meeting with God. Be creative in HIS PRESENCE." Jacqui Grace

 "If we LISTEN to this advice in the SCRIPTURES and we live in the palm of Jesus' hand, we have access to the WORDS OF WISDOM." Charles Swindoll 

            4. UNDERSTANDING PARABLES, PROVERBS AND RIDDLES.

 "By exploring (understand) the meaning in the proverbs and parables, the words (sayings) of the wise and their riddles." Proverbs 1:6 (NLT/NIV)

Although the Proverbs were written many years ago, WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE is still relevant today, by "GOD'S INSPIRED TRUTH". They haven't changed and they are even more practical for us today. Pray and open your Bible - you have the priviledge to not only READ IT, but to STUDY IT.

People who live good lives, who follow GOD'S WILL rather than their own are more likely to be happy, joyful and prosperous. This doesn't mean we won't have trials or suffering. We may be anxious, but we can understand more of what "God does in our lives" , and we know that with Jesus at our side we are more likely to work through these "riddles".

A RIDDLE is a saying that may be difficult to understand, but we need to continue to work at it! The disciples didn't always understand what Jesus taught, but they continued to follow Him, unlike other people who walked away. Our priority needs to be KNOWING GOD AND KNOWING HIS WORD!

"You can have a relationship with Jesus not just because of WHAT HE SAYS but WHO HE IS! You can be a really WISE AND GOOD PERSON, following His principles in these Proverbs and the Parable in the Gospels. When we read these, we understand that all WISDOM COMES FROM JESUS CHRIST. Our life is now not based on our performance but our SALVATION." Paul Washer

                           5. THE FEAR AND REVERENCE OF THE LORD

"Fear of the Lord is the FOUNDATION (beginning)  OF TRUE WISDOM (knowledge), but fools despise WISDOM AND DISCIPLINE (instruction)." Proverbs 1:7 (NLT/NIV 

How would you describe wisdom? According to this special verse 7, "fear is the reverence for God". It is how we begin our relationship with God and His son Jesus - the foundation of the LOVE we have with them, and consequently how we grow in our TRUE WISDOM. 

God is WORTHY and He is SOVEREIGN. We will have a great RESPECT for Him and His word, and this will grow as we continue to put it into practice. WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGGE are our:

* FOUNDATION - as we "dig deep enough", with the "right materials" and "stable layers".

* JOURNEY - our first steps are well marked.

* LENSE - We interpret it, recognizing right from wrong.

* MORAL COMPASS - We need to have a "plan" to have "convictions", and make decisions to follow the "right course" - the will of God. 

"Fools despise wisdom and instruction": 

                                                                          * Showing CONTEMPT and SCORN.

                                                                          * They BELITTLE and MOCK it. 

Today someone told me I was wasting my time READING AND STUDYING GOD'S WORD, and WRITING MY BLOG. It really hurt, and I struggled withh picking up my Bible again. Not only were they making fun of my LEARNING AND TEACHING, but they despised my LOVE FOR JESUS AND HIS WORD. 

Why do people hate GOD'S WILL so much? Because it is not their own, and they want to govern their own life. They despise INSTRUCTION and OBEDIENCE and have their own lusts and desires. Please don't be like that! GIVE YOUR LIFE TO JESUS CHRIST and FOLLOW HIS WORD!

"Young people are offered two paths: 

                                               1) "Wisdom - living the true nature of Christ."

                                               2) "Folly - destruction: following their own way," 

                                                                             Dr Katherine Dell 

"Study the scriptures, pray, love your brothers and sisters, honour your parents, and TRUST IN CHRIST and HIS SAVING FAITH." Paul Washer

"The Holy Bible - New International Version", 2011, Biblica

"The Holy Bible - New Living Translation", 2015,Tyndale House Foundation

"The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom: Proverbs 1:7", 2026, Proverbs Song, WealthSignalAudio/YouTube

Alexander, David, "The Lion Handbook to the Book - 4th Edition", Lion Hudson Publications

Dell, Dr Katherine, "Understanding Job and Solomon's Wisdom in Proverbs", Director of Studies, St Catherine's College, Specialist in Proverbs and Job. Senior Lecturer in Divinity, Cambridge Unibersity.

Grace, Jacque, "Exploring Proverbs - A Creative Colouring Journal", 2023, Just Card Publishing

Lucado, Max, "The Devotional Bible - Experiencing the Heart of Jesus: Proverbs 1" - New Century Version, 2003, Thomas Nelson

Swindoll, Charles, "Living on the Ragged Edge", 1985, Word

Washer, Paul, "Studies in Proverbs: Home Schooling" - Lessons 1-11", 2020, Heart Cry Curriculum, Missionary Society, YouTube

PROVERBS - INTRODUCTION - King Solomon, Father God, Jesus Christ

 

Welcome to my new BLOG! I'd like to introduce you to a few people:

1) KING SOLOMON: King David's son - the writer of most of these PROVERBS. Although given this great gift, becoming a wise author, but there were times he was also a "fool",  not following the truth, when he knew better. 

"These are the WISE SAYINGS of Solomon, son of David, King of Israel: givinging WISDOM AND INSTRUCTION, for UNDERSTANDING WORDS OF INSIGHT;  written down so we'll know how to LIVE WELL AND RIGHT....a manual for living, hearing what is RIGHT, JUST AND FAIR" Proverbs 1:1-3 (MSG/NIV)

"He associate with women who served other gods - the pulled him after IDOLATRY. We need a heart FOR GOD as well as WISDOM, and most of all, like his father Solomon's father David,  you need a HEART AFTER GOD". You needs facts -  knowledge and understanding - but WITHOUT GOD - nothing is going to matter."                                                                                                                           Paul Washer

2) OUR FATHER GOD: who in the book of Kings, answered a prayer of King Solomon and gave him WISDOM.  King Solomon gathered wisdom from his father King David, some of the wisest prophets and teachers who read to Him from God's Word, and of course, GOD HIMSELF. 

"God gave Solomon WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore, so that Solomon's WISDOM SURPASSED THE WISDOM OF THE EAST and al the wisdom of Egypt." 1 Kings 4:29&30 (ESV)

"Next time you are at the beach take a look at a handful of sand and shells, and take a little  bit of time meditating on God's infinite wisdom." Jacqui Grace

3) JESUS CHRIST: OUR SAVIOUR & LORD:  Proverbs are practical TRUTHS from the WORD of CHRIST'S teaching in the GOSPEL. They are PRACTICAL ways to live:

                                     * Instruction, insight & wise behaviour.

                                     * Prudence, knowledge and discretion.

                                     * Learning & Guidance

                                     * Understanding & Teaching. 

                                     * In our relations, home and work.

                                     * Making decisions, how we think, act or speak. 

Most of all we want to live in the way our SAVIOUR JESUS LIVES!!

"Whoever says HE ABIDES IN HIM ought to WALK IN THE SAME WAY IN WHICH HE WALKED....whoever claims to LIVE IN HIM, MUST LIVE AS JESUS DID."                                                                                                             1 John 2:6 (ESV/NIV)

"As you begin your jouney ask Jesus to help you each day for WISDOM AND INSIGHT, to apply all thes NEW TRUTHS you read and learn, and WALK EVERY DAY with HIM.." Jacqui Grace

"The Holy Bible - New International Bible" - 2011, Biblica

"The Holy Bible - English Standard Version" - 2001, Crossway/Good News Publishers

"The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language" - 1993, Eugene H Peterson, NavPress/Tyndale House Publishing

"Wisdom Lights the Way - Proverbs 1:1-4", 2026, Bible Songs For Kids, YouTube

"Measureless Wisdom - 1 Kings 4:29", 2020, The Scripture Studio Daily, You Tube

Washer, Paul, "Studies in Proverbs: Home Schooling" - Lessons 1-11", 2020, Heart Cry Curriculum, Missionary Society, YouTube

Grace, Jacqui, "Exploring Proverbs - A Creative Journal", Just Cards Publishing