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
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