Posts Tagged ‘Wisdom for the Soul’


[1] My son, pay attention to my wisdom, turn your ear to my words of insight,

[2] that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.

[3] For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil;

[4] but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword.

[5] Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave.

[6] She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it.

[7] Now then, my sons, listen to me; do not turn aside from what I say.

[8] Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house,

[9] lest you lose your honor to others and your dignity to one who is cruel,

[10] lest strangers feast on your wealth and your toil enrich the house of another.

[11] At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent.

[12] You will say, “How I hated discipline! How my heart spurned correction!

[13] I would not obey my teachers or turn my ear to my instructors.

[14] And I was soon in serious trouble in the assembly of God’s people.” [

15] Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well.

[16] Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares?

[17] Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers.

[18] May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.

[19] A loving doe, a graceful deer—may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love.

[20] Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife? Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?

[21] For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all your paths.

[22] The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast.

 [23] For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly..


These verses are not a plea against generosity, but against overextending one’s financial resources and acting in irresponsible ways that could lead to poverty.  It is important to maintain a balance between generosity and good stewardship.  God wants us to help our friends and the needy, but he does not promise to cover the costs of every unwise commitment we make.  We should also act responsibly so that our families do not suffer. 


 “Good doctrine”: There is no wisdom but that which is linked to good doctrine, which should be the focal point of all instruction.

Sometimes in the Proverbs, it seems as if we are covering the same ground all over again. Whether this is to drive home a lesson, or whether we are picking up extra fragments of truth and that is the reason for repetition is not clear. As we said in previous lessons, wisdom is the subject. We see here, also, that a doctrine (belief) has been established.

Instructions in God’s law came from father to son in these times. It was very important not to leave out even minor details in that law. We are told again here to remember in detail the law of God and to live by it (do not forsake it).  In fact, we should make it our doctrine or way of life as well.

One of the greatest responsibilities of parents is to encourage their children to become wise. Here Solomon tells how his father, David, encouraged him to seek wisdom when he was young.  This encouragement may have prompted Solomon to ask God for wisdom above everything else.  Wisdom can be passed on from parents and grandparents to children, from generation to generation.  Ultimately, of course, all wisdom comes from God; parents can only urge their children to turn to him.  If your parents never taught you in this way, God’s Word can function as a loving and compassionate parent to you.  You can learn from the Scriptures and then create a legacy of wisdom as you teach the next generation. 


“My son” tell us who this message is to. It is not to the world in general, but to the followers of God. God reminds us to not forget His teachings but hide them away in our hearts. God also reminds us to walk in His ways.

His “commandments” here are talking about all of His ways. Just as the commandment to honor father and mother promises that our days may be long upon the earth, we see the promises of length of days here if we follow in His ways.

When you know that you have done the right things, it does bring peace. Sin brings fear of punishment, but obedience brings peace.


 “Good doctrine”: There is no wisdom but that which is linked to good doctrine, which should be the focal point of all instruction.

Sometimes in the Proverbs, it seems as if we are covering the same ground all over again. Whether this is to drive home a lesson, or whether we are picking up extra fragments of truth and that is the reason for repetition is not clear. As we said in previous lessons, wisdom is the subject. We see here, also, that a doctrine (belief) has been established.

Instructions in God’s law came from father to son in these times. It was very important not to leave out even minor details in that law. We are told again here to remember in detail the law of God and to live by it (do not forsake it).  In fact, we should make it our doctrine or way of life as well.

One of the greatest responsibilities of parents is to encourage their children to become wise. Here Solomon tells how his father, David, encouraged him to seek wisdom when he was young.  This encouragement may have prompted Solomon to ask God for wisdom above everything else.  Wisdom can be passed on from parents and grandparents to children, from generation to generation.  Ultimately, of course, all wisdom comes from God; parents can only urge their children to turn to him.  If your parents never taught you in this way, God’s Word can function as a loving and compassionate parent to you.  You can learn from the Scriptures and then create a legacy of wisdom as you teach the next generation. 


Expanding the purpose and terms of verse 2, Proverbs engages in a process of schooling a son in the disciplines of (1) Wisdom (a different Hebrew word from that in v.2) which means discreet counsel or the ability to govern oneself by choice; (2) Justice, the ability to conform to the will and standard of God; a practical righteousness that matches one’s positional righteousness; (3) Judgment, the application of true righteousness in dealing with others; and (4) Equity, the living of life in a fair, pleasing way.


Ants can teach us about preparation; coneys (badgers) about wise building; locusts about cooperation and order; and lizards about fearlessness.  Compare this to Jesus teaching in Mathew 6:25-34 that an effective way to resist worry involves a carful observation of the birds and the hills.


James 4:13-16 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  15Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16As it is, you boast and brag, All such boasting is evil. 17Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and does not do it, sins.

It is good to have goals, but goals can disappoint us if we leave God out of them. There is no point in making plans as though God does not exist because the future is in his hands. The beginning of good planning is to ask: “What would I like to be doing ten years from now? One year from now? Tomorrow? How will I react if God steps in and rearranges my plans?” We can plan ahead, but we must hold on to our plans loosely. If we put God’s desires at the center of our planning, he will never disappoint us.

Jesus be Praised! 


” Wicked rulers cause great trouble to their people when they are in power. We spoke earlier how the ungodly rulers will be overthrown by their people. As we said in

Proverbs 28:12 When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, men go into hiding. 

The righteous shall rise and take their place


Dwelling on the honors you deserve can only be harmful. It can make you bitter, discouraged, or angry, and it will not bring the rewards that you think should be yours.  Obsessed for what you should have received may make you miss the satisfaction of knowing you did your best.