In All Your Ways Know Him – Proverbs 1-3

Joy: You’re listening to Season 2 of the Lifting Her Voice podcast.  This is Episode #194 and today we’ll read Proverbs 1-3 together.   Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.

Welcome

Welcome to the Lifting Her Voice podcast, Season 2!  I’m your host, Joy Miller, and I invite you to grab your Bible and join me – from the beginning – simply reading God’s word together.  We built some spiritual muscles in 2020 with just the New Testament.  But this year we’re going all out, cover-to-cover, Old Testament and New.  So, whether with your first cup in the morning, your commute to work, or as the last thing on your mind before sleep, God’s Word will equip you for every good work.  I’m really glad you’re here!

Intro to Proverbs

 Do you recall reading 1 Kings 4:32 where it says, Solomon spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs numbered 1,005?  Well, welcome now to the book of Proverbs.  The count varies a little, but you are about to read approximately 800 of those wise sayings either written or collected by Solomon.  Following are a few of the things that stand out to me about this little collection, but as always, I would encourage you to go to the bibleproject.com and watch the overview video to Proverbs.  Jon is very good about giving details that make the book much more readable.  I’ve included a link in the show notes.

Couple of notables regarding the proverbs in Proverbs.  Of course, if we make it a priority to pursue wisdom and the fear – or reverence – of the Lord, we will be better off and more apt to lead a great life.  But proverbs are not promises and they are not law.  Pursuing wisdom is a good thing, but a good result is not guaranteed.  

I like the structure of the beginning of Proverbs which is written as several sermonettes from a wise father to his son and several poems from Lady Wisdom herself.  (Oh, c’mon, Girls.  Don’t you get just a little charge out of the fact that Wisdom is portrayed as a woman?)  Regardless, though, these speeches tend to lend a level of practical application.  I can actually imagine myself at the feet of this father or Lady Wisdom, receiving guidance and counsel on good judgement and prudence. 

Highlights

Proverbs 3:5-6 will probably be the most recognizable verses for you.  I read that they were the most popular and you will read them today.  They say, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.

And then there is the 31st chapter, causing angst in the hearts of women everywhere that they don’t quite measure up to the Wife of Noble Character.  We’ll talk more about that one when we get there, but for now, we’ll consider it to be like the rest of the Proverbs – and following Jesus for that matter.  It’s something we strive for every day, knowing that there will be times when Lady Wisdom does a face palm over something we did or said, and we have to ask God’s forgiveness – and usually someone else’s – and try again the next day.

There are 31 chapters in the book of Proverbs.  This means you need only check the calendar to know which chapter you should be reading on any given day.  Regardless of the Bible reading plan we choose, the book of Proverbs is an easy addition.  I wonder how much wiser we would be were we to read this book every month for the rest of our lives?

Proverbs 1

The Purpose of Proverbs

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

For learning wisdom and discipline;

for understanding insightful sayings;

for receiving prudent instruction

in righteousness, justice, and integrity;

for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced,

knowledge and discretion to a young man —

let a wise person listen and increase learning,

and let a discerning person obtain guidance —

for understanding a proverb or a parable,

the words of the wise, and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord

is the beginning of knowledge;

fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Avoid the Path of the Violent

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction,

and don’t reject your mother’s teaching,

for they will be a garland of favor on your head

and pendants around your neck.

My son, if sinners entice you,

don’t be persuaded.

If they say — “Come with us!

Let’s set an ambush and kill someone.

Let’s attack some innocent person just for fun!

Let’s swallow them alive, like Sheol,

whole, like those who go down to the Pit.

We’ll find all kinds of valuable property

and fill our houses with plunder.

Throw in your lot with us,

and we’ll all share the loot” —

my son, don’t travel that road with them

or set foot on their path,

because their feet run toward evil

and they hurry to shed blood.

It is useless to spread a net

where any bird can see it,

but they set an ambush to kill themselves;

they attack their own lives.

Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly;

it takes the lives of those who receive it.

Wisdom’s Plea

Wisdom calls out in the street;

she makes her voice heard in the public squares.

She cries out above the commotion;

she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:

“How long, inexperienced ones, will you love ignorance?

How long will you mockers enjoy mocking

and you fools hate knowledge?

If you respond to my warning,

then I will pour out my spirit on you

and teach you my words.

Since I called out and you refused,

extended my hand and no one paid attention,

since you neglected all my counsel

and did not accept my correction,

I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity.

I will mock when terror strikes you,

when terror strikes you like a storm

and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,

when trouble and stress overcome you.

Then they will call me, but I won’t answer;

they will search for me, but won’t find me.

Because they hated knowledge,

didn’t choose to fear the Lord,

were not interested in my counsel,

and rejected all my correction,

they will eat the fruit of their way

and be glutted with their own schemes.

For the apostasy of the inexperienced will kill them,

and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

But whoever listens to me will live securely

and be undisturbed by the dread of danger.”

Proverbs 2

Wisdom’s Worth

My son, if you accept my words

and store up my commands within you,

listening closely to wisdom

and directing your heart to understanding;

furthermore, if you call out to insight

and lift your voice to understanding,

if you seek it like silver

and search for it like hidden treasure,

then you will understand the fear of the Lord

and discover the knowledge of God.

For the Lord gives wisdom;

from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

He stores up success for the upright;

He is a shield for those who live with integrity

so that he may guard the paths of justice

and protect the way of his faithful followers.

Then you will understand righteousness, justice,

and integrity — every good path.

For wisdom will enter your heart,

and knowledge will delight you.

Discretion will watch over you,

and understanding will guard you.

It will rescue you from the way of evil —

from anyone who says perverse things,

from those who abandon the right paths

to walk in ways of darkness,

from those who enjoy doing evil

and celebrate perversion,

whose paths are crooked,

and whose ways are devious.

It will rescue you from a forbidden woman,

from a wayward woman with her flattering talk,

who abandons the companion of her youth

and forgets the covenant of her God;

for her house sinks down to death

and her ways to the land of the departed spirits.

None return who go to her;

none reach the paths of life.

So follow the way of the good,

and keep to the paths of the righteous.

For the upright will inhabit the land,

and those of integrity will remain in it;

but the wicked will be cut off from the land,

and the treacherous ripped out of it.

Proverbs 3

Trust the Lord

My son, don’t forget my teaching,

but let your heart keep my commands;

for they will bring you

many days, a full life, and well-being.

Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you.

Tie them around your neck;

write them on the tablet of your heart.

Then you will find favor and high regard

with God and people.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not rely on your own understanding;

in all your ways know him,

and he will make your paths straight.

Don’t be wise in your own eyes;

fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

This will be healing for your body

and strengthening for your bones.

Honor the Lord with your possessions

and with the first produce of your entire harvest;

then your barns will be completely filled,

and your vats will overflow with new wine.

Do not despise the Lord’s instruction, my son,

and do not loathe his discipline;

for the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.

Wisdom Brings Happiness

Happy is a man who finds wisdom

and who acquires understanding,

for she is more profitable than silver,

and her revenue is better than gold.

She is more precious than jewels;

nothing you desire can equal her.

Long life is in her right hand;

in her left, riches and honor.

Her ways are pleasant,

and all her paths, peaceful.

She is a tree of life to those who embrace her,

and those who hold on to her are happy.

The Lord founded the earth by wisdom

and established the heavens by understanding.

By his knowledge the watery depths broke open,

and the clouds dripped with dew.

Maintain sound wisdom and discretion.

My son, don’t lose sight of them.

They will be life for you

and adornment for your neck.

Then you will go safely on your way;

your foot will not stumble.

When you lie down, you will not be afraid;

you will lie down, and your sleep will be pleasant.

Don’t fear sudden danger

or the ruin of the wicked when it comes,

for the Lord will be your confidence

and will keep your foot from a snare.

Treat Others Fairly

When it is in your power,

don’t withhold good from the one to whom it belongs.

Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go away! Come back later.

I’ll give it tomorrow” — when it is there with you.

Don’t plan any harm against your neighbor,

for he trusts you and lives near you.

Don’t accuse anyone without cause,

when he has done you no harm.

Don’t envy a violent man

or choose any of his ways;

for the devious are detestable to the Lord,

but he is a friend to the upright.

The Lord’s curse is on the household of the wicked,

but he blesses the home of the righteous;

He mocks those who mock

but gives grace to the humble.

The wise will inherit honor,

but he holds up fools to dishonor.

Close

Proverbs bolts out of the starting gate, stating its main theme, speeches from Dad, and taunting from Lady Wisdom for those who ignore her.  Proverbs 1:7 kind of says it all:  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Do we seek after wisdom with the same enthusiasm and anticipation we would use at notion there is hidden treasure to be had?  Perhaps it would help if we modified our definition of treasure.  I was moved by the entirety of chapter 2 in a way that I’ve never been before.  Perhaps again, it was the result of reading it out loud.  All I know is that I came away thinking this might be one of my next memory efforts, especially the first fifteen verses.

Did you notice something familiar about Proverbs 3:4?  In regard to keeping the commands of this earthly father, it says, Then you will find favor and high regard with God and people.  Interesting that in Luke 2:52 that’s exactly what it says in regard to the way Jesus grew:   And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.

In know I should acknowledge the ever-popular Proverbs 3:5-6, and let’s face it, who doesn’t want straight paths?  But what about the next one?  Don’t be wise in your own eyes.  Yes!  It’s the One-Two punch…eradicate pride and cultivate humility.  And Mitch and I can unequivocally attest to the truth of Proverbs 3:9-10.  Simply said, give back to God first and you will never want.  We simply cannot out-give God.  

I’m sure I missed some gems.  What did you place an asterisk by?  Which ones called for you to commit them to memory?  Let me know at Lifting Her Voice.com, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

See You Tomorrow!

Thank you for joining me here today.  I pray that by spending time in His Word every day, you will by changed.  Visit me at Lifting Her Voice.com with your comments and questions.  And don’t forget to visit the Blog page while you’re there.  If you like the podcast, it would be great if you’d give it a five-star review and share it with everyone you know.  Don’t forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  See you tomorrow!

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible(r), Copyright (c) 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible(r) and CSB(r) are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.