Proverbs 1:1-7
The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the youth
Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
and the one who understands obtain guidance,
to understand a proverb and a saying,
the words of the wise and their riddles.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Reading this I noticed there's a lot of 'to's':
To know
To understand
To receive
To give
The 'tos' explain the purpose of this book, the book of Proverbs.
To know - to have confident knowledge in, not doubt but assurance.
To know wisdom and instruction. I think we all would quite like to be a bit wise, to have a maturity in knowledge, but do we all like to be instructed?
Not many of us like being told what to do, but if it comes from a place of wisdom then maybe it's a bit easier to take. If we know the reason behind the instruction then we are more likely to take heed. It's no use being wise if our actions don't follow suit. This is why we need the mature knowledge and the instruction - to propel us into action.
This book will show us what to do and why, not just leave us with a blanket list of rules to follow, which most of us will probably not attain anyway. It is an encouragement to see the heart of God, and to become wise in our actions and words for our benefit, and for that of those around us.
To understand - to get it. To grasp the concept.
To understand words of insight. It's great when someone says something Insightful, but do we actually grasp it? Hang on to it and let it sink in? Or do we think, 'oh that's nice' and not dwell on it any farther? Insight is only of use when it is taken onboard and we allow the words to have impact on us. This book is full of insight, which is nice and lovely, but it won't make a difference unless we understand these words and allow them to influence us.
To receive - accept, take on.
To receive instruction in wise dealing. Now, here's that word again 'instruction'. You can't get away from it - life will involve instruction!
If we want to know how to handle situations wisely, then read this book! That sounds like incentive enough - who wants to act foolishly when they could be wise?
To give - hurrah! Now we all like to get something, if we are going to put in the hard work of knowing, understanding, following instructions and receiving input, then it's only fair that we get given something surely!
What do we get? What do we get?:
The simple - prudence. Now, even if you think you're not that smart, this book is for you, it can give prudence - common sense and good judgement.
Young people - discretion. Boy, young people, this is a real gift! Knowing what to do or not, and when to do it or not, to discern is valuable for young people. It is so easy to get swayed by others, to go along with the crowd and try new things in your youth. Trying new things isn't a bad thing, but use this book to gain discernment so that the things you do don't get you into trouble or leave you feeling guilty or bad.
Wise - increase in knowledge. Wise people always recognise that there's a lot they don't actually know. In fact the wisest people are probably the m,out aware of how much they don't know. How great, that reading this book can increase knowledge. If you want to know more, get reading!
The person who understands - guidance. If we take onboard and understand the teaching in this book, then we will gain guidance in our lives. In our excision making there will be greater understanding, and guidance. This book can help us on our way. If you're confused, unsure, debating an issue, then read on, as the answers may well be in the pages of this book.
So, reading this book of proverbs means everyone gets something. Gifts for all. No matter what kind of person you are, you can gain something from this book. So, let's get reading!
