INSIGHT FOR LIVING 3
INSIGHT FOR LIVING 3
Solomon next names seven sins of the wicked and what the end of the wicked will be, and then names seven things God hates (CP Pr 6:12-15; 6:16-19). Solomon again admonishes Christians to heed their parents' instruction which will lead them in the way, keep them safe, and talk with them. God's commandments are a lamp, and His law is a light. His reproofs of instruction are the way of life in which His children are to walk (CP 6:20-23 and 1:8 with Psa 19:8; 119:105 and 119:9). Heeding God's word will keep Christians from the folly of adultery and harlotry. When they are physically attracted to someone of the opposite sex they must regard that as a warning to beware of being carried away buy their own lusts and enticed into sin (CP Pr 6:24-26 with Jas 1:12-17). Solomon compares an adulterer to a man who holds fire against his chest, or walks on hot coals. Just as no man can do either of those things without being burned, so the one who commits adultery with another man's wife will not go unpunished. Excuses might even be found for a thief who steals to feed his hungry family - he can make restitution for his crime. But an adulterer can never make amends to the husband he has wronged. Solomon declares him to be an utter fool who has completely destroyed his own soul. The shame of what he has done will never leave him; the disgrace of it can never be wiped away (CP Pr 6:27-35 with 2:16-19; 5:3-6, 8-11, 15-23; 7:5-23, 25-27; 9:13-18). Under the New Covenant though the adulterer need not completely lose his soul. Providing he repents and accepts Chris as Saviour, his sins will be forgiven (CP Jn 3:16-18, 36; Ac 2:38; 4:10-12; 1Jn 1:9). 1Jn 1:9 is directed to Christians who have sinned (CP 1Jn 1:7-10).
The whole of Pr 7 is a warning to Christians against allowing immorality to ruin their lives. The love of wisdom is the best preservative from being led astray by temptation (CP 7:1-5). Wisdom here is contrasted with the evil woman who is to be carefully avoided by Christian men. Wisdom should be treated with the honour and respect due to a Christian man's sister and understanding as one of his female relatives. V 6-23 that follow gives a graphic account of a prostitute plying her trade and seducing a young man (CP 7:6-23). Christians must reject out of hand all forms of immorality (CP V 24-27 with Ro 13:12-14; 1Pe 4:1-4; 2Pe 2:12-15).
Following on from here in Pr 8 and 9 both, wisdom is again personified as a woman identifying sin and calling sinners to repentance (CP 8:1-11). Wisdom's call here is to all mankind - men, sons of men, simple, and fools - to choose instruction in preference to silver, and knowledge in preference to gold. Wisdom is even better than rubies and everything else that anyone can desire, finding out knowledge and discretion (CP Job 28:12-18). The literal English translation of the Hebrew in Pr 8:12 is "I, wisdom, dwell with sense, and search out knowledge of wise actions". Hence the KJV rendering, "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence and find out knowledge of witty inventions". Wisdom is practical, choosing the best means to an end. Those who embrace wisdom and follow after understanding are assured that patience, discernment, favour, prosperity, safety, and other benefits will follow as a result (CP Pr 8:12-21 with 1:9; 3:13-26; 4:5-9; 9:11). The wisdom of God will adorn one's life for all to see its beauty. Wisdom is as eternal as God is. She was with Him before creation (CP Pr 8:22-31 with 3:19-20; Psa 104:24-31; 136:4-9; Jer 10:12-13; 51:15-16). Some in the church see the personification of wisdom in Pr 8:22-31 as applying to Christ because He created all things and is referred to in the New Testament as Wisdom (CP Lu 11:49; 1Cor 1:24-30; Col 2:3 with Jn 1:3; Col 1:16; He 1:2). This author does not agree that Christ is referred to in Pr 8:22-31, nor that it teaches His Deity or eternity, as some also claim. Whoever finds wisdom acquires grace and the favour of God (CP Pr 8:32-36). It is man himself who receives or rejects wisdom which leads to eternal life. If he receives it, sin will have no dominion over him. He will obey God's word and resist the Devil, who will flee from him (CP Ro 6:14-23; 8:12-13; Jas 4:7).
In Pr 9 wisdom is represented as ruler of that which she has built (CP 9:1-12). In V 1-6 wisdom is seen as having built a house, prepared a banquet for the invited and sent the maidservants of the house out with the invitations. The invitation is to the simple and those who lack understanding to forsake the foolish things of life and live by going in the way of wisdom and understanding. Wisdom's invitation to eat her bread and drink her wine translates in the New Testament to partaking of the body and the blood of Jesus, which gives life to all who appropriate their benefits by faith (CP V 1-6 with Mt 6:26-28; Mk 14: 22-24, Lu 22:19-20; 1Cor 11:23-26). Wisdom's admonition in Pr 9:6 to forsake the foolish, and live translates to New Testament Christians forsaking all for Christ (CP Mt 4:18-22; 9:9; Mk 1:16-20; 2:14; Lu 5:10-11; 14:25-35).
In Pr 9:7-9 we learn that the index of a man's character is how he receives correction. Scoffers will abuse those who correct them; wicked men will assault them. They will be hated by scoffers, whereas a wise man will be thankful for the instructions given, and become even wiser. A just man increases in learning from what is being taught (CP 9:7-9). The fear of God is basic to all wisdom. The key verse in Proverbs is 9:10 (CP 9:10). Knowing God results in every other kind of understanding. Wisdom makes the hours of a Godly person more profitable, and the years of their life more fruitful (V 11 also 1:7, 24-29; 2:4-7; 3:13-18; 8:12-14; 10:27-30; 14: 26-27; 15:16, 33; 16:6-7; 19:23; 22:4-5; 23:17-18 with Psa 91:1-16). Wisdom is its own reward. Those who scorn her only hurt themselves (CP Pr 9:12 with 16:6; Job 35:6-8). Next, the foolish woman is labelled loudmouthed, empty-headed and brazen-faced. She claims that illicit pleasures are sweeter because they are forbidden. She is out to seduce gullible men, appealing to their baser instincts. But she does not reveal the other side of the story - for a moment of pleasure there is a lifetime of shame and an eternity in Hell if men do not repent (CP Pr 9:13-18 and 2:18-19; 5:3-5; 6:32-33; 7:21-27 with 1Cor 6:9; He 13:4). The foolish woman or harlot in Pr 9:13-18, is typical of all sin.
Next, righteous and wicked lifestyles are contrasted by Solomon. They cover a wide range of topics (CP 10:1-7). A son's behaviour directly affects his parents emotionally. A wise son brings his father joy; a foolish son brings his mother grief. Mothers are affected worse by a foolish son's behaviour because they play a more intimate role in their children's upbringing (CP V 1 with 23:15-16 and 15:20; 17:25). There is no gain from ill-gotten wealth after death, but there is for righteousness. The righteous are made immortal (CP Pr 10:2 with Psa 49:6-20 also Mt 6:19-21 and Jas 5:1-6). God will not suffer the righteous to hunger (CP Pr 10:3 with Psa 34:10; 37:25; Mt 6:25-33). But it is equally true that God thwarts the cravings of the wicked (CP Psa 37:16-20). Solomon praises diligence and the profit it brings and condemns laziness as a cause of hunger and poverty (CP Pr 10:4-5 also 6:6-11; 12:11, 24, 27; 13:4; 14:23; 15:18; 18:9; 19:15; 20:13; 24:30-34; 27:23-27). As noted previously in this study, in the New Testament Paul teaches that it is wrong to support men who are able, but will not work and share their own responsibilities (CP 2Th 3:10-12, (see author's comments on Pr 6:6-11)).
In contrasting the just and the unjust, Solomon declares that a good man is covered with blessings from head to foot, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. What is remembered of a righteous man is a blessing - his name lives on. But a wicked man is soon forgotten - his name dies out (CP Pr 10:6-7 also V 11; 12:13; 18:6-7 with Psa 112:6 and 37:10; Ecc 8:10). It is worth noting here that the name Paul is perpetuated among men, but not Judas, who betrayed Jesus (CP Psa 109:8-15). This prophecy referred to Judas. He had a wife and children. When Judas died his wife became a widow and his children, vagabonds - wanderers - who had to beg all the rest of their days. Judas' family name died out in that generation. It was lost to posterity forever - no one was left to carry on that name. Solomon next contrasts two attitudes - a wise man and a vain talking fool (CP Pr 10:8). A wise man is teachable. He will listen to Godly instruction and so be lifted up, but a vain talking fool lacks insight to do God's will and so will perish (CP also 9:9; 10:10, 14, 18-19 with Jas 1:19). The contrast that follows is two walks (CP Pr 10:9). There is safety and security in an upright life, but the life that is built on deception will be found out and exposed (CP Pr 13:6; 26:26; 28:18 with Psa 23:4; Isa 33:15-16 also Lu 8:17; 1Ti 5:24-25, 2Ti 3:9).