Let the Wise Listen

The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young— let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance. (Proverbs 1:1-5, NIV 1984).

My Musings – Proverbs are wise (“insight…disciplined…prudent“) or moral (“right and just and fair“) sayings drawn from common observation or experience. Common, meaning it generally holds true, but not universal. The book of Proverbs in the Old Testament rises to a higher level, as proverbs go, for two reasons.

First, they are from the observations and experiences of King Solomon. “God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than any other man.” (1 Kings 4:29-32, NIV 1984). Reason enough to pay attention to what is written.

Second, it is part of the Holy Scriptures. And we know that “all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NIV). More than reason enough to pay attention.

My Advice – “Thoroughly equipped” for “doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion.” Can’t get more “useful” than that.

But useful is as useful does. So, “do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:22-25, NIV 1984).