Verses 1-9
v1 My sons, listen to your father’s instruction.
As you listen to me, you will understand more.
v2 My lessons are good.
Do not leave the things that I teach you.
v3 I was only a boy in my father’s house.
I was young, and my mother’s only child.
v4 My father taught me. He said, ‘Study my words deeply!
Keep my commands, and so learn to live a good life.
v5 Get wisdom! Learn to be wise!
Do not forget my words! Do not turn away from them!
v6 Do not leave wisdom. (Wisdom is like a woman.) She will protect you.
Love her! She will watch over you.
v7 Wisdom is better than everything else, so get wisdom!
Even if it costs you everything, learn to be wise!
v8 Give honor to wisdom. (Wisdom is like a woman.) She will lift you higher.
Hug her, and she will give honor to you.
v9 Wisdom’s gifts are like a beautiful crown.’
Commentary
The poem begins with commands to listen. The father will teach a valuable lesson to his sons. The advice did not begin with the father, who is writing the poem. The father learned this lesson from his own father. The lesson is good because it is ancient. Grandfather followed this advice. And he saw that it was good advice. This is why he taught it to the boy’s father. The father has lived by this advice too. So now he teaches it to his own sons.
The words of verse 3 speak about the father’s childhood. These words suggest a loving home. The father was the grandmother’s only child, so he was close to her. Grandfather taught his lessons with love to his little child. This poem is not just about Solomon’s family. It is about all families. It tells us that a father should teach his son. When he grows older, the son should teach his own children.
Solomon’s family was Israel’s royal family. In the poem, the father does not teach about being a king. He does not speak about wealth and money. He does not explain how to lead the nation. For this father, only one thing matters. His son must learn wisdom.
We can teach our children about many things. We must not forget to teach them wisdom. This is the most important lesson of all.
The grandfather began his lessons in the same way as the poet. The grandfather also emphasized that the lesson was important.
At last, we hear the advice. This is the lesson that grandfather taught. We must learn to be wise.
As in earlier chapters, he compares wisdom to a woman. Wisdom, like a woman, deserves our love. Like a woman, she will protect you, if you love her.
Wisdom is better than everything else. It is better than money. It is better than beauty. It is better than health. Wisdom is worth more than everything that you own. Remember that these words come from Israel’s royal family. They had great wealth. But wisdom is more important than wealth.
As in verse 6, the poet compares wisdom to a woman. In verse 6, the poet tells us to love Wisdom. In verse 8, he tells us to hug her. We should get closer and closer to Wisdom. We shall benefit if we do so. Wisdom will lift us higher and give honor to us. As a woman, Wisdom looks after those who love her.
At the end of this poem, the royal family speaks about a crown. This crown is not a gold crown or a silver crown. It is a crown for a king, but a poor person can wear a crown, too. Wisdom gives honor to us. This gift is like a beautiful crown.
In the introduction to this poem, we saw that it was about every family. This poem was not just about Israel’s royal family. Every family can teach wisdom. Every person can trust God and learn to be wise. We can all wear wisdom’s crown. Jesus said, ‘God will give honor to anyone who serves me.’ (John 12:26)
Today, many people say that things are important. A salesman will say that his advice is important. This is because the salesman wants us to buy his products. We can doubt salesmen and politicians. But we must not doubt God’s word. The Book of Proverbs repeats its advice because wisdom really is important.
Verses 10-17
v10 My son, believe my words!
They will bring you long life.
v11 I am guiding you in a wise way.
I am leading you along straight paths.
v12 You will walk in safety.
When you run, you will not fall.
v13 Hold on to my instructions! Learn them well!
Guard my instructions, and they will give you a long life.
v14 Do not choose the same path as wicked men!
Do not walk with evil men!
v15 Keep off evil paths! Do not travel on them!
Turn away! Go elsewhere!
v16 Evil men cannot sleep before they have done an evil action.
They cannot sleep before they have tripped up someone!
v17 An evil man thinks that his evil ways are better than bread.
An evil man thinks that cruelty is better than wine.
Commentary
This passage returns to the idea that life is like a journey. If we plan our journeys wisely, then we are safer. We can avoid many dangers. In the same way, if we are wise, then our lives will be safer.
We shall not walk alone. Wisdom will be our guide and our guard. Remember that this whole book is about God’s wisdom! God protects us when we live our lives in his way. Jesus said, ‘Do not worry about clothes. Look at the flowers in the fields. The flowers do not work or make clothes. But even the wealthy king Solomon did not dress as well as the flowers. God dresses the grasses in the field beautifully, although tomorrow they will burn in the fire. He will provide your clothes also, although you hardly believe.’ (Matthew 6:28-30) Jesus explained that the same was true about food and drink. God cares for us. He will provide what we need for each day. He will lead us to our home in heaven.
‘The people who trust in God will become stronger. They will be so strong, that they will be like the eagle (a large, strong bird). They will run, but they will not become tired. They will walk, but they will not become weak.’ (Isaiah 40:31)
We must guard the good things that God has given to us. Sometimes evil things might seem attractive. We might remember our behavior before we knew God. We might see an evil action and we might want to do the same. ‘Stay awake! Pray! Do not allow evil things to tempt you!’ Jesus told this to his followers in Mark 14:38. Paul wrote, ‘Stand firm in freedom, because Christ has freed us!’ (Galatians 5:1)
Solomon emphasizes his words. We should not behave like evil people. We should not listen to their advice. Their advice is never wise.
We must not do the same things that evil people do. Their behavior is never wise. If we copy their actions, then we are in great danger.
As Solomon emphasizes the lesson, he uses humor. He tells us to imagine the evil man. This man is a very evil man. So, he cannot even sleep until he has done an evil action. At midnight he gets up. He has still not done his evil action. He struggles to think an evil thought. The time is very late, but this man must act now. He cannot even sleep until he has completed his evil task.
The story shows us that evil things are powerful. Evil things will control us, like dangerous drugs or alcohol. We can become like slaves, to our own evil actions. God can set us free, but we must turn to him.
Solomon continues his joke in Verse 17. The evil man has woken. He is eating a meal. We are looking at his food. We expect to find bread or meat or vegetables. The evil man is eating none of these. This man does not want food. Instead, he chooses evil behavior. He does not think that food will make him strong. Instead, he thinks that his evil actions will make him strong. He wants to do evil things, more than he desires his food. He thinks that evil things are essential for his life.
This evil man does not think that he needs milk or water or wine. He supposes that he can manage without these things. He does not want something to drink. Instead, he thinks that cruelty is essential for his life. He wants cruelty, more than he wants a drink.
Verses 18-19
v18 The good man walks at early dawn.
The light shines brighter and brighter as the day begins.
v19 The evil man is like someone who walks at night, in the deepest darkness.
He does not even know why he fell.
Commentary
This short poem contrasts a good man and an evil man. Sometimes people think that everyone is the same. Some people say that everyone is good. The Bible does not say this. The Bible says that we all have turned from God. We must turn back to him. Only God can make us good.
The good man has a good life. He does not yet know everything that God wants to teach him. He has not yet received all the gifts that God will give to him. His life is like a man who walks at dawn. At dawn, there is only a little light. But the light will soon become brighter. And soon the good man will know God better.
Paul writes about this in 1 Corinthians 13:12. ‘Now, we see an image in a poor mirror. In heaven, we shall see clearly. Now, I only know a little. One day, I shall know completely, as God knows me completely.’ Paul is writing about the time when he will see God in heaven.
The evil man has the opposite fate. He is like a man who walks on a dark path. A journey at midnight is dangerous. A traveler cannot see in the darkness. Without any lights, the traveler will trip and fall. In the same way, the evil man is in great danger. He will suffer because of his evil behavior. God will punish him.
Many people, who are not Christians, want God in their lives. They know that they are in danger. They are like someone who travels at night. Christians should speak to them. We should share what God has given to us. God will help those who ask him. When these people first trust God, they will know little about God. In time, they will know more, as they live God’s way. In heaven, they will know God fully. A path becomes brighter as the day begins. And they will know more, as they trust God more.
Verses 20-27
v20 My son, listen to me!
Study my words!
v21 Do not forget my words!
Remember them!
v22 If you study my words, you will receive health and strength.
v23 These lessons will protect your mind.
They will save your life.
v24 Do not speak evil words!
Do not tell lies!
v25 Look ahead!
Do not even glance at the evil things that surround you!
v26 Choose the best life!
Choose the best route for life’s journey.
v27 Do not allow evil things to tempt you away from the right path!
Do not turn right or left!
Commentary
Wise words are like medicine. They benefit every part of our bodies. These verses show us the subject of this passage. Each chapter of Proverbs 1-7 begins in a similar style. Here the subject is health. Wisdom is like medicine because wisdom improves our lives. Unlike medicine, wisdom does not heal our bodies. Wisdom heals our spirits. Wisdom leads us to God.
We should be careful about our thoughts. We should love good things and hate evil things. James 3:1-12 explains Verse 24. James compares our tongues to a fire. Our words can be powerful. We can use words to say good things. But we can use words to say evil things, too. Our mouths can praise God, but they can curse other people. We must be careful about our words.
We look forward to when we follow God. We should not look away from him. Jesus warned about this in Luke 17:31-32. ‘Jesus said, “Do not begin the work, then look back! If you look back, you cannot serve God.” ’ (Luke 9:62)
Again, this compares life to a journey. We will live ‘the best life’ if we obey God. This is like the best route for a journey. If we serve God, then we will help other people. We will be like a postman who brings good news. ‘On the mountains, the postman takes a good message. He has good news about peace and rescue. He says to Jerusalem, “God is king.” ’ (Isaiah 52:7)
|
|
