Prov. 1:7-19 Notes
Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of knowledge: [but] fools despise wisdom and instruction."
There is very little left to say about this statement. We know the fear of anything other than God is lack of faith. This type of fear of God would cause reverent worship of him.
In James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."
A fool does not even realize that instruction and wisdom will benefit him. He goes away ignorant as before, because he will not let anyone instruct him.
The fear of the Lord means submission to the Lord and His revelation. When one is afraid of something, he either runs from it or submits to it. The latter idea is in view here. It is a healthy fear, like the fear of electricity or the fear of one's parents, which causes one to act in an appropriate manner. The beginning does not mean that "the fear of the Lord" is left behind in the course of acquiring wisdom, but that it is the controlling principle of wisdom.
Proverbs 1:8 "My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:"
The two people in the world who want you to have the best of everything are your mother and father. The instructions they are trying to get you to heed are to save you headache and troubles. They have your welfare at heart. Accept their instructions so that you can gain from their experience and not have to make the same mistakes they have already made. They wish you only good, not evil.
My son begins the first of 10 similar discourses in which the father appeals to the son to listen to his counsel and choose wisdom over folly. The mention of the Mother shows that the original setting of the book was the home, not the court or school.
Proverbs 1:9 "For they [shall be] an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck."
The greatest gift a parent can give to a child is the gift of good moral teaching. This "grace" above, I believe, is just that. These parents have set high moral standards and passed them on to¬¬ their children.
Chains about thy neck: refers to an adornment or thing of beauty in one's life.
Proverbs 1:10 "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not."
You see, we are a free moral agent. We decide whether we will sin or not. Just because the crowd is sinning, is no reason to get involved. Use your own free will and say "no" to sin, even if it is inviting. In the
long run, we are responsible for our own decisions.
Sinners is a term reserved in Scripture to describe unbelievers for whom sin is continual and who endeavor to persuade even believers to sin with them. The sins of murder and robbery are used as illustrations of such folly.
Proverbs 1:11 "If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:"
"Come with us". The intimidating force of peer pressure is often the way to entice those who lack wisdom.
Proverbs 1:12 "Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:"
The wicked devise a plot of deception in which the innocent are captured and victimized like one who is taken by death itself, as with Joseph (Gen. 37:20); Jeremiah (Jer. 38:6-13); and Daniel (Dan. 6:16-17).
"The Pit ... Sheol" is the place of death. For the wicked it is a place of no return (Job 7:9), darkness (Psalms 143:3) and torment (Isaiah 14:11).
Proverbs 1:13-14 "We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:" "Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:"
This is the enlisting of the innocent without full disclosure of intent. Abundant spoil is promised by this outright robbery, which is made to appear easy and safe for the thieves and murderers.
Proverbs 1:15 "My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:"
This directly confronts the invitation of (verse 11). Sin must be rejected at the first temptation, by refusing even the association that can lead to sin. Avoid the beginnings of sin (see 4:14).
Proverbs 1:16 "For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood."
This is warning not to keep evil company. There is guilt by association. You may not be guilty of their sins; but if you are caught with them, you will pay the terrible penalty with them. Many a youngster has gotten into serious trouble because he wanted to be part of the gang. Children's favorite saying to parents is, "everyone is doing it". Sometimes peer pressure causes a youngster to join a gang. He probably has no idea they are stealing or killing when he joins; but the longer he stays, the more deeply involved he becomes. The only way to avoid this is just what the Scripture advises. Don't go with them in the first place. The time to say "no" is before you get in deep.
Proverbs 1:17 "Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird."
As a bird flies into a net and is caught, so will the sinner get caught if he goes head long into sin. We know the net is there, but get into it anyway.
It would be ineffective to set up a net for catching a bird in full view of the bird. Taken with (verse 18), this analogy means that the sinner sets up his trap for the innocent in secret, but in the end the trap is sprung on him (verse 19). This greed entraps him. Stupid sinners rush to their own ruin.
Proverbs 1:18 "And they lay wait for their [own] blood; they lurk privily for their [own] lives."
A person laying in wait to kill someone else is actually sealing their own doom.
Proverbs 1:19 "So [are] the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; [which] taketh away the life of the owners thereof."
Greed for things that do not belong to you is certainly the cause of most sin toward your fellow man.
INTRODUCTION: King Solomon ruled the nation of Israel for 40 years. He brought peace and wealth to the nation. Solomon's workmen built palaces, and the great temple (house of God in Jerusalem). The people of Israel learned arts, sciences and music.
When he was young, Solomon obeyed God. He asked God for wisdom, and God gave it to him (1 Kings 3:9, 12). Other rulers, including the queen of Sheba, visited Solomon (1 Kings 10:1-13). She asked him many questions. His answers showed great knowledge of many subjects. He taught about plants, animals and fish. Solomon became more and more famous.
Solomon learned and wrote many proverbs (wise words). He collected 3000 proverbs (1 Kings 4:29-34). The Book of Proverbs contains many of these proverbs. The Book of Proverbs also contains other lessons about wisdom. And the Book of Proverbs contains many poems about wisdom.
Solomon also wrote Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon in the Bible. The Bible also contains some other books about wisdom. These books are Job, Ecclesiastes and James. And Jesus taught lessons about wisdom in Matthew chapters 5 to 7 and Luke chapters 11 to 16.
Sections of the Book of Proverbs - The Book of Proverbs has 6 main sections:
• Solomon's wise lessons (Proverbs 1:1 to Proverbs 9:18)
• The proverbs (wise words) of Solomon (Proverbs 10:1 to Proverbs 22:16)
• 30 wise lessons (Proverbs 22:17 to Proverbs 24:34)
• More of Solomon's proverbs (wise words) (Proverbs 25:1 to Proverbs 29:27)
• The puzzles of Agur and Lemuel (Proverbs 30:1 to Proverbs 31:9)
• A poem about a perfect wife (Proverbs 31:10-31)
• This document contains the first section, Proverbs 1:1 to Proverbs 9:18.
v7 Respect God! Knowledge begins with this lesson. Fools hate wisdom and discipline.
Verse 7
When you learned English, you started with easy words. When you learn any subject, you must start with easy lessons. The first lesson in wisdom is that we must respect God. He made everything. He is greater than we are. We must give honour to him.
• A person who does not know God may be clever. He may have many skills. We can learn many things from him. Such a person lacks something important. He has learnt many lessons. But he has missed the first lesson. Wisdom begins when a person respects God. We should try to show a better way to this person.
The opposite of a wise person is a fool. (You would offend a person, if you called him a fool.)
• A fool intends to do evil things. A simple person does evil things, because he does not know wisdom. But a fool does evil things, because he hates wisdom.
• We want to show God's way to such people. But this is difficult. Jesus said, 'Do not give valuable things to pigs' (Matthew 7:6). Wisdom is valuable. Sometimes we must leave a fool to be foolish. A pig does not appreciate things that are valuable to us. A fool does not appreciate the value of wisdom.
• We can learn from the mistakes of fools. We must not copy their mistakes.
• A fool hates wisdom and discipline. If we are wise, we shall love wisdom and discipline.
v8 My son, listen to your father! Do not forget your mother's words.
v9 Wear them like a crown for your head or a chain for your neck.
v10 My son, if evil men tempt you, do not give in to them!
v11 They might say, 'Come with us! We shall attack an innocent man.
v12 We shall destroy him. We will be as cruel as hell to that man. v13 We shall take his riches. His wealth will belong to us.
v14 Join us! We shall share everything.'
v15 My son, do not listen to them! Do not follow them!
v16 They are quick to do wrong deeds. They do not hesitate to kill innocent men.
v17 You cannot set a trap for birds whilst they watch you.
v18 These thieves attack only themselves.
v19 In the end, a thief will destroy himself. His evil plan will cause his own death.
Verses 8-9
In Solomon's time, both parents educated their children. It is good when children can learn from both parents.
• We should listen to wisdom. Wisdom is beautiful, and it is valuable. To possess it is like a crown on the head. Or, it is like a gold chain round the neck.
• To obtain wisdom, we must study. And we need discipline. We cannot become wise quickly. But wisdom will improve our lives.
• Some people imagine that they know a quicker way to improve their lives. Solomon warns about such people in verses 10-19. They offer friendship (verse 14). But their friendship cannot last because their plan is evil. They offer rich rewards (verse 13). But really they will suffer a terrible fate (verse 19). Wisdom is much better than any evil plan.
Verses 10-16 - The thieves' plan
In Solomon's story, a band of thieves have a cruel plan.
• The thieves ask a young man to join them. Together, they will attack someone else. They will steal from him, and murder him. The young man and the thieves soon will become wealthy.
• The young man does not realise the true plot.
Verses 17-19
The truth is this. The thieves also intend to kill the young man. This means that the thieves will keep all the money.
• Solomon's story teaches us about evil behaviour. An evil life is not fun. It is dangerous. The evil person risks a terrible end.
• The young man in the story thought that he would become wealthy. In reality, he lost everything.
Solomon warns us not to make the same mistake.
BIBLE REF - Context Summary vv. 1-7: Chapter Summary
Proverbs Chapter 1 provides a clear description of the purpose of the book. It is stated plainly who wrote the book, the lineage of Solomon, and to whom he was writing. Solomon gives four distinct purpose statements in the opening verses. The essence of these is to explain why he is writing the book as well as the source of his inspiration. Solomon concludes with a warning against sinfulness and a personal plea for his children to act wisely. Proverbs 1:1-7 outlines the four distinct ''to'' statements, or purpose statements of the book of Proverbs. This section culminates with the identification of the only source of true wisdom, the Lord Himself. The purpose of the book of Proverbs is to recognize wise instruction and apply knowledge wisely. Most importantly, this all begins with a reverent fear of the Lord and the rejection of foolish ways.
v. 7: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction." - Verse 7 concludes the introduction to the book of Proverbs. This verse is the cornerstone of the entire book. Solomon is making an absolute statement, against any knowledge that takes precedence over the Lord. The use of "fear," in this context, is not meant to imply a sense of horror, despair, or fright. It is a strong term, for sure. Here, it points more towards a sense of extreme respect. This is the sense in which mature adults "fear" things like fire, knives, or chemicals. It's not panic and terror, but does come with a suggestion of consequences. According to the Bible, true knowledge cannot exist without a reverent "fear" of God.
Certainly there are many very intelligent individuals who do not follow God, so this statement can seem contradictory. In the original Hebrew phrasing, "the beginning" does not point to knowledge, but instead belongs with the "fear of the Lord." The same phrase can be more literally translated as "giving priority to." In this context, the term "beginning" means the chief place in time, space, and order. The contention here is not that one cannot obtain knowledge apart from God. Instead, this implies that knowledge is out of place apart from the fear of the Lord.
Knowledge itself can become an idol and take the chief place in one's life (Romans 1:22). Solomon learned throughout his life that there is a vast difference between worldly knowledge and godly wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:25). In this book, he is warning us to put things in the proper order. The "fear of the Lord" is the beginning: it should hold the chief position, the place of priority in our lives, and then we will obtain knowledge and put it into its proper place. However, just because knowledge should not overtake the Lord in priority, we are not to despise wise instruction. Instead, when everything is in its proper place, we will fear the Lord, obtain knowledge, and enjoy wise instruction.
Context Summary: Proverbs 1:8-19 is a warning against foolishness and the allure of sinful behavior. Solomon begins this warning by appealing to his children to honor their parents' teaching. As any parent knows, it's often best to outline a negative behavior before stating the consequences of that behavior. The example used seems extreme, but it is meant to point towards an obvious conclusion.
v. 8: "Hear, my son, your father's instruction And do not forsake your mother's teaching;" - Ex. 20:12 commands us to honor our mother and father. This goes beyond simple obedience, and includes the ideas of respect and consideration. In the New Testament Paul points out to us that this command is the first which comes with a promise (Ephesians 6:1-4). Paul also commands fathers to raise their children in the "discipline and instruction of the Lord." Here in the first chapter of Proverbs, we see Solomon giving the same exhortation to follow the wise instruction of your parents.
This suggestion is especially poignant, coming from Solomon. Although he was blessed by God with incredible wisdom (2 Chronicles 1:11-12), Solomon didn't always choose to use it. The book of Ecclesiastes records how he pursued many things, other than God, and found them to be empty and pointless (Ecclesiastes 2:9-11). In the end, Solomon came to the conclusion that following God's will is by far the most important goal of our lives (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
v. 9: "Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And ornaments about your neck." - Verse 9 likens our parents to a garland or a pendant. This custom of adorning oneself with jewelry has not changed much in thousands of years. Jewelry is a status symbol and serves as an item of beautification. Solomon gives a clear picture that parents (more specifically the instructions of parents) are not to be despised. Instead, they should be seen as treasures.
The wise instructions of a parent, like fine jewelry, are often obtained at great cost. They have history, value, and can even be passed along to future generations. Further, those who actively use the wisdom of their parents will see it reflected in their lives. Other people will notice the wise choices, wise behavior, and wise words, just as someone will notice the fine jewelry a person puts on. In terms of wisdom, this is far better than jewelry, since wisdom can be spread to others who see it and learn from it.
v. 10: "My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent." - There is a small, easily misunderstood term hidden here in verse 10: "if." Immediately after exalting the merits of parental instruction, Solomon quickly makes this decisive statement. In Hebrew, the term translated as "if" is a widely used demonstrative term, 'im. This word is used frequently in Hebrew writing when one wishes to demonstrate a point. While we translate it often as "if" in English, it can also mean "doubtless if," "moreover if," or even "when." The word is meant to imply a hypothetical, a situation that is not (yet), but may or probably will be.
In more literal English, Solomon is not saying "if" sinners entice you, he is saying "when" sinners entice you. And we can all agree that sin has enticed us throughout our lives. The parental command here is not to consent to sin, not to go willingly into it. It advises us to use our wisdom and act according to our knowledge, taught to us by our parents and found in the Scriptures.
v. 11: "If they say, 'Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause;" - Verses 11-14 represent a fictitious quote Solomon uses as an example. His suggestion sounds over the top, so much so that a reader may say, "No one would ever be attracted to these things." However, what is dangerous are the lures used in each verse. Solomon exaggerates in order to make the point clear-the proper response to these temptations should be obvious, but it is not always so easy. Recognizing them in an extreme example gives us perspective to see them in less radical scenarios.
Verse 11 is about the concept of peer pressure. This sets up the warning that enticement is often a group effort. This is the "come on, everyone is doing it" theme of our day. Countless evil things have been excused on the grounds that many people were involved. The sinner says, "Come with us," and "let us." Even though what they appear to be doing is grotesque, Solomon is making the point that the group mentality is seductive. Against one or two people, we may be able to stand firm, but when a group is egging us on, it is much harder to resist.
v. 12: "Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit;" - This verse carries the theme of verse 11 to another level. Solomon is still using an exaggerated scenario, for a reason. The "obvious" response here is meant to show how we ought to respond to foolishness and sin. This is meant to be applied anywhere we are tempted, not only in cases of obvious evil.
Verse 11 brought up the dangers of peer pressure-the "group mentality." Not only is the group mentality still in play here in verse 12, but now a new incentive is given. Here, the excuse changes to suggest that "The people we're doing this to have it coming." This is another reason human beings have used to excuse evil actions: the claim that two wrongs make a right. This even applies in seemingly positive ways. It's the reason we applaud Robin Hood for stealing: because he is stealing from the rich and greedy. Here in this verse, the tempting "sinner" is stating that the people being ambushed are going down to the pit anyway, so we might as well teach them a lesson. And yet, these were the same people described in verse 11 as "the innocent," showing how sin will twist anything in order to justify itself.
v.13: "We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil;" - This verse changes the game a bit. Now, the lure shifts to what you will get out of it. The incentive becomes the personal benefits of sin. The fictional "sinner" speaks of the riches that you will come by, and what will be found. At this point, we see that the temptation has all the makings of a common manipulation tactic. First, "You won't be alone, we will do it together." Second, "They really have it coming anyway." Third, "We will get rich in the process." It would be easy for anyone to fall into this trap and be enticed by sin. Many people, in fact, have fallen into sin for these very reasons. All too often, that starts with a desire for the "riches," or the benefits. The rest is just an attempt to justify our sin. Very few people participate in sin because they think it is wrong and that it will lead to disaster. We justify our actions in an effort to say they really aren't "bad," or at least, "not that bad." And, we fool ourselves into thinking that we can get away with it, without any consequences. Solomon uses an extreme example to make a point, but the same silly thinking-and the same proper response-is meant to apply to us, even in less outrageous situations.
v. 14: "Throw in your lot with us, We shall all have one purse,'" - This verse ends with the typical promise of sin: "Throw in with us and we will all share in the plunder." Of course, in the real world, this isn't just unlikely, it's impossible. Sin never leads to all of the glorious outcomes it promises. There is no legitimate get rich quick scheme. Nobody engaged in sin and evil is going to fairly share with other sinners. Yet, this kind of approach continues to sell to the easily manipulated community. This, of course, means each one of us, which is the reason Proverbs brings this warning so early and so strongly.
Obviously, the book of Proverbs, along with the rest of the Bible, realizes that sin does sometimes result in temporary benefits (Ps. 73:3; Heb. 11:25). More often than not, though, it leads to ruin and suffering (Gal. 6:8). And, of course, rejection of God will ultimately lead to eternal damnation (Mk. 8:36; John 12:48).
Even though Solomon's example seems extreme, he uses it to explain many of the ways in which temptation can attack us. When understood this way, the enticement to sin is quite real. The purpose of the example is to help us recognize and reject those "sales tactics:" peer pressure, ends justifying the means, personal gain, and glory.
v. 15: "My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path," - This is Solomon's plea to his children to not even pay attention to these kinds of temptations. The terms he uses here are "do not walk," and "hold back your foot." In other words, don't even let them get a word out, don't listen at all, stay completely away from the path. In no way, shape, or form should we cooperate with those who are pursuing evil.
Again, the fact that this is coming from Solomon has to be kept in mind. His personal history was one of a man who experimented with pleasure, power, and sin. In the end, he found all of those to be a waste of time. Solomon knows from experience that once you start on the wrong path it is very difficult to get off of it. The father's plea then is to stay away from the path to begin with. This is an all-too-common plea from parents to their children: "Don't make the same mistakes I did."
v. 16: "For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood." - This warning is a reference back to verses 11-14. Even though the lures are tempting, the type of people who run to evil will take you down with them. There is no honor among thieves. They will do anything to get ahead, including shedding blood, even your blood. Those who persist in willful evil should be avoided at all costs. While this might seem like common sense, Solomon's warning is meant to expose how even the worst sinners will tempt others to join them.
Even when the stakes are not as high-or don't seem to be-this principle still applies. The book of Proverbs will explore this idea again (Prov. 13:20). The New Testament gives similar advice, from the apostle Paul in 1 Cor. 15:33: "Bad company ruins good morals." This is why Solomon warns to not even walk a single step in that path. Every moment spent with those who are trying to tempt you to evil is another moment closer to spiritual and tangible ruin.
v. 17: "Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird;" - Here, Solomon shows the plans of evil people to be foolishness. Solomon desperately wants to point out that all their promises are in vain. He uses the simple example of the bird. Even that ignorant animal is smart enough not to be caught in a trap when it watches the hunter set it up. Thinking one can escape obvious disaster is foolish. Only the fool will be taken by the temptation of these sinners. Sadly, human beings are prone to making exactly these kinds of ridiculous mistakes.
v. 18: "But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives." - Solomon reinforces the concept that those who plan to do evil will undoubtedly harm themselves. These people are out for selfish gain, and they will meet a selfish end. The trap that they set for others, in the end, will tangle them up. This is a major theme of biblical morality: nobody "gets away with it." Trying to get ahead by defying God will only lead to disaster (Mk. 8:36). All sin will be punished, and only the gospel gives us a means to avoid the fate we deserve.
In a more immediate context, Solomon is highlighting the fact that getting involved with sinners leads only to personal destruction. Falling into the temptations of sin never ends well, even when it seems to start well. No good can come from these wicked plans. Both the book of Proverbs and other Scriptures will emphasize the importance of choosing one's company very carefully (Prov. 13:20; 1 Cor. 15:33).
v.19: "So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; It takes away the life of its possessors." - Those who have read the myth of King Midas will recognize the point of this proverb. King Midas wished for nothing more than gold. His greed was immense, even though he already had everything he could want. By chance, he was given the ability to have one wish granted; he wished that everything he touched would turn into gold. This scheme quickly turned into a curse when his clothes, food, and drink all became cold, hard metal. Even his daughter turned into a gold statue. Midas suffered greatly for his selfish wish, and ruined his royal life. Midas' greed was for unjust gain. He wanted what he did not deserve, did not earn, and didn't really need. He made a stupid, thoughtless choice based on insatiable greed. This act would eventually take away his "life," just as Solomon tells us here.
Those who try to get ahead through sin and evil will find that they've lost everything. This includes what they thought they were gaining, and everything they had beforehand (Mk. 8:36-38).
