What Do We Need From God?

1 These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. 2 Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. 3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. 4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. 5 Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance 6 by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles. 7 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1:1-7 (NLT)

The book of Proverbs is for everyday life and gives practical suggestions for effective living. This book is not just a collection of sayings but also contains deep spiritual insights drawn from life experience to gain wisdom and discipline. The key term in Proverbs is wisdom. Wisdom includes skills in living that only comes by fearing God (Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 9:10; Proverbs 31:30; see also Psalms 111:10 and Ecclesiastes 12:13). The phrase “fear of God” does not mean terror or fright. Instead, fearing God means a loving, trusting, dependent, reliant, and obedient relationship with the true and living God and His commands and hating evil (Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 8:13; Job 28:28). A wise person knows, trusts, and wholeheartedly depends upon God for all of life (Proverbs 3:5-7; Jeremiah 9:23-24). Fearing God is more than just reverence of God but also means living closely with God, relating to God personally in EVERY aspect of our life. Wisdom is connected to righteousness and moral living while remaining far from evil, fraud, and self-reliance. Proverbs encourage people to get wisdom in all circumstances (Proverbs 4:5; James 1:5) for wisdom is worth more than silver, rubies, or gold (Proverbs 3:13-15). The New Testament describes Jesus Christ as God’s wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30; Colossians 2:3). In essence, the fearing God means righteous living.

The opening verses of Proverbs introduce the reader to the book of Proverbs. Proverbs 1:1-7 is the introduction of Proverbs. This introduction makes many promises. According to this opening, these verses promises that whoever reads them will gain “wisdom,” “discipline,” “understanding words of insight,” “prudence,” “righteousness, justice, and equity,” “discretion,” “learning,” “wise counsels,” and “to understand proverbs and parables.” Thus, Proverbs promises to help the reader gain skills for living, help one make the best possible choices, and acquire a working knowledge of the world and its complexities. The book of Proverbs does not give any secular truths. However, the book of Proverbs does provide sweeping promises of life and death and promises to give wisdom or expertise. The personification of wisdom found in Proverbs 1:20-33 claims that the issue is one of life and death. So, Proverbs provide a structured mind with right and wrong defined and not shifted about by every wind of doctrine. Also, the opening verses of Proverbs introduce the reader to four groups of people: the “simple,” the “young,” the “wise and discerning,” and the “fool.”

15 Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others. 16 A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted. Proverbs 12:15-16 (NLT)

26 Those who trust in themselves (or their own heart) are foolish, but those who live wisely (trusting in God) will be kept safe. Proverbs 28:26 (NCV) 

The “fool” (the Hebrew word is evilim) hates wisdom, resents discipline, refuses to learn, and hot tempered. This person will not listen to wise teaching and advice (Proverbs 27:22) and dies for lack of wisdom (Proverbs 10:21; Proverbs 12:15). Fools have some smarts but have made a conscious decision to live by their own hearts, independent of God, and independent of others advice. Significantly, the fool is never directly addressed in Proverbs because the fool will not cherish discipline, seek advice, or grow and learn. The fool only boasts and is “a know-it-all.” Thus, a fool “hates knowledge” (Proverbs 1:22) and correction of any kind (Proverbs 12:1). They are “quick to quarrel” (Proverbs 20:3) and give “full vent” to their anger (Proverbs 29:11). Even worse, a fool trusts only in themselves (Proverbs 28:26) rather than in an all-loving and knowing God (Psalms 14:1; see also Romans 1:18-25).

15 Only simpletons believe everything they’re told! The prudent (wise) carefully consider their steps. Proverbs 14:15 (NLT) 

The next group is the “simple ones” (the Hebrew word is pethaim). These people are “open-minded” and live without thinking. That is, their minds are like an empty container and can be filled with anything (Proverbs 14:15). The simple are gullible, vulnerable, and open to any various opinions, influences, and philosophies. They are easily impressible, naïve, and lack good judgment (Proverbs 9:4, 16). The simple needs wisdom and counsel, the lack of which leads to their death (Proverbs 7:7). Proverbs 14:15 says the simple believes everything but the wise looks where one is going. 

The “youth” (Hebrew word is naar) is a rare word in Proverbs, occurring only seven times. Five times youth seems to mean an age group (Proverbs 20:11; Proverbs 22:6, 15; Proverbs 23:13-14; Proverbs 29:15), but usually the word youth is used in a context of disciplining a child or young person. The naar is inexperienced, spiritually immature, and lacks discretion. Proverbs 1:4 states that a naar needs discretion and knowledge. Punishment with the rod will save the young’s soul from death’s path (Proverbs 23:12-16). Proverbs 7:7 says young without wisdom commits adultery, lives for oneself, uncommitted and lazy. In Proverbs 7:7, the “youth” is trapped by an adulteress that leads to death and destruction. The idea seems to be that a child may grow up and still be immature. The young needs discipline with a rod. This disciple will force the young to make a commitment to wisdom’s path and find life. 

The final category of people is the “wise.” The wise also benefits from Proverbs. The wise person is a counselor. The principal feature of the wise seems to be the accepting of other wise counsel together with the offering of wise counsel to others in need (Proverbs 9:8-9; Proverbs 10:8; Proverbs 12:15). The wise will listen to advice, separate between good and evil, and provide good counsel (Proverbs 1:5). The wise pays attention and open to the wise advice of others but also weighs and considers this advice (Proverbs 12:15). Proverbs 9:8-9 states that giving instruction to wise person and that person will be even wiser and increase in learning.  The wise of heart will know and obey God’s commandments (Deuteronomy 4:3-8; see also Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21; Deuteronomy 6:4-6).  

The wise loves discipline and reproof, walks humbly, and do not trust their own insight. Instead, the wise TRUSTS God and God’s commandments (Proverbs 3:5-7; see also Psalm 119:33-40; James 1:22-24)! The fool offers counsel but never accepts counsel. Thus, counsel is not for fool. The simple may be fascinated by a counselor, but can never offer counsel. The young is close to becoming either wise or evil and therefore cannot give any counsel. The young requires wise counseling in the form of a rod and discipline, to lead the child towards maturity and life. The simple must be filled with counsel. Yet, the wise benefits from counsel and become ever wiser and gives wise counseling. 

Remember, only the all-knowing and omnipresent God knows it all. We must honor, love, trust, depend, and obey God to be wise indeed.

1 My child, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in mind. 2 Then you will live a long time, and your life will be successful. 3 Don’t ever forget kindness (love) and truth. Wear them like a necklace. Write them on your heart as if on a tablet. 4 Then you will be respected and will please both God and people. 5 Trust the Lord with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own understanding. 6 Remember the Lord in all you do, and He will give you success. 7 Don’t depend on your own wisdom. Respect the Lord and refuse to do wrong. 8 Then your body will be healthy, and your bones will be strong. 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and the firstfruits from all your crops.  10 Then your barns will be full, and your wine barrels will overflow with new wine. 11 My child, do not reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t get angry when He corrects you. 12 The Lord corrects those He loves, just as parents correct the child they delight in. 13 Happy is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gets understanding. 14 Wisdom is worth more than silver; it brings more profit than gold. 15 Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you could want is equal to it. 16 With her right hand wisdom offers you a long life, and with her left hand she gives you riches and honor. 17 Wisdom will make your life pleasant and will bring you peace. 18 As a tree produces fruit, wisdom gives life to those who use it, and everyone who uses it will be happy. Proverbs 3:1-18 (NCV).

References:
Life Application Study Bible. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005.
NLT Study Bible. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2008.
New Student Bible. New York, NY: Zondervan, 1992.
Zondervan NIV Study Bible. New York: Zondervan, 2008.
Schwab, George. The Book of Proverbs: Cornerstone Biblical Commentary. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2009.