Lesson 1

KEY TEXT

“The fear of the Lord is the

beginning of knowledge,

but fools despise wisdom and instruction”

Proverbs 1:7

From Eden onward, the root of human

tragedy lies in wrong choices.

“Man lost all because he chose to listen to the deceiver rather than to Him who is

Truth, who alone has understan-ding. By the mingling of evil with good, his mind

had become confused.”

The book of Proverbs is all about helping us to make right choices, to choose the way of God and not that of the deceiver. The father or the mother, speaking to their son, not only warns him against wrong choices but also encourages him to make the right ones. This is so important because the choices we make are literally matters of life and death.

The first three chapters of Proverbs illustrate this method of education. After having explained the purpose of the book: “to know wisdom” (Prov. 1:2), and having laid down the motto of the book: “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Prov. 1:7; compare 9:10), the author moves back and forth from warning us against listening to foolishness to urging us to respond to the call of heavenly wisdom.

“The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel.” (Proverbs 1:1)

“The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, his utterance. This man declared to Ithiel—to Ithiel and Ucal.” (Proverbs 30:1)

“The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him.” (Proverbs 31:1)

Most part of Proverbs was written by King Solomon during the first years of his reign. Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived(1 Kings 3:5-14).

Some of the Proverbs where gathered together during Hezekiah’s reign (Proverbs 25:1).

All those sayings—including Agur’s and Lemuel’sones—where inspired by the Holy Spirit. They were preserved so we can learn from them.

According to Proverbs 1:2-6, why is wisdom useful?

Which is the beginning or foundation of wisdom?

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7)

Fearing God involves:

To be afraid of saddening Him.

To respect Him and His will. Making decisions according to His Word.

To love Him and to obey Him.

To be conscious of His personal presence at all times and everywhere.

The best argument on behalf of family education is its results. These are the inner qualities of character, which are like ornaments on the head and around the neck. In the Middle Eastern culture, precious collars and bracelets were passed on from parents to children as a heritage of value. Education matters more, though, than material riches. The time spent with our children will be of much greater value for them than the time spent at our businesses. Also, the reference to the neck and the head, which is the individual’s face, suggests that education will shape his or her personality. In the way of fools or sinners, only the feet (Prov. 1:15) are mentioned, as if the wayward son had lost his identity.

How can we learn to resist the temptations that culture, society, friends,

or even family might throw our way?

REFLECTION

“My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother; for they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck.” (Proverbs 1:8-9)

Head and neck represent the personality. The wise mold their personality by listening to the advice of their parents.

That way they walk away from the path of the foolish who disregard advice and follow their own hearts. The feet in verses 15-16 represent that.

The parents are responsible for educating their children for eternity. That is a sacred task.

The time we spent with our children is much more valuable than the time we spent with our businesses. Education is more important than material riches.

“The great work of parents and teachers is character building—

seeking to restore the image of Christ in those placed under their

care. A knowledge of the sciences sinks into insignificance

beside this great aim; but all true education may be made to help

in the development of a righteous character. The formation of

character is the work of a lifetime, and it is for eternity. If all

could realize this, and would awake to the fact that we are

individually deciding our own destiny and the destinies of our

children for eternal life or eternal ruin, what a change would take

place! How differently would our probationary time be occupied,

and with what noble characters would our world be filled!”

E.G.W. (Counsels to Parents, Teachers and Students; section 2, cp. 8, pg. 61)

“How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers

delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?” (Proverbs 1:22-23 NIV)

Those who don’t hear her call (Proverbs 1:28-32)

“…they will call on me, but I will not answer;

they will seek me diligently, but they will

not find me.”

“…they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full

with their own fancies.”

Those who hear her call

(Proverbs 1:33)

“…[they] will dwell safely, and will be

secure, without fear of evil.”

If we reject divine wisdom, then we’ll only have our own or someone else’s lies.

Read Proverbs 1:22–32.

What is the result of rejecting wisdom?

The reason that people reject wisdom has nothing to do with wisdom itself and everything to do with the character of those who reject her. These are described as arrogant and disdainful (Prov. 1:25; compare vs. 30), as if they know better. The implication is that wisdom is for the naive and the simple. And yet, those who reject wisdom are simple and naive; they are fools who “hate knowledge” (Prov. 1:22 compare vs. 29).

Those who reject wisdom will reap the fruit of their rejection. Having refused to choose the fear of the Lord, they will have to be content with themselves: they will be “full with their own fancies” (Prov. 1:31, NKJV). When we reject wisdom from above, we often end up with the fables and lies that we fabricate for ourselves or the fables and lies that others fabricate for us and that we so readily accept. In this way, we replace God with idols. Ironically, those who despise religion, mocking those they judge as simple and naive, often are superstitious in their own way, placing value on the most fleeting and useless things that, in the end, can never satisfy the most basic needs of the heart.

Read Proverbs 1:33. Given the context in what came before, what promise and hope are

found here for us? How is this promise manifested in our own experience?

A. HOW TO FIND WISDOM:1. Listening (v. 1-2)2. Requesting (v. 3)3. Searching (v. 4)

B. GETTING WISDOM:1. God gives her to those who seek her

(v. 5-6)2. We are protected (v. 7-8)3. We understand justice (v. 9)

C. BENEFITS OF WISDOM:1. She gives us discretion and

understanding (v. 10-11)2. She delivers us from the way of evil

(v. 12-15)3. She delivers us from the immoral

woman (v. 16-19)

D. OUR FUTURE:1. Walking in goodness (v. 20)2. Dwelling in the New Earth (v. 21)3. Avoiding eternal death (v. 22)

Keeping God’s law which is written in our hearts

(v. 1-2)

Truly living love and truth; both in an outer (“bind them around your neck”) and an inner way (“on the tablet of your heart”)

(v. 3-4)

Trusting God and testifying to Him (v. 5-6)

Depending on His wisdom alone. Keeping way

ourselves from evil (v. 7)

“And so find favor and

high esteem in the sight of God and

man.” (Proverbs 3:4)

Receiving the gift of wisdom involves:

Why are those who find wisdom blessed (v. 8)?

God’s wisdom gives us present (v. 8-32) and future (v. 33-35) blessings.

PRESENT BLESSINGS

• Physical health.

• Material abundance.

• Length of days, riches and honor.

• Peace.

• Tree of life: life and grace for the soul.

• Walking safely and not being afraid.

• Close communion with God.

FUTURE BLESSINGS

• An eternal dwelling place.

• Being exalted by God’s grace.

• Inheriting glory.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,” because “the wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the legacy of fools.” (Proverbs 3:5, 35)

“In His word the Lord enumerates the gifts and graces that are

indispensable for all who connect with His work. He does not teach us to

ignore learning or despise education; for when controlled by the love and

fear of God, intellectual culture is a blessing; yet this is not presented as

the most important qualification for the service of God. Jesus passed by

the wise men of His time, the men of education and position, because

they were so proud and self-sufficient in their boasted superiority that

they could not sympathize with suffering humanity and become

colaborers with the Man of Nazareth… The attributes of the character of

Christ can be imparted to those only who distrust themselves. The highest

scientific education cannot in itself develop a Christlike character. The

fruits of true wisdom come from Christ alone.”

E.G.W. (Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, cp. 10, pg. 259)

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