The Tears of Wisdom
from The Book of Proverbs by Dr. Mike Holloway
Lesson One from The Book of Proverbs by Dr. Mike Holloway
Solomon was the author of three great works in the Bible.
As a young man, he wrote the Song of Solomon which described his one true love and the wife of his youth referred to as the Shulamite maid. The book symbolizes the love affair between Christ and His church.
As an old man, Solomon had squandered too many years as a backslidden king and finally came to a place where he got right with God. After he was forgiven by the Lord, the king was allowed to write the book of Ecclesiastes which described a life of vanity when lived outside the will of God.
As a middle aged man, Solomon was able to see the pitfalls of life and wanted to prepare his son for the day when he would pass away and Rehoboam would take his place as king.
“The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;”
Proverbs 1:1
The king wanted to accomplish specific things in the life of his son. He wanted Rehoboam . . .
- (v. 2a) – “To know wisdom and instruction;” Rehoboam was going to have to be willing to study God’s wisdom. He was going to have to want it.
- (v. 2b) – “to perceive the words of understanding;” Solomon warned his son that understanding will not come from opinions but rather from spiritual discernment.
- (v. 3) – “To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;” One of the major reasons there are so many fools in the world is they are not willing to accept truth as God sees it. They want to change things to please themselves, but wisdom comes from God, not from a philosophy or from a man’s book.
While Solomon was writing these proverbs for and to his son, he was also aware they would profit others. In verses 4-5, he mentioned three types of people who will benefit from the Proverbs.
“To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. 5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:”
Proverbs 1:4-5
Three types of people who will benefit from these Proverbs are the . . .
- Simple – Simple means seducible. This is the person who is unaware of dangers.
- Young – This person is a child or teenager, one who has not yet complicated his life with sin. He is still teachable.
- Wise – This person is not limited by age but is anyone who is trying to live for God and wanting to do right.
Others will be mentioned in the book of Proverbs, such as the hard-hearted, the stiffnecked, the rebel, the prostitute, and the fool. Unfortunately, these proverbs are written about them not to them. Why? They are not interested!
In every church, two groups of listeners exist. Those who are willing to benefit from the Proverbs and those who are fools. Therefore, Proverbs was either written for an individual or about an individual.
Before revealing these truths that will protect his son, Solomon first desired to show the key for unlocking the Proverbs.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Proverbs 1:7
Understanding will not come to the person who is not desirous for his life to be changed.
In this first chapter, Solomon revealed the benefits provided for those who are wise.
These Proverbs can … BECOME GUARDIANS FOR THE WISE.
“My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
Proverbs 1:8
A person is not naturally wise but rather is to be brought up under the right kind of parents.
The role of a godly father is to take the Bible and create rules for the home based on Biblical principles. As the spiritual head of the home, he is to be the rule-maker.
The role of a godly mother is to enforce the rules set forth by her husband. She is not supposed to change them or bend them but to enforce them.
There are three possible reasons that kids raised in Christian homes never reach their potential for Christ.
- There are either no rules or there are not enough rules. A rule is like a cast on a broken arm. It prevents movement (freedom) long enough for the broken bone to properly heal. A home without rules will result in the children becoming spiritual cripples.
- The rules are not enforced with consistency. There is no value in having a rule if it is not enforced half of the time. That is why mothers who get into bad habits of telling their kids, “Just one more time…” are failing to teach their kids wisdom.
- Godly parents can discover that they have a child who does not want to be raised according to godly principles but would rather live the life of a fool.
These Proverbs can … BECOME GUIDELINES FOR THE WISE.
A wise person will realize that temptations can be overcome.
“My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.”
Proverbs 1:10
Temptation comes primarily through people. Therefore, the best way to conquer temptation is to learn how to tell people NO!
A wise person will realize that temptation will persist.
“If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: 12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit.”
Proverbs 1:11-12
Four times, the wrong crowd is heard trying to encourage somebody to join them and do wrong. The devil, with all of his faults, is very persistent!
A wise person will realize that tempters will make a lot of empty promises.
“We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:”
Proverbs 1:13
Sin can promise popularity, wealth, and pleasure, but these things never last nor do they satisfy!
These Proverbs can … REVEAL THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE WISE.
The wise person must avoid the deeds of the wicked.
“My son, walk not thou in the way with them;
Proverbs 1:15a
Way means a custom or a set pattern of behavior. Sins can become habits that are not even considered anymore!
The wise person must avoid the direction of the wicked.
“My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:”
Proverbs 1:15b
The path of a sinner is far more dangerous than any specific sin. All are sinners; and therefore, all will commit sin. However, a big difference lies between committing a sin and committing the SAME sin time and again.
The danger lies in the fact that sin always grows, and it always becomes bolder. When a direction is established, the person will get tired of walking the path alone and will soon want company.
The wise person must avoid the desire of the wicked.
“For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.”
Proverbs 1:16
Once the path has been cleared, the wicked will no longer hesitate because of conviction. Instead, they will race towards evil.
The wise person must avoid the danger of the wicked.
“And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.”
Proverbs 1:18
When a Christian gets in the habit of playing with sin, he is the one that gets hurt! It is “his” life and “his” blood that will be shed.
These Proverbs can … BECOME RESOURCES OF THE WISE.
“So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof. 20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: 21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,”
Proverbs 1:19-21
It sounds as if Wisdom is a person.
“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”
I Corinthians 1:30
Jesus Christ was MADE wisdom by God for us! That means we do not have to face temptation alone but have been given Jesus Christ to help us live for God and become wise.
How is Christ able to help us resist wrong and do right?
“Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.”
Proverbs 1:23
God has given us two valuable weapons to help us in our lives as Christians. He has given us the Holy Spirit and His Bible!
These Proverbs can … BECOME THE ENEMY OF THOSE WHO ARE UNWILLING TO BE WISE.
They will be laughed at by God.
“I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;”
Proverbs 1:26
God will have the last laugh. Now, the ungodly are laughing and mocking at a God they cannot see. However, the day is coming when they will be crying out for mercy, and all they will hear will be God’s laughter.
They will be abandoned by God.
“Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:”
Proverbs 1:28
Some of God’s people cannot understand why the wicked continue to prosper and live as they please while God seems to look the other way. They have shoved God out of their lives, and their day of judgment is coming.
They are allowed to ruin their lives.
“Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.”
Proverbs 1:31
When God steps out of a person’s life, He takes with Him His conviction, His Holy Spirit, and His hedge of protection.
Solomon, years later, proved this very truth when he turned to idol worship. God let him have what he wanted, and Solomon was allowed to discover that all is vanity without a right relationship with God.
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