and the one who understands obtain guidance,
6 to understand a proverb and a saying,
As we continue to open the first statements of this book, we have more explanation for why it is useful and why it was given. Again, we see this book as a whole is extremely practical, intersecting real life, real decisions, real thinking, and real people. At first glance, Proverbs does not appear heavy on doctrine; however, thorough study will reveal there is much we learn about God and His nature through these words.
Verse 4 tells us these following chapters give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth. Isn't it interesting these two groups are singled out- the simple, and the youth? The simple refers to those who are naive and untaught. But we dare not miss the profoundness of all this. These are two groups that we naturally assume make the most mistakes due to lack of understanding. The remarkable thing being said here is this: through God's Word, even the most simple people can live wisely, even the youth with their lack of life experience and immaturity can live righteously and faithfully. A simple person, nor a youth, need not be bound to the errors of their "kind." God will give them discretion, knowledge, and prudence, if they will but heed Him.
But this book is not just for the simple and the youth. As verse 5 shows us, God's Word is also for the wise, or those with understanding. Verse 5 is a classic example of Hebrew parallelism, where a statement is basically repeated for emphasis using different terminology. God's Word is so essential to life, even the wise are commanded to learn here. What an essential facet of the Christian life! How many warm pews and never learn anything- at the fault of poor preachers, or of their own hardened, misguided hearts? Even the wise and those with understanding are to seek guidance in the Word of God. The wise must NEVER, in pride, close their ears to the Word of God. If they do, their wisdom will cease, and they will become as fools.
Verse 6 indicates there could be some challenges to learning God's Word. The emphasis here is on understanding the following proverbs, yet they are also described as riddles. This of course indicates there is something mysterious about them, or, that the meaning is not initially and obviously clear. Jesus spoke in parables repeatedly that many did not understand at first. A riddle, in the end, is something that carries an indirect message, and therefore requires interpretation.
Two things strike me about this:
1) Man is in desperate need for the Holy Spirit to renew his mind (His whole being) in order to receive the Word of God. Without the Holy Spirit, we would be blind to God's special revelation of Himself. There is a strong dose of this concept that speaks forth from the verse we'll digest in the next blog.
2) Man is in great need of devotion to study. One of the tragedies of modern man, in large measure, is that he does not read, nor does he even really think. He learns a job skill and applies it, he entertains himself with his remaining time. His mind is often too lazy to consider anything freshly to gain new understanding- often, only if it effects his health or his wealth will his mind truly engage. Jesus told us the Great Commandment was to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind. This means not only having our thoughts about God be true and pure, but applying our minds to understand what the Lord has revealed. Many a church, many a Christian has suffered because the Scripture has gone left unstudied, and therefore, misunderstood or ignored.
Next time: the watermark verse for the whole book of Proverbs- what it all comes down to, and one of my favorite passages.
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