Lesson 4 of 28
LESSON 4 – PROVERBS
2. THE WORTH OF WISDOM , Proverbs 3:13-26
A. Proverbs 3:13-15 - Wisdom is better than money.
B. Proverbs 3:16-18 - She gives long life and real joy.
C. Proverbs 3:19-20 - God has great wisdom and used it in creation.
D. Proverbs 3:21-26 - Wisdom has great benefits for men.
A. BETTER THAN GOLD, Proverbs 3:13-15
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. 14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Proverbs 3:13-15.
Verse 13 says that wisdom and understanding will make us happy and verses 14 through 18 give us more details. Certainly Wisdom is more valuable than silver or gold, precious stones or anything we might want. Yet many Christians spend most of their time trying to get more money so they can buy more things they want. We should give more time to studying God’s Word, the only place we can find true wisdom.
B. LONG LIFE, Proverbs 3:16-18
Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. Proverbs 3:16-18.
Wise persons know how to look after their bodies and may have better health and live longer than other people. They will also be wise in looking after their own money, and other people will respect them. We should hold fast to true wisdom which alone gives true joy. Solomon himself was wise at first but he became foolish and sad when he was older. Solomon asked the Lord for wisdom and the Lord gave him long life, riches and peace. Here, he promised that wisdom would also bring long life, wealth, honour, joy and peace.
God does not promise us long life: Stephen and James were killed while they were young, - And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. Acts 7:58; and he killed James the brother of John with the sword. Acts
12:2.
Nor riches, as we noted in Proverbs 3:10, instead of honour we may be persecuted, - If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. John 15:18-21; These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33.
But God has promised joy and peace through His Spirit, - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Galatians 5:22.
C. GOD’S WISDOM, Proverbs 3:19-20
The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. 20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up , and the clouds drop down the dew. Proverbs 3:19-20.
The Lord Himself has wisdom which cannot be measured, - O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! Romans 11:33.
He used His great wisdom when He created this wonderful world, the heavens and the earth, - O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
Psalms 104:24; To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalms 136:6
It is good to study the world of nature, plants, animals, stars and the human body. It is true that many scientists do not believe in God or the Bible but a Christian can learn more about God’s wisdom and power and so worship the Lord. God created all and keeps everything going, He holds all things in place by His power, - And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Colossians 1:17; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Hebrews 1:3.
In our verse we see that God knew how to control the deep waters, as in Genesis - In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. Genesis 7:11, and to send dew and rain from the clouds, - For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly. Also can any understand the spreading of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? Job 36:27-29. We will learn more about God’s wisdom in creation in Proverbs Chapter 8.
D. BENEFITS OF WISDOM , Proverbs 3:21-26
Solomon again told his son about the blessings that come with wisdom.
Proverbs 3:21 - My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:-The father has been giving his son good advice and he should not let this wisdom slip from him.
Proverbs 3:22-23 - So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. - Wisdom would help him live a long time, - Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
Proverb 3:16. It would be better than wearing a gold chain around his neck, - For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck. Proverbs 1:9. Wisdom would guide him in his daily life and keep him from falling into sin.
Proverbs 3:24-25 - When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. - With wisdom the young man would not need to be afraid, he could sleep in peace.
Trouble often comes suddenly to wicked persons, but the wise man should not be afraid. The Lord often commanded His people not to be afraid.
Using your bible, look up these scriptures and write out the names of these people whom the Lord told not to fear.
Genesis 15.1 _________________________
Genesis 21.17 _________________________
Genesis 26.24 _________________________
Joshua 8.1 _________________________
Isaiah 43.1 _________________________
Daniel 10.12 _________________________
Luke 5.10 _________________________
Luke 8.50 _________________________
Luke 12.7 _________________________
Acts 27.24 _________________________
Revelation 1.17 _________________________
Don’t skip this part, take a minute and fill in the answers.
Proverbs 3:26 - For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken. - The young man should trust in the Lord, not in his own wisdom. Only the Lord could keep him from being caught in a trap, - Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. Proverbs 3:23
3. WORDS OF WISDOM , Proverbs 3:27-35
The rest of this chapter has nine proverbs or wise sayings, like hundreds more in Proverbs Chapters 10 to 30. These are commands, promises or warnings from God, and we should pay close attention.
1. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR , Proverbs 3:27-30
Proverbs 3:27-28 - Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. 28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee. Proverbs 3:27-28.
We should pay our debts as soon as possible. It is not right to delay paying wages to those who work for us, - Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth James 5:4.
We should be willing to lend to our neighbours, if possible, - And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? 7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. 8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. Luke 11:5-8.
The Bible says we should owe no man anything but to love, and like Paul we have a debt to preach the Gospel to all men - I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. Romans 1:14-15; Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8.
Proverbs 3:29 - Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. We should love our neighbours and live at peace with all men, - If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Romans 12:18.
Certainly it is wrong to plan to hurt our neighbours. Naboth was a neighbour of King Ahab but Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, made a plot to kill him, she was a wicked woman, And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money. And Naboth said to Ahab, The Lord forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers' unto thee. And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread. But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard. And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now overn the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite. So she wrote etters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth. And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, aying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die. 1 Kings 21:1-10.
Proverbs 3:30 - Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm. Some people always seem ready to start an argument with anybody. This verse tells us we should not argue or quarrel with a person unless it is necessary. The word neighbour occurs 32 times in Proverbs and we will read about strife in a dozen verses.
2. AVOID VIOLENT PEOPLE, Proverbs 3:31-35
Arguments often lead to fights and an unwise person might think he should follow the example those who get their own way by hurting others who oppose them.
Proverbs 3:31 - For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous. - A violent man tries to force others to do what he wants. This may make him richer for a short time but a wise young man will not try to copy his ways.
Proverbs 3:32 - For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous. - The Lord loves all men but He hates their evil deeds. This word hate is also translated abomination and tells us how strongly the Lord feels about evil, for example,
Dishonest scales, - A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight, Proverbs 11:1;
Telling lies, - Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight. Proverbs 12:22;
Secret pride, - Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. Proverbs 16:5;
And many other things, - These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: Proverbs 6:16; Here, the verse speaks about a person who turns from the right way, the way of the Lord.
The righteous person can know God’s secrets, - The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. Psalms 25:14.
God can trust him to do His will. The Lord Jesus told John what He did not wish the other disciples to know and He promised to send the Holy Spirit to tell us future things, - He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? 26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. John 13:25-26; Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. John 16:13.
Proverbs 3:33 - The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just. - The Lord put a curse on Satan for leading Eve and Adam into sin, - And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: Genesis 3:14, and on men who break His laws, - Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen. Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; because he uncovereth his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that lieth with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen. Deuteronomy 27:15-26.
This curse affects the man’s family also, - Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Deuteronomy 28:18, and his children are likely to follow his evil ways. The same thing is true of righteous people but they and their children get the Lord’s blessing, - Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. 5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. Deuteronomy
28:3-6.
The blessing of the Lord is also for many other people, - Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. Proverbs 10:6; He that with holdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it. Proverbs 11:26; He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. Proverbs 22:9; A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent. Proverbs 28:20.
Proverbs 3:34 - Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. - God will reject those who reject Him. Some people laugh at God and some laughed at the Lord Jesus, - And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. Luke 22:63; And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. Luke 23:11; And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, Luke 23:36.
Someday proud men will try to grab control of the earth but God will not have to worry, - The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Psalms 2:2-4.
Today He gives grace to those who are humble. We will learn more about pride and humility later on
in Proverbs.
Proverbs 3:35 - The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools. - There are many blessing for those who get wisdom. It will keep us from evil persons, both men and women, - When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Proverbs 2:10; To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; Proverbs 2:12; To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; Proverbs 2:16.
It helps us to keep healthy and live long, - It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones Proverbs 3:8; Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Proverbs 3:16.
Here we read that wise men will receive honour but foolish people will be ashamed, - A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised. Proverbs 12:8.
Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God...(Acts 20:26,27). “Come now, let us reason together...” (Isaiah 1:18).
