Today’s SuperVerse is Proverbs 1:8 – Listening to Wisdom!
Listening to Wisdom – Proverbs 1:8
One of the most fundamental lessons in the book of Proverbs is that wisdom is gained through attentive learning and careful instruction. This is the key to unlocking God’s wisdom and understanding that will help us grow in wisdom, knowledge, discernment and prudence as we live our lives.
Verses 8-9 Describe the Benefits of Wisdom
In verses 8-9, Solomon provides some very valuable information about why and how to gain wisdom. He teaches that wisdom comes from being fearful of the Lord, from heeding the words of God’s Word and from receiving wise advice from wise mentors.
The Father and Mother in this Proverb are a perfect picture of wise parents who have a fear of the Lord and who teach their children to fear the Lord as well. They teach their children to “hear their father’s instruction” and not “forsake their mother’s teaching.”
Verse 10-19 Shows the consequences of Running with the Wrong Crowd
In these next four verses, Solomon shows his son a scenario in which he is confronted with sinful enticements by his peers. The temptations are so attractive that he cannot deny them.
He compares the enticements to those of birds who run away from a net that they are forewarned about. In the same way, those who are greedy and lustful run off from what they are forewarned about and end up trapped and killed.
The teacher’s final remark in this passage warns that the simple and the fools will be destroyed, but that the wise will live a life of ease. This is the theme of the whole prologue: that foolishness leads to disaster, but that wisdom is a path to a life of ease and happiness.
