Proverbs 1 Commentary And Bible Study

Here is a brief Bible study and commentary on Proverbs chapter one.

Proverbs One – The Beginning of Wisdom

This chapter is all about the wisdom of God and it isn’t that we have godly wisdom in ourselves but the wisest thing that we can ever do is to give glory to God and fear Him. This type of fear is not a terror-filled fear from being struck dead by God at any moment, but a deep and holy, reverential respect for the holiness of God which compels us towards obedience. That is the beginning and the ending of all wisdom. This doesn’t mean that we have all knowledge of course but we have the wisdom to know where all knowledge comes from.

Proverbs 1:1-4 “The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth .”

The specific purpose for this and all of Solomon’s proverbs are to gain wisdom, receive instruction, and understand how to live in and to live it out righteousness, justice, equality, prudence to those who are too young to know when to use discretion and how to apply knowledge. Solomon’s specific goal is to “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance” (Prov 1:5) to realize that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge [but] fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Prov 1:7).

Proverbs 1:10-12 “My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit.”

If I had only read this when I was younger, I might have stirred far away from the disastrous consequences, but even the sins of my youth worked out for my best in God’s sovereignty (Rom 8:28). How easy is it to get caught up with the crowd and be swayed to make an unwise decision? It is very easy, speaking from experience. Paul warned, “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals” (1st Cor 15:33).

Proverbs 1:15-16a, 18-19 “My son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, for their feet run to evil…but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives. Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.”

Once again, Solomon speaks to us as a wise father and refers to his readers as “my son” and of course this includes “my daughter.” He urges us, the children of God, to “not walk in the way with them (sinners)” because it is very costly, and could even cost them their lives (Prov 1:19). The point here is that those who set ambushes for others will end up being caught in their own trap. It might not be today or tomorrow, but it will come.

Proverbs 1:22-23 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. “

The scoffers today are those who hate the knowledge of God. The psalmist tells us what God thinks of the scoffer or fool “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good” (Psalm 14:1). The King James has some of these words in italics and it is “There is…” so this verse actually reads “The fool says in his heart, “no God” as said in defiance, “No God!” There is nothing more foolish that defying or denying God (Rev 20:12-15) however, Solomon leaves room for hope as he writes “If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.” This “turn” is like the word “repent” and means to turn around, go the other way, forsake the way you were going and turn toward God and only then will God pour out His Spirit on you. After the Spirit is resident, then the words can be made known to us, the words being the Bible, and we know from Jesus that “the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26).

Proverbs 1:25-27 “Because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.”

Ignorance is no excuse. Try that speeding through a 30MPH zone at 50! By the way, the Bible says that we are all without excuse (Rom 1:20). How many times have those who refuse to repent and trust in Christ been exposed to the gospel? The more times a person hears the gospel and rejects it, the harder their heart becomes; and the less likely they’ll be to turn to Christ.

Proverbs 1:29-31“Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices.”

Not only do unbelievers reject the knowledge of God, they rejected the fear (respect, reverence) of the Lord. They plugged their ears toward the counsel found in faithful witnesses and in the written Word. They despised God’s reproof just as they thought the cross was foolish just as Paul wrote “the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1st Cor 1:18). In time, they will receive the consequences (Prov 1:31).

Proverbs 1:32-33 “For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

The wisdom here is for those who will listen to God can dwell in security with no fear of condemnation (Rom 8:1) and be at ease about any disaster because they are at peace with God (Rom 5:1). There is no peace with God until you’ve made peace with God. The simple pass right on down the broad path that leads toward destruction (Matt 7:13b) which is why Jesus said “Enter by the narrow gate. “ (Matt 7:13a).

Conclusion

There is great wisdom to be found in the Book of Proverbs. It is a shame to let such wisdom be shut up in a closed Bible. One of the wisest things you could ever do is to read one chapter a day from the Book of Proverbs and you will find a very common theme in this book; “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge [but] fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Prov 1:7).

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon.