Wisdom

The lesson on October 1, 2023 was part 7 of the “Wisdom” study. This lesson covered Proverbs chapter 6 where it is divided instruction from Prov. 6:1-23 of Wisdom’s call and warning from Prov. 6:24-35 of the Foreign Woman. Wayne did review what we learned in part 6, but then instructed us on how chapter 6 is organized. Prov. 6:1-5 Warning against inconsiderate suretyship; Prov. 6:6-11 Rebuke of the sluggard; Prov. 6:12-19 Warning against deceit and violent dealing; Prov. 6:20 – 35 Admonition to chastity and warning about consequences of adultery. Prov. 6:12-14 (verb: third person indicative) listed these 6 behaviors: 1) v 12. Walketh; 2) v 13. Winketh; 3) v 13. Speaketh; 4) v 13. Teacheth; 14. Frowardness is in his heart; 5) v 14. Deviseth; 6) 14. Soweth. We learned of the six things the Lord hates, the seventh was an abomination unto him: Prov. 6:17-19 KJV 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. The scripture reading was from Proverbs 6:1-5 KJV “1 My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, 2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. 3 Do this now, my son, deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend. 4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. 5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.”

The lesson taught on September 24, 2023 was part 6 of the “Wisdom” study. This lesson is based in chapter 5 and that is about the foreign woman. As usual, Wayne quickly reviewed what we learned last time, and then dived into point out the repeated alternation that brings into focus again the foreign woman and her call or enticement to those are in leadership roles or rulers. When the rulers go bad, man it is bad for the people. The progression from the instruction of a father (Prov. 4:1-4 to Prov. 5:1-2) where a leader is grown and now possibly influenced by the strange woman (compare Prov. 6:20; 7:1). We learned that the strange woman has two words that describe her. “Strange” Heb. “zur” is an apostate Israelite woman gone over to idolatrous impurities of heathen religion. The other is “Stranger” Heb. “nakar” is a purely foreign woman of similar character. The danger is religious rather than moral (hence here it is “zur“). (You will find “nakar” in these passages: Prov. 2:16; 5:10, 20; 6:24; 7:5; 20:16; 23:27; 27:2, 13. You will find “zur” in these passages: Prov. 2:16; 5:3, 10, 17, 20; 6:1; 7:5; 11:15; 14:10; 20:16; 22:14; 23:33; 27:2, 13.) We also learned of the three translations of “SHEOL” which are grave, pit, or hell. A list of “sheol” in Proverbs was provided (Prov. 1:12; 5:5; 7:27; 9:18; 15:11; 15:24; 23:14; 27:20; 30:16). We reviewed “sheol” where David was speaking in Psalms 16:8-11. It was also quoted in Acts 2:25-27 KJV. The scripture reading was from Proverbs 5:1-6 KJV “1 My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: 2 That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge. 3 For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: 4 But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. 6 Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.”

The lesson on September 17, 2023 was part 5 of the study in “Wisdom”. This lesson covered chapter four of Proverbs. As usual, we reviewed what we learned in the previous lesson from chapter three and proceeded to add what was in Proverbs 3:13 where it is translated happy, which means “oh the blessedness”. There are 8 occurrences of this in Proverbs (Prov. 3:13; 8:32, 34; 14:21; 16:20; 20:7; 28:14, 29:18) where the eighth says Prov. 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Eight is the number of new beginning and there are also eight notes in music. Wayne shared that there are musicians that have been blessed with the wisdom of music but other areas of their lives are a disaster. This is a reflection of the creativity that God gave man as we are created in the image of God. Chapter four finishes the portion that is from lady wisdom (two chapters, 3 & 4 represents Wisdoms call). Proverbs 4:2 KJV says “For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.” PAul also references good doctrine in the context of the latter days or our calling, in that there will be plenty of bad doctrine (1 Tim. 4:6 KJV). We learned of my sayings in verse 10 but ended with the wisdom from Proverbs 4:20-23 that it is health to all flesh and we are to keep our heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. The scripture reading was from Proverbs 4:23-27 KJV “23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. 25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.”

The lesson on September 3, 2023 was part 3 of the Wisdom study. This lesson got us into Proverbs chapter two where we learn of how Lady Wisdom cries out for us to hear and receive her spirit but we also learn of the foreign woman who is of the Caannites who were part of the Raphaim (Proverbs 2:18, See Isaiah 26:14 KJV). We learned how “My Son” infers the instruction of wisdom for a Prince or a King (Solomon) throughout Proverbs (Prov. 1:8, 10, 15; 2:1; 3:1, 11, 21; 4:10, 20; 5:1, 20; 6:1, 3, 20; 7:1; 19:27; 23:15, 19, 26; 24:13, 21; 27:11; 31:2). This wisdom is to avoid the foreign woman as stated in Proverbs 2:18. This was a weakness of Solomon. This is also a connection to the fallen Angels and their offspring, the Rephaim (Gen. 14:5; 15:20; Deut. 2:11, 20; 3:11, 13; Jos. 12:4; 13:12; 15:8; 17:15; 18:16; 2 Sam. 5:18, 22; 23:13; 1 Chr. 11:15; 14:9; 20:4; Job 26:5; Ps. 88:11; Prov. 2:18; 9:18; 21:16; Isa. 14:9; 17:5; 26:14, 19). We will start applying the wisdom of right division in our calling laid out in Ephesians. This is the manifold wisdom that applies to us in this age. The scripture reading was from Proverbs 2:1-9 KJV “1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. 7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. 8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. 9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.”

The lesson on September 10, 2023 was part 4 of the “Wisdom” study. Proverbs chapter three was the focus for this lesson and Wayne gave a brief review of what we learned in the last lesson then we turned to chapter three and learned how wisdom is calling and you must respond to it. The instruction given to Solomon is intended for every leader, ruler, king or politician who is wanting the exercise wisdom and receive the fruits thereof. It explains in Deuteronomy 17:14-20 that laws made and principles are re-given for the leader, showing how to interact with other nations – and receive wisdom for rulers. We learned the proper interpretation of Proverbs 3:2 in that “they” does not refer to the “law” and “commandments” but the “days” of verse 2. When days are added it will make increase for thee, or cause thee to increase or grow in wisdom. Wisdom does not promise long life. However, if you gain wisdom from thy youth and apply it what you eat and drink, it will have benefits of good health. Possession of wisdom is likened to a tree of life (Prov. 3:18) that makes one happy. We found right division in the verse 6 when you trust in the Lord and lean not to your own understanding. God will direct (rightly divide) our steps as an outcome. The word direct in Hebrew is “Yashar”. Greek scholars converted the Hebrew to Greek and used “ὀρθοτομῇ” which is what is used for right division. We finished with a concordance of where the New Testament writers quoted from Proverbs chapter three: Quoted: Prov. 3:7 (in Rom. 11.25, 12.16); Quoted: Prov. 3:11,12 (From Job 1.20-22, in Heb 12.5-6, Jas. 5.17); and Quoted: Prov. 3:34 (in Ja.4.6, 1Pet. 5.5). The scripture reading was from Deuteronomy 17:14-20 KJV “14 When thou art come unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me; 15 Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the Lord thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother. 16 But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the Lord hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. 17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. 18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: 19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: 20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.”

The lesson on August 27, 2023 was part 2 of the “Wisdom” study. Wayne quickly reviewed what we learned in the last lesson the proceeded to dive into chapter one of Proverbs. It is important to realize from the literal structure of Proverbs that some of the verses are for Solomon and some are by Solomon. In this way, Proverbs is clearly divided and an order becomes clearer during to introduction in Proverbs 1:1-6 KJV. The instruction is often given by correction or chastisement (Prov. 1:2-3, 7-8; 3:11; 4:1, 13; 5:12, 23; 6:23; 7:22; 8:10, 33; 10:17; 12:1; 13:1, 18, 24; 15:5, 10, 32-33; 16:22; 19:20, 27; 22:15; 23:12-13, 23; 24:32). Words of the wise (‘My Son’: Prov. 1:8, 10, 15; 2:1; 3:1, 11, 21; 4:10, 20; 5:1, 20; 6:1, 3, 20; 7:1; 19:27; 23:15, 19, 26; 24:13, 21; 27:11; 31:2). Proverbs 1:2 says “To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;” which when you apply right division from Phil. 1:10, 2Tim. 2:15 KJV you see that this means “… To make discern speeches of discernment.” We as Christians who rightly divide are told to keep learning and approve the more things that are excellent. The scripture reading was in Proverbs 1:1-6 KJV “1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; 2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; 4 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: 6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.”

The lesson on August 20, 2023 opened a new study on “Wisdom” and will do so by holding a chapter by chapter study through the book of Proverbs. When you look at the Hebrew and Greek words for Wisdom, you will find “Sophia” in the New Testament (Greek word σοφία, ας, ἡ) and “Chokmah” in the Old Testament (Hebrew word ‎חָכְמָ֥ה). In the Old Testament, these verses in Exod. 28:3; 31:3, 6; 35:26, 31, 35; 36:1-2 convey the meaning as having the skill to perform certain duties. In the New Testament, we will find these verses in Eph. 1:8, 17; 3:10; Col. 1:9, 28; 2:3, 23; 3:16; 4:5 show us in our calling today, we are educating the principalities and powers in heavenly places the manifold wisdom of God which He purposes in Christ Jesus our Lord. Proverbs the book that shows the general rules of wisdom whereas the books of Ecclesiastes and Job show the specifics. This study will attempt to answer these four questions: What are the “many sides” of this manifold wisdom? What is wisdom? How does wisdom differ from understanding? and How can Proverbs help? This lesson was the introduction to the study. The scripture reading was from 1 Kings 4:29-34 KJV “29 And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. 30 And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about. 32 And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five. 33 And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. 34 And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.”