Wisdom - Part 4

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.”