Reading Plan · Day 185
Changes this passage only. Set your default for every passage.
Proverbs 1-3
Day 185
About Proverbs
The Book of Proverbs was the third of the five books that made up the poetic section of the Old Testament. The majority of this book was written by Solomon, David's son. This book, along with the Book of Psalms, was memorized by every girl in Israel. The key principle necessary in order to understand this book is causality. Every cause has an effect. We have direct control over causes. We do not have direct control over the effects. This book was written according to causality. The overwhelming majority of the information in this book was presented according to causality. If a person interpreted this book from effect to cause (tried to directly control the effects), they would be unprofitable. The writer encouraged the reader to focus on causes by showing the effects that naturally resulted from these causes. The effects were the WHAT. The causes were the HOW/WHY.
Day 185 Read
Where You Stopped
Proverbs 1
1The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2To know wisdom and instruction; To discern the words of understanding; 3To receive instruction in wise dealing, In righteousness and justice and equity; 4To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion:
1The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
2To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
3To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
4To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
Commentary · verses 1-4
Doctrines on this passage
5That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; And that the man of understanding may attain unto sound counsels:
5A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
Commentary · verse 5
The Book of Proverbs was written so that the wise man may understand and grow in his learning.
6To understand a proverb, and a figure, The words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
7The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; But the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
6To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Commentary · verses 6-7
Fearing (revering) God was the beginning of knowledge. If we think we are the source of our knowledge, then we are revering ourselves, which is idolatry.
Doctrines on this passage
8My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother: 9For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head, And chains about thy neck.
8My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
9For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
Commentary · verses 8-9
We should understand and accept the guidance of our parents because they will be as ornaments on our head and neck: the place where our thinking takes place.
10My son, if sinners entice thee, Consent thou not.
10My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
Commentary · verse 10
Do not consent unto sinners. Next were some examples of what sinners would do to entice you…
11If they say, Come with us, Let us lay wait for blood; Let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause; 12Let us swallow them up alive as Sheol, And whole, as those that go down into the pit; 13We shall find all precious substance; We shall fill our houses with spoil; 14Thou shalt cast thy lot among us; We will all have one purse:
11If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:
12Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:
13We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:
14Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:
Commentary · verses 11-14
The focus of the sinners was to gain at the expense of others. The "gain" here was physical and short term. It was treating an effect as a cause.
15My son, walk not thou in the way with them; Refrain thy foot from their path: 16For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood.
15My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:
16For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.
Commentary · verses 15-16
Again, do not walk in the purpose of those who do evil: do not make progress in the WHY of those doing the wrong HOW.
17For in vain is the net spread In the sight of any bird: 18And these lay wait for their own blood; They lurk privily for their own lives.
19So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; It taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
17Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.
18And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.
19So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
Commentary · verses 17-19
Focusing on effects. Those who made gaining at the expense of others were taking. This was not love which was giving without expecting anything in return from the person to whom you gave.
20Wisdom crieth aloud in the street; She uttereth her voice in the broad places; 21She crieth in the chief place of concourse; At the entrance of the gates, In the city, she uttereth her words:
20Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:
21She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,
Commentary · verses 20-21
Wisdom was available to all.
22How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And scoffers delight them in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge?
23Turn you at my reproof: Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you; I will make known my words unto you.
22How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
23Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
Commentary · verses 22-23
Listen and understand correction. Be contrastive on yourself: consider you could be wrong. These were causes in our direct control.
24Because I have called, and ye have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man hath regarded; 25But ye have set at nought all my counsel, And would none of my reproof:
24Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
25But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
Commentary · verses 24-25
Ignoring good causes: Those who refused all counsel and did not hear reproof were in pride, they believed they were in need of nothing.
26I also will laugh in the day of your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27When your fear cometh as a storm, And your calamity cometh on as a whirlwind; When distress and anguish come upon you.
28Then will they call upon me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they shall not find me: 29For that they hated knowledge, And did not choose the fear of Jehovah, 30They would none of my counsel, They despised all my reproof.
31Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled with their own devices.
26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
27When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
28Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
29For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
30They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
31Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
Commentary · verses 26-31
Those who did not listen to wise counsel were referred to as people who hated knowledge and chose not to fear God. These people would "eat of the fruit of their own way." Fruit was an effect. Notice, we chose to fear God: a cause. He did not make us fear Him.
32For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, And the careless ease of fools shall destroy them.
33But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell securely, And shall be quiet without fear of evil.
32For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
33But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
Commentary · verses 32-33
Cause: listening to God. Effect: dwell securely without fear of evil.
Where You Stopped
Proverbs 2
1My son, if thou wilt receive my words, And lay up my commandments with thee; 2So as to incline thine ear unto wisdom, And apply thy heart to understanding; 3Yea, if thou cry after discernment, And lift up thy voice for understanding; 4If thou seek her as silver, And search for her as for hid treasures:
1My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
2So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
3Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
4If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
Commentary · verses 1-4
If you did these causes...
5Then shalt thou understand the fear of Jehovah, And find the knowledge of God.
5Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
Commentary · verse 5
...then you would understand the fear of God and you would find knowledge of God: effects.
6For Jehovah giveth wisdom; Out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding:
6For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
Commentary · verse 6
God gave wisdom (right HOW) and spoke knowledge (right WHAT) and understanding (right WHY).
7He layeth up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to them that walk in integrity; 8That he may guard the paths of justice, And preserve the way of his saints.
7He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
8He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
Commentary · verses 7-8
God protected those who walked in integrity. Integrity was doing things for the right reason (WHY) and the right way (HOW). God protected these people because He was guarding the paths of Justice. Those who walked in integrity were walking justly, they held themselves to the same standard that they held others to.
9Then shalt thou understand righteousness and justice, And equity, yea, every good path.
10For wisdom shall enter into thy heart, And knowledge shall be pleasant unto thy soul;
9Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
10When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
Commentary · verses 9-10
Our actions were an effect of what was in our heart. Do you allow God's wisdom to enter your heart?
Doctrines on this passage
11Discretion shall watch over thee; Understanding shall keep thee: 12To deliver thee from the way of evil, From the men that speak perverse things;
11Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
12To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;
Commentary · verses 11-12
Discretion and understanding protected us and delivered us from the way of evil. The way of evil are people who did the following things…
13Who forsake the paths of uprightness, To walk in the ways of darkness; 14Who rejoice to do evil, And delight in the perverseness of evil; 15Who are crooked in their ways, And wayward in their paths: 16To deliver thee from the strange woman, Even from the foreigner that flattereth with her words;
13Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
14Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;
15Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:
16To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;
Commentary · verses 13-16
Discretion and understanding delivered you from those who attempted to take you off course with their words.
17That forsaketh the friend of her youth, And forgetteth the covenant of her God: 18For her house inclineth unto death, And her paths unto the dead; 19None that go unto her return again, Neither do they attain unto the paths of life: 20That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, And keep the paths of the righteous.
17Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
18For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.
19None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.
20That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
Commentary · verses 17-20
Discretion and understanding facilitated your ability to walk in the way of good (right and just) men.
21For the upright shall dwell in the land, And the perfect shall remain in it.
22But the wicked shall be cut off from the land, And the treacherous shall be rooted out of it.
21For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.
22But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.
Commentary · verses 21-22
Causality: The upright would be given to according to their righteousness. The wicked would be given to according to their wickedness.
Where You Stopped
Proverbs 3
1My son, forget not my law; But let thy heart keep my commandments: 2For length of days, and years of life, And peace, will they add to thee.
3Let not kindness and truth forsake thee: Bind them about thy neck; Write them upon the tablet of thy heart:
1My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
2For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
3Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
Commentary · verses 1-3
We ought to remember God's Law (guidance) and write in our hearts (believe) kindness and truth…that is, being kind to others for the right reason (WHY) and in the right way (HOW).
4So shalt thou find favor and good understanding In the sight of God and man.
5Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding: 6In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will direct thy paths.
4So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7Be not wise in thine own eyes; Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil:
7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Commentary · verse 7
We ought to be contrastive. Fearing God would result in seeing Him as greater than yourself. Can you consider you are wrong or do you think you are wise in your own eyes?
1 Corinthians 8:2 – "If any man thinketh that he knoweth anything, he knoweth not yet as he ought to know;"
8It will be health to thy navel, And marrow to thy bones.
9Honor Jehovah with thy substance, And with the first-fruits of all thine increase: 10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, And thy vats shall overflow with new wine.
8It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
9Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
Commentary · verses 8-10
We should be honoring God with what we have. This meant giving God the credit and access to what we have and not making what we have the cause.
11My son, despise not the chastening of Jehovah; Neither be weary of his reproof: 12For whom Jehovah loveth he reproveth, Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
11My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
12For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
Commentary · verses 11-12
God chastened those He loved. This was painful in the short term but caused long term growth. God loved David and consistently chastened him. David being a man after God's own Heart meant David always responded to chastening by growing. David loved to be chastened.
13Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding.
14For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, And the profit thereof than fine gold.
13Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
14For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
Commentary · verses 13-14
Wisdom and understanding caused happiness in their beholder. Gaining wisdom and understanding was better and more profitable than the most precious physical assets. Wisdom and understanding were long term. David understood this and lived it. Solomon apparently understood it, but he did not live it. 1 Kings 11 showed Solomon died without repenting.
15She is more precious than rubies: And none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto her.
16Length of days is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor.
17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace.
18She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: And happy is every one that retaineth her.
15She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
16Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
Commentary · verses 15-18
Wisdom was a "tree of life" to them "that lay hold (grow strong)" upon her. Life was the ability to repair. Wisdom brought this ability.
Doctrines on this passage
19Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding he established the heavens.
20By his knowledge the depths were broken up, And the skies drop down the dew.
19The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
20By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep sound wisdom and discretion: 22So shall they be life unto thy soul, And grace to thy neck.
23Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, And thy foot shall not stumble.
21My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
23Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
Commentary · verses 21-23
You would not stumble if you were walking in wisdom.
Doctrines on this passage
24When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25Be not afraid of sudden fear, Neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh: 26For Jehovah will be thy confidence, And will keep thy foot from being taken.
24When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
26For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
Commentary · verses 24-26
When you walked in wisdom, you would not be afraid of evil because your faith would be in God and He would protect you.
27Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, When it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
27Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
Commentary · verse 27
Give to those who were owed. Be Just.
28Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, And to-morrow I will give; When thou hast it by thee.
28Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
Commentary · verse 28
If you can give, you ought to. Be conscious of every opportunity you can give to someone.
29Devise not evil against thy neighbor, Seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
30Strive not with a man without cause, If he have done thee no harm.
29Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
30Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
Commentary · verses 29-30
If you had no reason (cause) or a bad reason, you should not strive with a man. "Strive" meant "to argue; quarrel."
31Envy thou not the man of violence, And choose none of his ways.
32For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; But his friendship is with the upright.
33The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked; But he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.
31Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
32For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
33The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
Commentary · verses 31-33
Causality: God cursed the wicked and blessed the righteous, because He was Just.
34Surely he scoffeth at the scoffers; But he giveth grace unto the lowly.
34Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
35The wise shall inherit glory; But shame shall be the promotion of fools.
35The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
Commentary · verse 35
We have seen the wise contrasted with the fools. The wise pursued causes and the result was profitability. The fools pursued effects and the result was unprofitability.
This day's reading covered the first three chapters of the Book of Proverbs which focused on causality through emphasis of the WHY and HOW over the WHAT.
These verses contained the purpose of the Book of Proverbs. In fact, it will be very beneficial to have definitions for the following words:
Knowledge - The ability to retain facts.
Understanding - The ability to take knowledge from more than one area and create new knowledge.
Wisdom - Profitable, long term decisions.
Said another way:
The purpose of this book was to help people make the right decision by giving the reader the right information and the right causal relationship: knowledge and understanding.