In this second part of our Proverbs series, Solomon builds on his intro by launching right into a situation where true wisdom is needed. As an illustration, a mirage is a phenomena that is caused by light bending in the hot air above a heated surface. This bending actually reflects the sky but it looks like water on the ground.
If someone did not know this truth, they could easily be misled searching for water that really is not there.
Distinguishing between the truth and counterfeits is so important and that is one of the purposes of Proverbs.
God gives us true insight and opens our eyes to hidden dangers that can trip us up.
Proverbs 1:8-19 is divided up into three sections, each beginning with the words, “My child”. These sections are the value of wisdom, the world’s way to life, and the real way to life.
As we study this passage we will see the exquisite value of wisdom as it reveals the false way to life the world promises compared to the true way.
The Value of Wisdom
First, notice the phrase, “my child”. It is a term of love and care. Parents say this showing their attachment and identity with their child. They have the child’s best interests at heart. Even more so, God is our heavenly Father and loves us. He also calls us His children and wants to lead us in the right way.
“Wisdom from our parents is a legacy given by them. ”
This wisdom is tried and true - what they have seen in life. It helps us avoid pitfalls. Since we need to listen to this advice, it shows we are not perfect and we need to heed what is said. Being stubborn is a detriment to learning wisdom.
The result is that wisdom actually makes us beautiful and attractive. This is a safe beauty since it comes from God and all I do is just heed His words, which others can do as well.
The value of wisdom gives us the right mindset but it will be challenged by the world. Keeping this in mind guards us.
The World’s Way to Life
Again, we meet “my child”. Good parents prepare their children for the real dangers in the world. They tell the situations honestly so their children will not be surprised. This empowers them to say no when needed.
People who don’t follow God entice others to do the same.
Enticing means to capitalize on the natural desires of another but it draws them away from the right path. This is what makes the world’s way so dangerous - it uses our God-given desires to lure us and to fulfill them in illegitimate ways that actually lead to death. This is illustrated well in the phrases in our passage.
Come and join us - we need to be with others and be together
Let’s hide and kill someone just for fun - we love adventure, excitement, something new
Let’s swallow them alive - we all want victory, a sense of accomplishment, and being a part of something big
Think of the great things we will get - we need provision and would like abundance
Come, throw in your lot with us - we need team and to have a common purpose with others.
All of these needs are part of how God has made us. The world says to get these needs fulfilled its way and it will be life. This is the mirage. It actually does not obtain what it promises.
We might not be tempted to physically kill someone but we do fall prey to ganging up to kill someone's reputation. These same principles hold for any way we benefit from someone else’s demise.
The Real Way to Life
Lastly, to “my child”, a loving parent describes the true results of these actions. This helps them not go down this path and stay far away. How is this accomplished?
First, we need to realize fully what we are doing. Do we really want to commit this kind of evil and hurt others like this? Being confronted with the true results can wake us up from being caught in the excitement of the moment.
Second, we need to see how foolish the world’s ways are. They actually ambush the one using them.
A bird is smart enough to avoid a trap it sees being laid down. But not with people doing these actions. They ambush their own lives.
Pornography robs real sexual satisfaction. Greed causes bitterness and anxiety. Anger destroys relationships.
The shocking statement is that those who end up gaining by hurting others, actually have their own lives robbed. Their own character is hurt and damaged. They become slaves of sin. The wages of sin is death. Always.
So where does that leave us?
We all have fallen for sin and hurt others. We are guilty. The good news is that God knows our guilt and failures better than we do. He sent Jesus to take away our wrongs and was condemned on the cross for our stupidity. His death allows us to be made clean and new and start to learn wisdom in a whole new way.
Jesus said He came that we might have life and have it abundantly. He walks with us and teaches us wisdom through His Word, by His Sprit, and through other people. He gives us His beauty and true worth.
The question is will we listen and turn to Him? God gives us a choice of life or death, wisdom or foolishness.
“Let’s choose Jesus. Let’s choose life.”
