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Thursday, February 04, 2010

Wisdom Project 2/5



Proverbs 5 – NIV
Proverbs 5 – ESV

Proverbs 5:1-2 …
My son, pay attention to my wisdom,
listen well to my words of insight,
that you may maintain discretion
and your lips may preserve knowledge.


Commentary:

The second line of verse 2 focuses more narrowly on what the son/reader should speak. His lips are to preserve or guard knowledge. Proverbs understands very well that part of wisdom is the ability not to talk too much. The wrong words to the wrong people at the wrong time can undo a lifetime of building trust and confidence.

From:
Roger Hahn – The Voice

Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.
_________

WISDOM PROJECT: For this month, I will supply links to both the NIV and ESV versions of the chapter each day (Feb. 1 = Proverbs 1, etc.) in the post—both of which contain the audio.

And in the month of February a unique feature for the WP will be Commentaries on selected passages/verses from within the chapter for the day. And for the most part, these comments will be from links in the Online Bible Study Resources feature here on the 3 John 8 blog (scroll down in the column to the right to find the links).

Note to Proverbs class participants: this is the place where you should post your application comments for the day.

21 comments:

Unknown said...

21 For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths. This is a reminder that we cannot hide anthing from God. I think sometimes when we are tempted we try to reason with ourselves about it "no one will know" or " I am not hurt anyone" these are some the things we say to ourselves in these situation maybe we should paste this verse on our walls where we can see it until it is planted in our heart.

Jilli Bair said...

The emphasis in this chapter is to steer clear of the forbidden woman. The son is told to "not go near the door of her house, lest you give your honor to others and your years to the merciless," (v.8-9). Following the exhortation to never go near this woman, the father explains the consequences of foolish behavior with the forbidden woman. I don't know about you, but that's not something I want to mess with. The father has done an amazing job expressing to his son the dangers and consequences of following the wrong path.

Carrie L. said...

" My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight, that you may attain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge". It is important that we listen to words of insight and pay attention to God's wisdom. By doing this we will attain discretion and on our lips will be preserved knowledge. This is a reminder to me that I need to listen to my father in heaven and on earth and gain wisdom from them.....each day eager to learn more. " For a man's ways are in FULL view of the Lord, and he examines all his paths". If the Lord is watching me every minute I want to be able to say that I have discretion in my heart and knowledge on my lips.

Unknown said...

As the start of this writing, I struggled with not realizing anything clear from Prov 5; I listened to both the ESV and the NIV versions, and also read them both. Maybe this was one of those times that the need was just to “listen”, to take in, and then meditate on the words throughout the day. No headlines, no bold declarations from above. Just listen.
However just as I was ready to close (for now), the conclusion of Prov 5 pointed out simply: the evil deeds of the wicked man – especially due to a lack of discipline, will take him to his grave – to death. Literally and metaphorically a reckless life with no discipline will kill – both physically and spiritually. I am so thankful that these daily Proverbs appointments are a form of discipline. Without this type of structure, I wasted many days/years of Christian joy. The lack of spiritual discipline definitely led to a spiritually-wasted existence. This newly-implemented discipline has brought new life to some stagnant relationships – both spiritually and physically. Praise God for his love, grace and provision.
Mike T.

Unknown said...

Verses 11 and 12 is what I fear for my own life. Even though Proverbs 5 is specifically talking about adultery, I worry about straying from the Lord, in general. And once He begins to correct me or discipline me I worry about hating His reproof. "At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent. You will say, "How I hated discipline! How my heart spurned correction!" I can also see that Solomon is warning against adultery is no minor thing. The fact that you could grow cold to God's love and discipline tells me that this sin ensues a bitterness towards God.

mdungan said...

In verses 8 and 9 mostly, I found it interesting how Solomon warns his sons to not even go by the door of the adultress for if they do they will give in and be destroyed. This just spoke to me as seeing how strong our flesh is. Because solomon says nothing of resisting her temptation. He says if you go near her you will give in. I just had to think that is how strong our flesh is. That no matter what if we willingly put ourselves into temptations path more then likely our flesh is going to give in. This why it is so important for us to gaurd ourselves and remain pure.

Erin said...

This chapter of Proverbs enlightened and strenghthened my view of what I do not ever want to end up as pertaining to a woman. The father describes a cuniving woman whom the son should stay away from. The more I read the more I thanked God for the kind of woman I am striving to be. Also, verse 21. stood out to me b/c it showed me how God always sees what we do and say, where we are going in life, what we will do in the future, etc. Although we don't know these things, God is fully aware of where we are at all the time, and we can never hide from his presence.

Jim Morrison said...

As we have looked at this chapter throughout the week, I still find my focus around verse 8. The overwhelming need to flee from temptation, to refuse to allow oneself to be tempted by the ways of the world. It can be so easy to be influenced by those around us, and to be influenced by the opportunities that the world presents. Sometimes we simply need to do as Joseph did, "...But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house." Gen 39:12 (NIV)

julee said...

There were three verses that stuck out to me. Verses 12-13 and 22. The man, the wicked man, who falls laments at end that he had not listened to wisdom, listened to the counsel he received. He went his own way, rejecting all advice. What a warning! Living according to the world and the flesh is not good--stay clear and stay humble, listen to the counsel of others and the word.

Rachel said...

"For a man's ways are before the eyes of the LORD,
And He ponders all his paths" (21).
As the chapter speaks to sin and its inevitable consequences, talking specifically about adulterous affairs, this verse comes very near the conclusion. God is aware of everything that occurs on earth whether in the mind and heart of man or through the actions of man and, whether good or evil, He allows it to happen for His purpose. While His sovereignty is a great comfort, it is also a great cause for conviction: our deeds must match the faith we claim because nothing is hidden from our Father.

Unknown said...

Solomon gives his son a vivid look at the road to and from adultery. What’s more, he shows the sheer joy of deep, lasting intimacy within marriage. Sin is never just a moral lapse or isolated infraction of one of God’s Commandments; its consequences lead ultimately to death. So much heartbreak could be avoided if one would look beyond sin to its consequences. I believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ motivates us to avoid sin and take the higher road. We honor faithfulness in marriage and in all our relationships because of Him who was faithful to us in all things.

Tim K. said...

One of the temptations Christians face is to hold an improper view of sex. While unbelievers see it as a god we are tempted to see it as evil because of the harm it can cause. But God's view is the proper view. The Bible portrays sex as a gift from God, but with this great gift comes great respossibility. It is intended to be enjoyed within a mariage covenant. Notice how God tells us to enjoy the gift he has given us and not to pervert it by seeking fulfillment outside of the way God intended.

Sarah said...

I still cannot get over serve 6. I had commented on it in my discussion group, but I still think that lady folly still does not know what she is doing.
Reading about lady folly and everything that she does makes me realize that is how the world works today. It is sad.

Amber said...

In the midst of so much divorce and people just living together and not even making a commitment to each other as serious as marriage. It's just encouraging to read in God's Word that God wants us to take joy and pleasure in marriage and that it can last that way. Also it was just convicting reading verse 22 where it says, "For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths." This should motivate and determine how I live everyday knowing that a Holy loving God sees all.

Nate said...

So many times men around me and myself get warnings...good warnings from people that we should watch out for certain areas in our lives. Often we including myself hear these warnings but don't really listen to them and later on they come back and nip us in the butt! Even though Proverbs 5 is talking about purity it applies in so many areas of life. I have to fight very hard to think pure thoughts all day long every day. I'm a guy that's not unusual. But at the same time someone may say "Hey Nate watch your selfishness today, or your grumpiness" and I often times say thank you but never give it a second thought and then later that day I fail in some way in that area. Verses 13 and 14 address this by saying "I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors.
I am at the brink of utter ruin in the assembled congregation.” This applies to so much more then just sexual purity, and I have never really looked at it that way.

Krista Harrison said...

When I read this Proverb today my heart was probed maybe more than other Proverbs do. I have witness the heart break, disrespect, angrer, resentment and confusion that comes with a story of adultry. Dads married for 13 years with four kids detroys a family, a husband, youth pastor and father changes the lives of so many. Why because he didn't listen to the words of wisdom. He didn't pursue truth but acted selfishly. What I take a from this is the fact that this sin of adultry doesn't happen in a day, it's a path that one has to walk down until the sin destroy them.

Unknown said...

i know this doesnt have a ton to do with prov 5 verse 21, but verse 21 says "for a mans ways are before the lord" (i know this is way out of context, but one of my good friends (married has two kids under 3) just died of cancer, and im going to his funeral this sat back in iowa, but anyways, this verse reminded me that God is in control of mans path/ or his life, and this was a nice reminder that he is in control.

Danielle Cummings said...

This chapter falls into what we've been studying all week which is pretty cool i think. I really struggled with verse 8 in the sense that it talks about not even going near temptation. I think alot of times people think they're in the "safe zone" because the aren't necessarily committing a sin or doing something wrong. But God tells us to not even go near it. Dont allow there to be a temptation for you to struggle with. How many times do i push my limits when it comes to sin? I know i think of myself in the "safe zone" alot of the times but its really the most dangerous place you could be.

Unknown said...

Vs. 21, "For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the LORD, And He watches all his paths." That is a reminder for when I am sinning, but also when I may feel as if God is not there.

Mandi said...

For the lips of an adulteress drip honey,and her speech is smoother than oil;
4 but in the end she is bitter as gall,sharp as a double-edged sword.
This verse pointed out to me the power of the words i speak and what they can do. I need to work on seriously thinking before I speak. Btwn reading this and the lesson for this week that is something i have really been challenged with.

Jessica said...

vs 21: For a man's ways are before the eyes of the Lord,
and he ponders all his paths.

We should keep this in mind as we go through our day. The way we live our lives is before the Lord, He knows everything. This should be an encouragemetn to choose the right path/action