Chris R. Quinlan

It has been somewhat challenging for me to decide how divide up the proverbs into short passages for study. The other challenge is working through the context of wisdom styled literature. My interpretive tendencies push me to accept the words of scripture as literal. However, I know that the proverbs are written in a style that should not always be interpreted in a literal fashion. This may trouble some readers, but the nature of wisdom literature requires the reader to accept that the truths in the proverbs are not necessarily literal promises, but truisms or generalized truth statements. Understanding this can greatly help the reader understand the wisdom of the proverbs and keep them from becoming unnecessarily frustrated. This is especially when we look around at our circumstances and wonder why a certain proverb doesn't seem to be accurate or truthful. For example, the proverb that immediately comes to mind is Prov. 22:6, which states, "Train up a child in the way he

Proverbs 2:6-8 6 For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. 8 He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him How does it help us to know that God grants (or gives) wisdom? For one thing, it helps us to realize that we cannot gain true wisd om by simply growing older and discovering knowledge on our own, through education or experience. Even the sharpest minds of our day can study for years and come up with the most absurd things. All you have to do is flip on the television and tune into your local PBS station to find examples of this. "The Power of Intention", where all you need to do to be happy and successful is to somehow tune into the secret Source, and then simply "expect" things to happen and your mind will create mystical vibrations in the universe that will then draw those things

PROVERBS 2: 1-5 (NIV) 1 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, 3 and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. Lets examine the elements of this proverbial equation: Personally choose to embrace and internalize the commands of the proverbs (v.1) + Exhibit behavior and make choices that reflect an embrace of Godly wisdom (v.2) + Plead with God and actively seek out His wisdom (v.3) + Understand the value of wisdom and seek it out as if it's the most precious thing there is (v.4) = You will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. It occurred to me as I was thinking about what it means to "understand the fear of the LORD", that this might be talking about how we

...that the sum of all of God’s wisdom were personified as a human. She would most likely be standing out in a public place, pleading with people as they passed by… shouting at them, begging them to listen to her. She’d be saying… “You foolish people! How long are you going stay shallow minded? You just love to laugh and mock at everything. You can’t stand to learn about what is true. Please, please, you need to listen to what I have to say. I so desire to impart to you all that I know. I have called out to you so many times and you just won’t stop and listen. You just continually reject any and all correction.” She would continue… “You know what? If your life comes crashing down around you, I’m just going to shrug my shoulders and chuckle. I might even throw in a sarcastic joke to rub it in.” And when you start crying out for help, you won’t be able to get my attention. For why should I help now when you rejected my advice all this time?” She’d say, “So, now that you’re in tro