Proverbs 1:8, 9: Did you hear me?

My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother; For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck. Proverbs 1:8, 9 (NKJV)

My son: as term of kindliness or endearment

Hear: to heed, pay attention to, take to heart

Instruction: discipline in the school of wisdom, correction

Father: father of individual instructing

Do not forsake: abandon

Law: instruction 

Mother: as rightfully claiming honour, authority,

Graceful: favor, grace, of form and appearance

Ornament: something attached, a wreath, 

Chains: necklace, neck-pendant

"Did you hear me?" 

How often growing up did we hear that phrase? Often because we didn't do something we were told to do! Hearing and hearing and paying attention, are really two different things! 

There are sometimes that we act quickly when we hear something—"Dinner is ready!" lol Yet, often when we hear instruction or correction, or something we do not care to hear, we ignore it, or try to rationalize our lack of action. 

On simple terms, remember when as a kid, you were told to clean your room, but you were busy watching TV? In your mind, you figured that you'd wait until AFTER the TV program was over. But your parents meant.. right now, not later. 

When that same "delay" concept is applied to godly instruction, the consequences can be greater than just delaying cleaning your room. When we hear and learn godly instruction, discipline and take it to heart—action is to begin immediately. 

When one hears the correction and instruction given and then makes it their own, their inward and outward appearance is that of grace and beauty. And to be ready to receive instruction and act in accordance with the instruction, one must have a heart that is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG). 

Proverbs 1:7: Knowing with Action

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7 (NKJV)

Fear: fear of God, reverence, piety

Beginning: first phase, step, or element in course of events

Knowledge: in highest sense, knowledge of God (including obedience)

Fools: (always morally bad), who despises wisdom & discipline

Despise: despise, show despite toward (Wisdom Literature & poetry) 

Wisdom: ethical and religious

Instruction:  discipline (of the moral nature), chastening, correction

If wisdom is the goal, the only way to achieve it, is to START at the BEGINNING—the very first step is to FEAR GOD. Having a reverence for who God is, what He can do, and what He does do—is the foundation on which to build wisdom. 

Why is it so important to begin with the "fear of God"? Because God is the source of all wisdom. He is all-knowing, omniscient. God is the standard by which everything is judged. Morally, Spiritually, and Ethically. 

Notice that this knowledge is not just "head knowledge", but INCLUDES obedience! That is key. Just because you KNOW may make you seem smart, but unless there is obedience that follows you are actually a fool. For knowing and knowing with action are two different things. Knowing that the stove it hot is smart. NOT touching the stove, because you KNOW the stove is hot, is wisdom. 

Can one have wisdom and still be a fool? I think, the answer is "yes". One day I may have a reverence for God and act in obedience to His will and wisdom, but the next day, sadly, I may decide to do it "Rhonda's way". And each time I do, I am acting as a fool. 

But thankfully, God is gracious and merciful and allows forgives me of my foolishness and begins to teach me again so that I can grow in wisdom. 

Having a heart permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG) is NOT done by just saying that I fear God. Fearing God must translate into obedience.  Wisdom is knowing with action—and the first action is Fearing God! 

Proverbs 1:6: Understand the Words of the Wise

To understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles. Proverbs 1:6

The verb "to Understand" means be intelligent, discreet, discerning, perceive, have understanding.

Proverb: sentences of ethical wisdom

Enigma: satire, a mocking poem

Words: saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse

Wise: principles and collections of wisdom

Riddles: allegorical and figurative sayings, perplexing saying or question

Know. Receive. Give. Hear. Increase Learning. Attain. All results in Understanding. 

Proverbs 1:2-6 (NKJV)

2 To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding,

3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity;

4 To give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion—

5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,

6 To understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles.

In Proverbs 1:6, notice whose words you are to understand—The WISE. That is key. For if one listens to the unwise or fools, that will lead to—destruction (Proverbs 1:32). 

How does one differentiate from wise and fools; for often the fools speak with "flowering words" or words that sound wonderful. First of all, one must develop a heart with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG). That opens the heart to knowing, receiving, hearing, increasing in learning, and attaining. And that leads to fearing the Lord (Proverbs 1:7), but that verse will study next time.

Proverbs 1:5: Hear, Increase and Attain.

A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel. Proverbs 1:5 (NKJV)

The VERBS in Proverbs 1:5 are Hear, Increase and Attain. 

Hear: hear with attention, interest, listen to

Increase: add strength = grow stronger; be joined, added to

Attain: acquire, procure, get

A WISE man (wise, ethically and religiously) — as a wise learner in school of wisdom hears and increases in learning.

So in order to be WISE, I must hear with attention and interest. Not let the information go in one ear and out the other. PAY ATTENTION to what is being taught. 

I must increase, add and grow, in learning (as personal acquirement; concrete, what is received). PERSONAL acquirement. I have to receive it and make it mine. Concrete it becomes solid, and that provides a good foundation to build upon. 

Man of understanding — be intelligent, discreet, discerning (Proverbs 1:2). In order to be intelligent I must ATTAIN—get, acquire wise counsel. Wise Counsel: "Originally of rope-pulling, i.e. steering, directing a ship." With wise counsel direction is given and you are steered in the right path. 

Hear. Increase. Attain. Each of these verbs are specific to growing in wisdom. I must first be willing to HEAR—with interest—and then INCREASE learning—receive it make it mine to build a strong foundation—and then I'll be willing to  ATTAIN wise counsel—following the direction of godly advice. 

Yet none of those actions will be possible if my heart is not permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG). For unless my heart is soft and pliable I will not be willing to hear, increase, or attain. 

Proverbs 1:4: Seizing Has Responsibility

To give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. Proverbs 1:4

This verse continues the purpose of SEIZING each of the items in Proverbs 1:3. 

Once you have seized instruction, justice, judgment, and equity, the result is to put, set, apply, also means to pay wages. There is a responsibility to growing in wisdom—you are to give it to others. 

The word, "simple" has the idea of one who is naive, who believes whatever is taught whether wisdom or folly. So there is a responsibility to share wisdom so that discernment is developed and practiced. That the younger will gain the power of devising, discretion.

As I read this verse, I think of the young people throughout our society. They do not have discernment, they are naive and will follow the any crowd and anything that may sound good. I've seen videos of young people attending rallies and protests. When those young people are asked what they are protesting, many don't know, or give false information. They are simply caught up in the frenzy of the moment and whatever cause catches their attention. They have no discernment for the Truth. 

If I truly want to seize instruction, justice, judgment, and equity, then I need to continue with the responsibility that comes with it, and GIVE. The ability to give, will only come as I develop a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG).