Proverbs 11:22 The "A"s

As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a lovely woman who lacks discretion. Proverbs 11:22

Lacks: showing lack of it, turning aside

Discretion: judgement, discernment, intelligence, understanding

Discretion: the quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid revealing private information

ABC's. Actions. Attitude. Appearance. 

Each "A" reveals much about a person. 

ABC's: spoken and written words, including texts, tweets, likes, shares. 

Actions: everyday daily actions whether at home or out.

Attitude: is often reflected in ones body language (facial expressions, etc).

Appearance: what we are wearing and how we conduct ourselves. 

A LOVELY (beautiful, goodly, pleasant) woman who lacks discretion is no better than a pig with a gold ring in its nose. A pig "dressed up" with a gold ring—is still a dirty animal. A woman may look beautiful, but if she makes bad judgements or choices—she reveals her heart.

We know many people whom we wouldn't necessarily say are "beautiful", but they have a genuine beauty about them—literally from inside. Their spirit shines forth and they glorify God in all the "A"s. 

In order for one to exercise discretion in all the "A"s, it begins when a heart is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG). For when a heart recognizes who God is and respects and fears Him — then wisdom and understanding are expressed in all aspects of one's life. 

The "A"s—ABC's, Actions, Attitude, and Appearance — all are effected by wisdom. When wisdom present then godly beauty shines forth. 

Proverbs 2:6: Go to the Source

For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; Proverbs 2:6

Gives: give personally, deliver, bestow upon, grant a request

Wisdom: ethical and religious, of God, as a divine attribute or energy

Knowledge: knowledge possessed by God

Understanding: discernment, the faculty

The source of wisdom is the Lord—Yahweh, God Almighty. He GIVES—wow, think about that for a moment. God Almighty, the Creator of all, who is omniscient—gives us personally, grants us, Wisdom! There is no better source! 

FROM God come knowledge and understanding. God not only gives wisdom, but also gives knowledge and the understanding (discernment) for applying it to life. 

As I read this verse, I get stuck on the verb, GIVES. God personally will give me wisdom. He wants to give it to me. He wants me to know Him and His will. He wants me to know what's best for me. GIVES. No bartering. No pay-back. No loaning. God GIVES. 

Once I accept God's wisdom, then I'll want the knowledge and discernment that God also provides. God gives the complete package! 

If I truly want wisdom, than I must begin at the true source of wisdom—God. For the best place to get wisdom is from the source! And if I am going to accept God's wisdom, my heart must be permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG), in order to accept it and apply it. 

Do you want wisdom? Then go to the Source! He will give it to you! 

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 1:4: 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).