The following quotation is given as something to meditate upon as you face warfare in your Christian walk today. The battle between the Spirit and the flesh, seems to be like that characterised in Proverbs between those who choose the path of wisdom or the path of folly.
I love to reread chapters 1 — 9 of Proverbs; during my read through the Bible this time, I am reading the NIV, including the introduction to each book. I wanted to post a couple of thoughts from the intro to Proverbs that may be beneficial to others pilgrims.
The following quote is taken from the section:
“Purpose and Teaching: [emboldening is mine]
In the initial cycle of instruction (1:8 — 9:18) the writer urges the young man to choose the way of wisdom (that leads to life) and shun the ways of folly (that, however tempting they may be, lead to death). The author chooses two prime exemplifications of folly to give concreteness to his exhortations: (1) to get ahead in the world by exploiting (even oppressing) others rather than by diligent and honest labor, and (2) to find sexual pleasure outside the bonds and responsibilities of marriage. Temptation to the one comes from the young man’s male peers (1:10 — 19); temptation to the other comes from the adulterous woman (ch. 5: 6:20 – 35; ch. 7). Together, these two temptations illustrate the pervasiveness and power of the allurements to folly that the young man will face in life and must be prepared to resist (see also Literary Structure below).
The major collections of proverbs that follow range widely across the broad spectrum of human situations, relationships and responsibilities offering insights, warnings, instructions and counsels along with frequent motivations to heed them. The range and variety of these defy summation. However, an illustrative section can convey the general character, moral tone and scope of the collections. In a variety of situations and relationships the reader is exhorted to honesty, integrity, diligence, kindness, generosity, readiness to forgive, truthfulness, patience, humility, cheerfulness, loyalty, temperance, self-control and the prudent consideration of consequences that flow from attitudes, choices and/or actions. Anger should be held in check, violence and quarrelsomeness shunned, gossip avoided, arrogance repudiated. Drunkenness, gluttony, envy and greed should all be renounced. The poor are not to be exploited, the courts are not to be unjustly manipulated, legitimate authorities are to be honored. Parents should care for the proper instruction and discipline of their children, and children should duly honor their parents and bring no disgrace on them. Human observation and experience have taught the wise that a certain order is in place in God’s creation. To honor it leads to known positive effects; to defy it leads only to unhappy consequences. All of life should be lived in conscious awareness of the unfailing scrutiny of the Lord of creation and in reliance on his generous providence.
Although Proverbs is more practical than theological, God’s work as Creator is especially highlighted. The role of wisdom in creation is subject of 8:22 – 31 (see notes there), where wisdom as an attribute of God is personified. God is called Maker of the poor (14:31; 17:5; 22:2). He sovereignly directs the steps of people (cr. 16:9; 20:24) — even the actions of kings (21:1) — and his eyes observe all that humans do (cf. 5:21; 15:3). All history moves forward under his control (see 16:4; 33 and notes).
In summary, Proverbs provides an instruction on how to live wisely and successfully in the “fear of the Lord” (1:7; 9:10) within the theocratic arrangement. The fear of the Lord includes reverence for, trust in and commitment to the Lord and his will as disclosed in his creation and as revealed in his word. Wisdom in this context, then, is basically following the benevolent King’s design for human happiness within the creation order — resulting in quality of mind (1:2) and quality of life (1:3).
Literary Structure
…The first nine chapters contain a series…
A key feature in the introductory discourses of Proverbs is the personification of both wisdom and folly as women, each of whom (by appeals and warnings on the part of Lady Wisdom, by enticements on the part of Lady Folly) seeks to persuade “simple” youths to follow her ways…In these discourses the young man is depicted as being enticed by folly by men who try to get ahead in the world by exploiting others (1:10-19) and by women who seek sexual pleasure outside the bond of marriage (ch5: 6:20-35; ch. 7)….”