This poem is not just about Solomon’s family. It is about all families. It tells us that a father should teach his son. When he grows older, the son should teach his own children. Solomon’s family was Israel’s royal family. In the poem, the father does not teach about being a king. He does not spea... [ Continue Reading ]
LESSONS ABOUT WISDOM PROVERBS _KEITH SIMONS_ CHAPTER 4 V1 My sons, listen to your father’s instruction. As you listen to me, you will understand more. V2 My lessons are good. Do not leave the things that I teach you. V3 I was only a boy in my father’s house. I was young, and my mother’s onl... [ Continue Reading ]
The poem begins with commands to listen. The father will teach a valuable lesson to his sons.... [ Continue Reading ]
The advice did not begin with the father, who is writing the poem. The father learned this lesson from his own father. The lesson is good, because it is ancient. Grandfather followed this advice. And he saw that it was good advice. This is why he taught it to the boy’s father. The father has lived b... [ Continue Reading ]
The grandfather began his lessons in the same way as the poet. The grandfather also emphasised that the lesson was important. Today, many people say that things are important. A salesman will say that his advice is important. This is because the salesman wants us to buy his products. We can doubt s... [ Continue Reading ]
At last, we hear the advice. This is the lesson that grandfather taught. We must learn to be wise. As in earlier Chapter s, he compares wisdom to a woman. Wisdom, like a woman, deserves our love. Like a woman, she will protect you, if you love her.... [ Continue Reading ]
Wisdom is better than everything else. It is better than money. It is better than beauty. It is better than health. Wisdom is worth more than everything that you own. Remember that these words come from Israel’s royal family. They had great wealth. But wisdom is more important than wealth.... [ Continue Reading ]
As in verse 6, the poet compares wisdom to a woman. In verse 6, the poet tells us to love Wisdom. In verse 8, he tells us to hug her. We should get closer and closer to Wisdom. We shall benefit if we do so. Wisdom will lift us higher and give honour to us. Like a woman, Wisdom looks after those who... [ Continue Reading ]
At the end of this poem, the royal family speaks about a crown. This crown is not a gold crown or a silver crown. It is a crown for a king, but a poor person can wear a crown, too. Wisdom gives honour to us. This gift is like a beautiful crown. In the introduction to this poem, we saw that it was a... [ Continue Reading ]
If we plan our journeys wisely, then we are safer. We can avoid many dangers. In the same way, if we are wise, then our lives will be safer.... [ Continue Reading ]
We shall not walk alone. Wisdom will be our guide and our guard. Remember that this whole book is about God’s wisdom! God protects us, when we live our lives in his way. Jesus said, ‘Do not worry about clothes. Look at the flowers in the fields. The flowers do not work or make clothes. But even the... [ Continue Reading ]
‘The people who trust in God will become stronger. They will be so strong, that they will be like the eagle (a large, strong bird). They will run, but they will not become tired. They will walk, but they will not become weak.’ (Isaiah 40:31)... [ Continue Reading ]
We must guard the good things that God has given to us. Sometimes evil things might seem attractive. We might remember our behaviour before we knew God. We might see an evil action and we might want to do the same. ‘Stay awake! Pray! Do not allow evil things to tempt you!’ Jesus told this to his fol... [ Continue Reading ]
Solomon emphasises his words. We should not behave like evil people. We should not listen to their advice. Their advice is never wise. We must not do the same things that evil people do. Their behaviour is never wise. If we copy their actions, then we are in great danger.... [ Continue Reading ]
As Solomon emphasises the lesson, he uses humour. He tells us to imagine the evil man. This man is a very evil man. So, he cannot even sleep until he has done an evil action. At midnight he gets up. He has still not done his evil action. He struggles to think an evil thought. The time is very late,... [ Continue Reading ]
Solomon continues his joke. The evil man has woken. He is eating a meal. We are looking at his food. We expect to find bread or meat or vegetables. The evil man is eating none of these. This man does not want food. Instead, he chooses evil behaviour. He does not think that food will make him strong.... [ Continue Reading ]
This is a beautiful short poem. It contrasts a good man and an evil man. Sometimes people think that everyone is the same. Some people say that everyone is good. The Bible does not say this. The Bible says that we all have turned from God. We must turn back to him. Only God can make us good. The go... [ Continue Reading ]
These verses show us the subject of this passage. Each chapter of Proverbs 1:7 begins in a similar style. Here the subject is health. Wisdom is like a medicine, because wisdom improves our lives. Unlike a medicine, wisdom does not heal our bodies. Wisdom heals our spirits. Wisdom leads us to God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Wise words are like medicine. They benefit every part of our bodies.... [ Continue Reading ]
We should be careful about our thoughts. We should love good things and hate evil things.... [ Continue Reading ]
James 3:1-12 explains this verse. James compares our tongues to a fire. Our words can be powerful. We can use words to say good things. But we can use words to say evil things, too. Our mouths can praise God, but they can curse other people. We must be careful about our words.... [ Continue Reading ]
We look forward, when we follow God. We should not look away from him. Jesus warned about this in Luke 17:31-32. ‘Jesus said, “Do not begin the work, then look back! If you look back, you cannot serve God.” ’ (Luke 9:62)... [ Continue Reading ]
Again, this compares life to a journey. We will live ‘the best life’ if we obey God. This is like the best route for a journey. If we serve God, then we will help other people. We will be like a postman who brings good news. ‘On the mountains, the postman takes a good message. He has good news about... [ Continue Reading ]