First, I, Michelle, apologize to those who I confused with yesterday’s blog post. I hope you read to the end and appreciated the way in which I used creative license to keep you on your toes and share a new perspective.
With a continued focus on Solomon today, it is worthwhile to emphasize the ways in which Solomon imparted his wisdom to others. A concise summary of the book of Proverbs would be nearly impossible. An entire lesson could be drawn from each verse or proverb. The nuggets of truth and wisdom in the book of Proverbs provide insight into our relationship with God, dealings with one another, and other life lessons.
During my high school years, I read through the entire book of Proverbs every month. Each time I went through the chapters, there were different verses that jumped out at me.
In seeking wisdom by reading through the Proverbs, I was amazed at the truth of the statements, but also frustrated by the many people who do not heed such advice... Solomon himself became frustrated with the vanity of it all, which is the focus of his book Ecclesiastes.
I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
What is crooked cannot be made straight,
and what is lacking cannot be counted.
Ecc. 1:12-15
And in the book of Proverbs, we see the importance of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge.
The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the youth—
Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
and the one who understands obtain guidance,
to understand a proverb and a saying,
the words of the wise and their riddles.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Prov. 1:1-7
Just as Proverbs 1:7 states, it all starts with the fear of the Lord. And as Ecclesiastes 12:13 affirms, it all comes back to fearing God and keeping his commands.
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecc. 12:13