Category: Devotions

What is being set forth is these verses is something more than a reformation of character, more than a mere turning from obvious sins to a self-righteous ritualistic formalism that leave the heart unchanged. When divine Wisdom takes full possession of a heart, however, there can be no place for sinful pride to which we are all too prone.

Ignorance is not bliss, nor is it folly to be wise! These two things, wickedness and wisdom, are at work everywhere, especially in the souls of men. Yet, like fire and water, the Word of God (Wisdom) and the way of evil (wickedness) cannot co-exist in the same place and the same time. We have seen the dark side, but praise God there is a bright side too. Note this carefully, “We may understand by Wisdom either Salvation or the Saviour” (Arnot). (We will consider the feminine aspect of Wisdom when we come to Chapter 8.)

This is a new paragraph but continues the theme of avoiding evil. In v.12-15 wicked men were portrayed. Now it is wicked women who lure eager clients into sin. In 1:11-19 criminals appeal to greed. This women panders to men’s lusts. Other passages in Proverbs also deal with this wicked woman (5:3-21; 6:24; 7:5-23; 22:14; 23:27). So in this respect the seamy-side of life is not much different with the passing of the centuries.

Consider this description of the Wicked. Proverbs keeps this before us. We are not dealing with allegory here. These images are too specific for that. Such evils are not imaginary. They are clearly the temptations that befall so many, young and old. They are evils to be avoided at all costs. Ponder well these evil men as presented in these verses.

The Goal keeps expanding. “There is no end of commendation of the ways of wisdom” (Lawson). Those who find God’s Wisdom, are led in paths of judgment and holiness, and have promise to safely walk along every path that is good. We must:

In 2:5-9, the word then indicates results, fruits, the substance. The finding is worth the search. Understanding is wisdom come to fruition. It is also the basis of the fear of the Lord (2:5). If God is my wisdom I shall not err. Consider now:

The Source is in God (2:6). The seeking is set out in 2:1-4. Again we have the familiar My son, if! O, what a challenge is this if. We have some idea what it takes to win “gold” at the Olympics, for a corruptible crown (1 Cor. 9:25). Dare we put forth less effort for the incorruptible crown of righteousness (2 Tim. 4:8)? In our verses today we have:

God, to be known by man, must be self-revealing, and all knowledge of Him, and therefore all Wisdom, depends on His self-disclosure. Life, for man, is impossible without this divine Wisdom to interpret aright life and death, heaven and hell. Unless man confesses the One above him, he will yield to that which is within him and about him.

The Pardoned: Praise God for verse 33. Set it against the backdrop of this portion. Men’s sinful folly leads to their awful, but just, doom. “I know not when ye are. Depart from me into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Lu. 13:25, Mt. 25:41). Yet, here surely is Good News! Here is “light to enlighten our darkness”!

The Perished: How dreadful is the end result of rejecting the call of Wisdom! Every verse, from 24 to 32, bears testimony to this tragedy. It’s the old story. The sinner won’t face the fact that there is something seriously wrong with him. Why should he leave the exciting crowd, the in-group, for the killjoy minority on the narrow road? But if only men could see their end, as brought out in these awful words, they would not be so brazen or so reckless with God’s call while it is still the Day of Mercy. The contrasts between the fear of folly (v.32) and the faith of wisdom (v.33) set the plan for the rest of the book.