“The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;” (Proverbs 1:1)

“To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;” (Proverbs 1:2)

“To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;” (Proverbs 1:3)

“To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.” (Proverbs 1:4)

“A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:” (Proverbs 1:5)

“To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.” (Proverbs 1:6)

God the Spirit had Solomon write this Collection of Proverbs with a specific purpose. God is very plain in the reason of these Proverbs. As is stated in the Introduction to this Study, God has His servants write His revelations in very plain and simple language.

However, according to 1 Corinthians 2:9-16, only those who have the mind of Christ can understand spiritual things – the natural man cannot.

God gives the reader of Proverbs a brief history of the human author that He used to pen His Word of Proverbs; his name is Solomon.

Solomon’s Biblical history can be read in 2 Samuel 12:24-25; I Kings 11:43; 1 Chronicles 23:1; 28:1-21; 2 Chronicles 1:1 – 9:31. Solomon’s mother was Bathsheba, and his father was David, King of Israel. Solomon succeeded David as King of Israel; and he reigned 40 years. Solomon is credited with being the human author of much of the Book of Proverbs; the Book of Ecclesiastes; and the Song of Solomon.

Solomon is known for several things:
1) He was the wisest king to ever rule Israel;
2) His reign was 40 years of total peace;
3) He was the richest king of Israel;
4) He built the first Temple for God’s Shekinah Glory to dwell in on earth;
5) He is known for his multiplicity of wives.

The Why

Solomon begins in Proverbs 1:2-4 to give the Why of his Proverbs:

1) The first reason is “to know wisdom.”

Wisdom will be revealed as God, Who is The Truth. The Truth is The Fact. Also, if you know Christ, then you will know Truth; and the Truth makes you free. Wisdom is the knowledge of how to implement what you know to be the Truth.

This first reason also includes to know “instruction.” Instructions are the rules of implementation of the Truth. The knowledge of implementation is through instruction by God the Spirit to the believer.

2) The second reason is “to perceive the words of understanding.”

The words of understanding are Truth. But to perceive Truth, you must have the ability to discern Truth from error. Wisdom cannot come without understanding; and understanding cannot come without instruction and the ability to perceive the instruction. The ability to perceive Truth comes only by God the Spirit, Who is Truth and the Author of Truth and the Teacher of Truth and the Giver of Perception, or the ability to understand Truth from error.

3) The third reason is “to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity.”

The key is the ability to receive Truth. God must give Truth, “For the LORD giveth wisdom” (Proverbs 2:6). The ability given by God to receive Truth comes in Regeneration. (See Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 8:14-16.) A person who is Regenerated by God the Spirit is given a new nature, made a new creature, with the mind of Christ living in the new believer. This action is by God upon the believer; it is passive by the believer:

“For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” (1 Corinthians 4:7)

Therefore, to know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, you must have the ability to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity; which is by the Sovereign Act of God upon a person. (See 1 John 2:20, 27.)

4) The fourth reason is “to give subtilty to the simple.”

That is, to cause the simple to be shrewd, perceptive. The “simple” in this context are the innocent, free from dishonesty or vanity; those of a humble or modest position.

The key is “to give”; this is the action of Wisdom, and not of the receiver. God is the Giver of perception to the humble (the simple); God is the Giver of understanding to the humble.

“But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:24)

“Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (1 Corinthians 1:25)

“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:” (1 Corinthians 1:26)

“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;” (1 Corinthians 1:27)

“And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:” (1 Corinthians 1:28)

“That no flesh should glory in his presence.” (1 Corinthians 1:29)

“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:” (1 Corinthians 1:30)

“That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:31)

The other part of the fourth reason is “to give… to the young man knowledge and discretion.” That is, God is the Giver of Truth to the young man in Christ; even discretion, or prudence (discernment, wisdom), or the ability to understand truth, and then how to implement truth. Many young people have a lack of knowledge, even discretion, of how to implement truth.

Tomorrow’s post will continue these thoughts; looking at the What and then the Explanation found in these verses.