. . . AND INSTRUCTION

Proverbs 1:1-6
The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

to know wisdom and instruction;
to recognize the words of understanding;
to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and uprightness;
to give sense to the simple,
knowledge and judgment to the young man;
the wise hears and increases learning;
and understanding ones get wisdom;
to understand a proverb and its meaning;
the words of the wise, and their acute sayings.


. . . and instruction; In ancient times God established His Laws upon tablets of stones. The children had no sooner promised to follow and obey God that they turned away from Him to worship the work of their own hands. They knew what was right, but only in their heads. In spite of all they had seen God do to the Egyptians for their defiance against God, The Children of Israel did not yet have “wisdom” to ‘fear the Lord” in their hearts yet.

The Hebrew word for instruction that is used in this passage is the word ‘musar’. Properly this word means ‘chastisement’; figuratively it means rebuke, reprove, doctrine, warning, and also restraint. In the book of the New Covenant, Paul also advises Timothy to . . . reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine (2 Timothy 4:2).

Once we enter a new situation such as a new school, a new job, or a new social circle, isn’t helpful to get an orientation and familiarize ourselves with the modus operandi, the do’s and don’t of our new environment? God enters a betrothal covenant with us and He doesn’t want to leave us in the dark as far as His expectations from us, and what does He expect more than any husband would expect from his wife, only that she be consecrated and dedicated to him.

These proverbs from King Solomon not only give us the wisdom to fear and honor God, but also teach us in the ways of the great King.