Proverbs chapter 8 (part 1) - Instruction, Knowledge, Wisdom are better than Silver, Gold, Jewels

Proverbs chapter 8.

Summary:  Wisdom is proclaimed, propagated and publicized to everyone at everywhere. Simple and foolish people should learn prudence. Wisdom brings many benefits, rewards and blessings. God promised Riches, Wealth, Money, Prosperity and Honour to those whose live Wisely, loving and honouring God.

Wisdom's Call  (NIV).
The Gifts of Wisdom  (RSV).
The Excellence of Wisdom  (NKJV).

1 Does not wisdom call out?
    Does not understanding raise her voice?
2 2 At the highest point along the way,
    where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3 3 beside the gate leading into the city,
    at the entrance, she cries aloud:
4 4 “To you, O people, I call out;
    I raise my voice to all mankind. (NIV)

1 Does not wisdom cry out,
And understanding lift up her voice?
2 2 She takes her stand on the top of the high hill,
Beside the way, where the paths meet.
3 3 She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city,
At the entrance of the doors:
4 4 “To you, O men, I call,And my voice is to the sons of men.  (NKJV)

Principles of Wisdom and Understanding are proclaimed loudly (call out, cry out, raise her voice, lift up her voice) from strategic places (hilltop, beside the road, at road junctions, at city gates, at entry of city, at entrance doors). Wisdom and Understanding are widely propagated and publicized to everywhere. Wisdom and Understanding are taught and instructed to all people, intended for everyone.

Dissemination of this Wisdom and Understanding is not for the angels, but for we human beings. Wisdom and Understanding are prominently publicized. There is no excuse that we do not know or never heard of Wisdom precepts.

5 5 O simple ones, learn prudence;
    O foolish men, pay attention.
6 6 Hear, for I will speak noble things,
    and from my lips will come what is right;
7 7 for my mouth will utter truth;
   wickedness is an abomination to my lips.  (RSV)

5 5 You who are simple, gain prudence;
    you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.[a]
6 6 Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;
    I open my lips to speak what is right.
7 7 My mouth speaks what is true,
    for my lips detest wickedness.  (NIV)

5 5 O you simple ones, understand prudence,
And you fools, be of an understanding heart.
6 6 Listen, for I will speak of excellent things,
And from the opening of my lips will come right things;
7 7 For my mouth will speak truth;
Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.  (NKJV)

Simple and foolish people should learn up about Prudence and Understanding.

Output of Wisdom are:
1)  Excellent and Noble things.
2)  Trustworthy sayings.
3)  Saying the Right things. Doing what is Right.
4)  Truth. Speaking what is True.

Wickedness is totally against Wisdom. All forms of wickedness, evil and sins are bad. It is NOT wise to think, say and do according to path of Wickedness. Wickedness can appear in many forms, just as there are many types of sins. Wickedness is an abomination!

8 8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;
    there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
9 9 They are all straight to him who understands
   and right to those who find knowledge.  (RSV)

8 8 All the words of my mouth are just;
    none of them is crooked or perverse.
9 9 To the discerning all of them are right;
    they are upright to those who have found knowledge.  (NIV)

The words of Wisdom are:
1) Righteous and just.
2) Not twisted, not crooked, not perverse.
3) Right and correct. Ability to discern good and evil.
4) Straight, efficient and effective pathway.
5) Upright and the right choice, for the knowing.

In conclusion, words of Wisdom are all good and beneficial.

10 10 Take my instruction instead of silver,
    and knowledge rather than choice gold;
11 11 for wisdom is better than jewels,
   and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.  (RSV)

10 10 Choose my instruction instead of silver,
    knowledge rather than choice gold,
11 11 for wisdom is more precious than rubies, 
   and nothing you desire can compare with her.  (NIV)

10 10 Receive my instruction, and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choice gold;
11 11 For wisdom is better than rubies,
And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.  (NKJV)

Value and appreciate Wisdom above money and wealth.
Instruction is worth more that Silver and Money.
Knowledge is worth more than Choice Gold and Wealth.
Wisdom is more valuable than Jewels, Rubies, Diamonds and Precious Gemstones.
Wisdom is more beneficial than our our worldly desires.

12 12 I, wisdom, dwell in prudence,[a]
    and I find knowledge and discretion.
13 13 The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
  and perverted speech I hate.  (RSV)

Another output of Wisdom are:
1)  Prudence.
2)  Knowledge.
3)  Discretion.
We can see that there are so many virtues that we will gain by living a life of Wisdom.

Fear the Lord, love God, honour God, hating evil....these are the foundation of precepts of Wisdom.

13 13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil;
    I hate pride and arrogance,
    evil behavior and perverse speech.  (NIV)

Examples of evil which we believers must hate include:
1) Pride and arrogance.
2) Evil behaviour.
3) Perverse and perverted speech. Lies. Slander. False accusation.

14 14 I have counsel and sound wisdom,
    I have insight, I have strength.
15 15 By me kings reign,
    and rulers decree what is just;
16 16 by me princes rule,
   and nobles govern[b] the earth.  (RSV)

14 14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
    I have insight, I have power.
15 15 By me kings reign
    and rulers issue decrees that are just;
16 16 by me princes govern,
    and nobles—all who rule on earth.  (NIV)  

Wisdom is empowering. Wisdom provides the counsel, sound judgement, insight, power and strength for Kings, Rulers, Princes and Noble to reign, rule and govern.  Likewise, as Leaders, we also need to be empowered by Wisdom, which will provide us the sound judgement, insight and understanding, power and strength in our leadership role.

Wise Leader will win favour by his team. Wise Leader will gain much honour and respect from the team. Wise Leader who is guided by precepts of Wisdom will say, plan and do the wise and right things.

17 17 I love those who love me,
    and those who seek me diligently find me.
18 18 Riches and honor are with me,
    enduring wealth and prosperity.
19 19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,
    and my yield than choice silver.
20 20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
    in the paths of justice,
21 21 endowing with wealth those who love me, 
   and filling their treasuries.  (RSV)

Wisdom belongs to those who love wisdom and love God, and those who seek wisdom.  Those who love and find Wisdom will be rewarded with Riches and Honour, lasting Wealth and Prosperity. The path of Wisdom is the way of Righteousness and Justice. Those who are righteous and just will rewarded with Wealth and much Money. The end result of Wisdom is better than fine gold and silver, better than Wealth and Money.

How wonderful to live wisely with Wisdom and Understanding?  How great it is to love and honour God?  If we live in Wisdom, loving and honouring God, we will be blessed and rewarded with Money, Riches, Wealth, Prosperity and Honour.

Sunday - Monday, Jan 12-13, 2014.
Michael Yeap.


NIV:  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%208&version=NIV

RSV:  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%208&version=RSV

NKJV:  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%208&version=NKJV

Commentaries:
1)  http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.8.1-Prov.8.11
2)  http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.8.12-Prov.8.21
3)

Deuteronomy 28:1-14 Blessings for Obedience

When I was walking close to God, I was blessed with tremendous blessings. I became a Christian in January 1982, when I was 15 years old. I was studying Form 3 in La Salle Secondary School, Petaling Jaya then.

I soon became a committed believer. God blessed me tremendously in my studies. Although I spent average of one hour for personal devotion (including bible study, prayer and meditation) daily, I was doing well in my studies. For the public exam at year end of Form 3, SRP, I scored 7As out of 8 subjects. I believed that if I gave my time to God, this would not be in vain. Somehow, my study became more effective. I spent less time than my friends in study and revision, yet scored better results. God is Great!!

To start off this season.... I would like to commence with my all-time favorite, Deuteronomy 28.

28 If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. ² All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God:

If obey God and do what is right before God, we will be blessed with many blessings, in abundance.  God rewards his faithful sons, his faithful and obedient believers.

³ You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.

We will be well blessed wherever we go, wherever we are. We will be blessed wherever we work, wherever we conduct our business. God is with us.
⁴ The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.
⁵ Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.

Our children will be blessed. We will be successful in our work. We will get be successful in our career and business. We will get good income. We will be respected among our peers, by our superiors, and by our subordinates. We will be favoured by our Customers due to our fruitful work. God will bless everything that we do. We will be blessed with sufficient food and money. We will be free of financial difficulties.

⁶ You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.

Wherever we go, we will be blessed. We will be blessed when we are at our own place, and also blessed when we venture overseas or far away. God's blessings will follow us everywhere we go.

⁷ The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.

We will have victory over our enemies and our competitors. We will perform better than our competitors. We will be winners.

⁸ The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.

God will bless our storehouse (our bank accounts and investments). Not only we will sufficient, we will abundance to be able to store up for the future. God will bless our abundance - extra money, extra properties, our investments. God will bless everything that we do. God will bless every venture and business that we do. God will bless us in Malaysia, the land we are living in.

⁹ The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the Lord your God and walk in obedience to him. ¹⁰ Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will fear you. ¹¹ The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you.

God will give us abundance of prosperity. God will bless our children. God will bless our work and our business. God will bless us wherever we are.
¹² The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. ¹³ The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. ¹⁴ Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.

God will pour down his blessings upon us. Our work and business will be greatly successful. God will make us the Leader, and not lagging behind. We will be the cream. We will be the top 20%, and not the ordinary 80% (Pareto 80/20 principle).

We will have excess money to invest. We don't need loans. We have so much extra money.

If we carefully listen to God and obey God, we will always be Top Performer, we will never be underperforming. We will always be better than the Average people.

Do turn aside from following God.  Do not deviate and focus on other distracting, worldly desires. Focus on God, and everything will come to us.

Let us make God our first priority. If we listen to God, if we obey God, we are promised with many bountiful blessings.

In conclusion, the best investment ever is to invest in God. Invest in God, and we are promised with high returns (many blessings).

Thursday, Dec 26, 2013.
Michael Yeap.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2028&version=NIV

P/S:  If we disobey God, it will be reversed. Obey God, many rewards and blessings will follow. Vice versa, disobey God, many difficulties will happen.