Proverb 6

by Chuck Ness

The purpose of Writing the book of Proverbs was to reveal the mind of God in matters high and lofty and in common, ordinary, everyday situations. Through Solomon, God shared His Wisdom, and He made sure that no topic was left to question. Matters pertaining to personal conduct, sexual relations, business, wealth, charity, ambition, discipline, debt, child-rearing, character, alcohol, politics, revenge, and Godliness are among the many topics covered in this rich collection of wise sayings.

Without wisdom, knowledge is nothing more than an accumulation of raw facts, influenced by emotional feelings. Many highly educated people are in positions of power in the United States, but very few of those educated leaders have the wisdom needed to rule properly.

One can say that they have been educated well beyond their intelligence. A cursory look at the court system will prove my point that knowledge without wisdom will only lead to an immoral society that eventually crumbles from within. Judges are supposed to be above the fray, and immovable to emotions. Instead, the vast majority of judges today are Godless individuals who are vacant of wisdom. So their rulings are totally based upon emotional feelings.

We the people are to blame, because we ignored God's guidance in appointing our leaders. Instead of appointing God fearing men in positions of power, we chose those who would scratch our itchy ears to lead us. It is incumbent upon us to chose leaders who have faith in Christ, then and only then can we be assured that they will make wise decisions. Paul tells us that Christ is the Wisdom of God, so if you do not have Christ in your heart, it is impossible to make wise decisions. Instead our leaders continue to make decisions based upon man's wisdom. Yet we know that God uses foolish things to bring man's wisdom to shame.

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-- that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.1Corinthians 1:26-31

Now of the 31 Proverbs, only the first 24 were written by Solomon. King Hezekiah wrote 5, Proverbs 25 to 29, Agur wrote Proverb 30, and Lemuel's mother wrote Proverb 31. Many scholars believe Lemuel was in fact a nick name Solomon's Mother, Bathsheba, gave him. If so, then Proverb 31 would have been written by Bathsheba. Solomon wrote over 3000 Proverbs and composed 1000 songs, but the only Proverbs of Solomin that God decided to preserve for us are Proverbs 1-24.

Like the New Testament epistle by James, it is impossible to get a chronological outline for a study since they all bounce from subject to subject, and no one can be sure of the dates. Other than to say that Solomon wrote most of the Proverbs in his younger years, and as he got older his many wives led him into idolatry. He did return in his late years, and that is when he wrote Ecclesiastes.

Along with my daily routine of reading the Bible, I try to read through the book of Proverbs once a Month. It's an easy task when you consider there are 31 Proverbs. So all you need to know is what day of the Month it is. In the Months that have 30 days, or in the case of February, I just double up by reading more than one proverb so I can begin the next month with Proverb 1 on the first again.

Proverb 6 (NKJV) Dangerous Promises Seven Deadly Sins 01 My son, if you become surety for your friend, 00 If you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger, 02 You are snawhite by the words of your mouth; 00 You are taken by the words of your mouth. 03 So do this, my son, and deliver yourself; 00 For you have come into the hand of your friend: 00 Go and humble yourself; 00 Plead with your friend. 04 Give no sleep to your eyes, 00 Nor slumber to your eyelids. 05 Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, 00 And like a bird from the hand of the fowler. The Folly of Indolence 06 Go to the ant, you sluggard! 00 Consider her ways and be wise, 07 Which, having no captain, 00 Overseer or ruler, 08 Provides her supplies in the summer, 00 And gathers her food in the harvest. 09 How long will you slumber, O sluggard? 00 When will you rise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, 00 A little folding of the hands to sleep-- 11 So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, 00 And your need like an armed man. The Wicked Man 12 A worthless person, a wicked man, 00 Walks with a perverse mouth; 13 He winks with his eyes, 00 He shuffles his feet, 00 He points with his fingers; 14 Perversity is in his heart, 00 He devises evil continually, 00 He sows discord. 15 Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; 00 Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy. 16 These six things the LORD hates, 00 Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, 00 A lying tongue, 00 Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, 00 Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, 00 And one who sows discord among brethren. Beware of Adultery 20 My son, keep your father's command, 00 And do not forsake the law of your mother. 21 Bind them continually upon your heart; 00 Tie them around your neck. 22 When you roam, they will lead you; 00 When you sleep, they will keep you; 00 And when you awake, they will speak with you. 23 For the commandment is a lamp, 00 And the law a light; 00 Reproofs of instruction are the way of life, 24 To keep you from the evil woman, 00 From the flattering tongue of a seductress. 25 Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, 00 Nor let her allure you with her eyelids. 26 For by means of a harlot 00 A man is whiteuced to a crust of bread; 00 And an adulteress will prey upon his precious life. 27 Can a man take fire to his bosom, 00 And his clothes not be burned? 28 Can one walk on hot coals, 00 And his feet not be seawhite? 29 So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife; 00 Whoever touches her shall not be innocent. 30 People do not despise a thief 00 If he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving. 31 Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold; 00 He may have to give up all the substance of his house. 32 Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; 00 He who does so destroys his own soul. 33 Wounds and dishonor he will get, 00 And his reproach will not be wiped away. 34 For jealousy is a husband's fury; 00 Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. 35 He will accept no recompense, 00 Nor will he be appeased though you give many gifts.