Proverbs 4 – 13

Blessed with the divinely-given discerning understanding and wisdom he asked God to grant to him, Solomon put down on paper a partial collection of the wise sayings meant to teach us. Since faith is to have a forward momentum and not be stagnant, God describes a godly life as a walk or a run. So, too, Solomon’s proverbs.

When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil.

Proverbs 4:12-14

The instructions from God are intended to help us chose the pathway we will walk. Wisdom literature, precepts, and commandments are the doctrines (teachings) designed to not only guide us in the right way, but help us to identify the pot holes and barriers in our path. Note also, the progression from walking to running. These same obstructions in the path of a runner become more and more dangerous. As we mature from walking to running in the spiritual realm, temptations, distractions and troubles come at us faster and we must grow in discernment. So divine instruction becomes more and more important to us, and we must “guard her, for she is your life”.

She? Wait a minute. What?

If men think we wield the true power in this world we are deluding ourselves. The clichés “behind every great man stands a great woman” and “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world” are but two representations of the power and influence women possess. Only half-jokingly we note that a baby girl may be the most powerful person on the planet because she can so easily wrap a 200 pound man around her little finger. When men and women understand the truth that we are created equal, but have been created different for a purpose, then we can see one another as God’s gifts to each other. At the same time, the part of a man’s wiring that is receptive to the “helper” God gives him also puts him in grave danger and makes him susceptible to a woman not aiming to be so “helpful”. When the power of physical strength or influence is abused, things spiral out of control in the dark realm of domineering relationships. Look no further than Samson and Delilah for an example.

It is not some sort of twisted, divinely sanctioned sexism in play. Keep in mind, when proverbs are written to “my son” it needs to be understood as applying to both male and female. When they speak of a woman influencing a man or a boy, likewise it is genderless instruction merely using the metaphor of the powerful influence of women upon men. We all need instruction in order to avoid the pitfalls of life. We are all susceptible to both positive and negative influences. When we open our minds to see that ideas influence actions, it all begins to make sense then why the Holy Spirit inspired Solomon to write so many proverbs from the perspective of two extraordinarily powerful women exerting influence of extraordinarily malleable men.

An extended metaphor throughout Scripture, but primarily in the Old Testament, is that of adultery standing for spiritual unfaithfulness. Humans cannot fathom the pain felt by a Creator Deity who loving grants free will to His creatures and is then rejected. We can, however, understand the pain of a loving spouse whose partner leaves them for another person. So, in the book of Proverbs we meet the sultry woman who lures a man away with false promises of happiness into the prison of sin for a season. She is called “folly” because in vain to men pursue her promises. Samson should have easily seen Delilah for what she truly was, a Philistine prostitute. He fell for her wiles anyway. So it is with the lure of “happiness” in this world.

Standing opposite the sultry women enticing us away is at first glance the staid, conservative librarian. For whatever reasons, the initial attraction may not strike us. In reality we need to look closer to see the true beauty she possesses. Her beauty lies in truth and reality and there is no falsehood in her. She can deliver on all of her promises. Instead of the false hope of sin for a season, she offers blessedness for eternity. Her name is “wisdom” because she is the personification of righteous teaching in action. While our worldly minds at first do not see her as desirable, the attraction grows and we soon see her for who she really is – she’s the “marrying type”. So it is with God’s offering of salvation in a lost and dying world.

Now, before you get upset with me for using sexist stereotypes consider that stereotypes are based in reality. Who among us has not known men drawn to the “party girls”? So, ladies, since you all know “that guy” you can now see how as a human being your mind is vulnerable to being enticed into sin. We are all the same, as truly there is “no male or female” (if I may borrow that out of context). In all of our lives we know women who have made our lives better and women who have caused trouble (ditto men, but stick with me). The women in our lives influence us. The book of Proverbs challenges us to see the competition for our spiritual affections through that simple perspective.

Maybe we should see “Wisdom” as a grandmother sitting in her kitchen with a fresh pot of coffee waiting for you to come by for a visit. If you are like me, Granny has passed on. Oh what I wouldn’t give for one more visit to just sit and talk. With that thought fresh on your mind, open your Bible…

Consider His nature.  Consider His ways.  Strive to love Him more!