PROVERBS: THE BOOK OF WISDOM


Dear Mishpochah (family):

         Most of you are probably familiar with the book of Proverbs.
When you think of the book of Proverbs, most people probably view the
book of Proverbs as a GENERAL collection of wise sayings, advice or
principles to follow in living our lives. While this may be the case,
you probably may have not considered that the book of Proverbs defines
WISDOM as FOLLOWING the TORAH and the book of Proverbs was written by
Solomon as an exortation to follow the Torah.

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

KJV Proverbs 1:2 To KNOW WISDOM and INSTRUCTION; to perceive the
WORDS of UNDERSTANDING;

KJV Proverbs 1:3 To receive the INSTRUCTION of WISDOM, justice, and
judgment, and equity;

    The book of Proverbs begins by saying how important it is to:

#1) Know Wisdom and Understanding
#2) Receive instruction of Wisdom, justice, judgment and equity


               WHAT IS WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING?

    The book of Proverbs begins with an exortation to get wisdom and
understanding. However, what does the Bible define as being wisdom
and understanding?


    WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING IS FOLLOWING TORAH

KJV Deuteronomy 4:5 Behold, I have taught you STATUTES and JUDGMENTS,
even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land
whither ye go to possess it.

KJV Deuteronomy 4:6 KEEP therefore and DO them; for this is YOUR
WISDOM and your UNDERSTANDING in the sight of the nations, which shall
hear all these STATUTES, and say, Surely this great nation is a WISE
and UNDERSTANDING people.

KJV Deuteronomy 4:8 And what nation is there so great, that hath
STATUTES and JUDGMENTS so righteous as all this TORAH, which I set
before you this day?

        These verses tell us that KEEPING and DOING the TORAH is done
by a WISE and UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE.


    WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING IS FOLLOWING TORAH

KJV 1 Chronicles 22:9 Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall
be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round
about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and
quietness unto Israel in his days.

KJV 1 Chronicles 22:12 Only the LORD give thee WISDOM and
UNDERSTANDING, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou
mayest KEEP the TORAH of the LORD thy God.

KJV 1 Chronicles 22:13 Then shalt thou PROSPER, if thou takest heed to
fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with
concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be
dismayed.

        Therefore, a person who is WISE and has UNDERSTANDING will
follow the TORAH and will PROSPER.


              WHAT IS WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING?

KJV Job 28:20 Whence then cometh WISDOM? and where is the place of
UNDERSTANDING?

KJV Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the FEAR of the LORD, that
is WISDOM; and to depart from evil is UNDERSTANDING.

KJV Psalm 111:10 The FEAR of the LORD is the beginning of WISDOM: a
GOOD UNDERSTANDING have all they that DO his COMMANDMENTS: his praise
endureth for ever.

             Job asked what is wisdom and understanding? The
BEGINNING of wisdom and understanding is the fear of YHVH. How to we
express our fear (reverence, respect, awe) of YHVH? We keep His Torah
or commandments!


      FEAR YHVH IS WISDOM = KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENTS       

      If the fear of YHVH is the beginning of wisdom and
understanding then what is the fear of YHVH?

KJV Deuteronomy 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that
they would FEAR ME, and KEEP all my COMMANDMENTS always, that it might
be well with them, and with their children for ever!

KJV Deuteronomy 8:6 Therefore thou shalt KEEP the COMMANDMENTS of the
LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to FEAR HIM.

KJV Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
FEAR God, and KEEP his COMMANDMENTS: for this is the whole duty of
man.

                       WHAT IS THE WILL OF YHVH?               

      About 15 years ago, I attended a class offered at the church I
was attending at the time which was about: 'How do we know the Will
of YHVH?' So we studied week after week after week to know what was
the Will of YHVH
and how we knew if we were doing His Will. I wish
that I would have understood my Hebraic roots in those days. The
SIMPLE answer of KNOWING the WILL of YHVH is found in Psalm 40:7-8.

KJV Colossians 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it,
do not cease to PRAY for you, and to desire that ye might be filled
with the KNOWLEDGE of his WILL in all WISDOM and spiritual
UNDERSTANDING;

KJV Psalm 40:7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it
is written of me,

KJV Psalm 40:8 I delight to do THY WILL, O my God: yea, thy TORAH is
within MY HEART.

        So, what is the Will of YHVH? It is the TORAH written upon
our heart. Paul prayed that we would have the KNOWLEDGE of the Will
of YHVH! So, Paul prayed that we would have an understanding of how
to follow Torah which is wisdom and understanding.

KJV Proverbs 28:7 Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is
a companion of riotous men shameth his father.

       Whosoever KEEPS the TORAH is a WISE SON!


         WHAT IS WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING?

      The fear of YHVH is the beginning of wisdom and understanding.
The fear of YHVH is keeping His Torah or commandments. So keeping the
Torah of YHVH is wisdom and understanding. The Torah is wisdom and
understanding. Solomon exhorts us in Proverb chapter 1 to get wisdom
and understanding (follow Torah).


      JOHN WAS OF THE SPIRIT AND POWER OF ELIJAH

KJV Luke 1:17 And he shall go before him in the SPIRIT and POWER of
ELIJAH, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the
DISOBEDIENT to the WISDOM of the JUST; to make ready a people prepared
for the Lord.

         The message of John the Immerser was to have the Spirit of
YHVH upon Him so that the DISOBEDIENT (those who don't follow Torah)
would walk in the WISDOM of the JUST (righteous who do follow Torah).


                      WHO ARE THE DISOBEDIENT?

KJV Daniel 9:11 Yea, all Israel have TRANSGRESSED thy TORAH, even by
DEPARTING, that they might NOT OBEY thy voice; therefore the curse is
poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the
servant of God, because we have sinned against him.

KJV Nehemiah 9:26 Nevertheless they were DISOBEDIENT, and REBELLED
AGAINST thee, and cast thy TORAH behind their backs ... 

              The disobedient DON'T follow Torah.

     WHO ARE THE RIGHTEOUS (those that do right things)  ???
           
KJV Deuteronomy 6:24 And the LORD commanded us to DO all these
STATUTES, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might
preserve us alive, as it is at this day.

KJV Deuteronomy 6:25 And it shall be our RIGHTEOUSNESS, if we observe
to DO all these COMMANDMENTS before the LORD our God, as he hath
commanded us.

KJV Romans 7:12 Wherefore the TORAH is holy, and the commandment holy,
and JUST, and good.

KJV Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a
certain priest named ZACHARIAS, of the course of Abia: and his wife
was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

KJV Luke 1:6 And they were both RIGHTEOUS before God, WALKING in ALL
the COMMANDMENTS and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

     The righteous (those who do right things) OBEY the TORAH.

     So the calling of John the Immerser was to turn the hearts of
the disobedient (those who DON'T follow Torah) to the WISDOM of the
JUST (those who DO follow Torah).


                                WHO ARE THE SIMPLE?

KJV Proverbs 1:4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man
knowledge and discretion.
 
           The simple are those who love YHVH but who aren't fully
following Torah.

KJV Psalm 19:7 The TORAH of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul:
the testimony of the LORD is sure, making WISE the SIMPLE.

KJV Proverbs 21:11 When the scorner is punished, the SIMPLE is MADE
WISE: and when the WISE is instructed, he receiveth KNOWLEDGE.

            The TORAH of YHVH makes WISE and gives understanding to
the SIMPLE.


                                A WISE MAN WILL HEAR

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

          A wise man will hear (shema). What will a wise man hear?

KJV Deuteronomy 6:4 HEAR, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

KJV Deuteronomy 6:6 And these WORDS, which I command thee THIS DAY,
shall be IN THINE HEART:
 
         A wise man will hear (shema) or follow Torah.


       THE WISE SPEAK IN PROVERBS AND DARK SAYINGS

KJV Proverbs 1:6 To understand a proverb <4912> , and the interpretation; the
words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

       The Hebrew word for proverb is MISHAL which also means a
PARABLE.

4912 mashal 1) proverb, parable 1a) proverb,
proverbial saying, aphorism 1b) byword 1c) similitude,
parable 1d) poem  1e) sentences of ethical wisdom,
ethical maxims 


            MESSIAH TAUGHT THE TORAH IN PARABLES  

KJV Matthew 13:34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in
parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

KJV Matthew 13:35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the
prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in PARABLES; I will utter
THINGS which have been KEPT SECRET from the foundation of the world.

    Matthew 13:35 is a reference to Psalm 78:2.

KJV Psalm 78:1 {Maschil of Asaph.} Give ear, O my people, to MY TORAH:
incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

KJV Psalm 78:2 I will open my mouth in a PARABLE: I will utter DARK
SAYINGS of old:

KJV Proverbs 1:6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the
WORDS of the WISE, and their DARK SAYINGS.

KJV Mark 4:10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the
twelve asked of him the parable.

KJV Mark 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the
MYSTERY of the KINGDOM of God: but unto them that are without, all
these things are done in PARABLES:

       The DARK SAYINGS, MYSTERIES, HIDDEN MEANINGS of the TORAH are
given to the WISE (those who follow TORAH) in PARABLES or PROVERBS so
that the WISE (those who follow TORAH) will KNOW the dark sayings,
mysteries, hidden meanings (Sod level) of the Torah and will
understand but those who don't follow the Torah will be clueless.


      FOOLS (ignorant, naive and misinformed) DON'T FOLLOW TORAH

KJV Proverbs 1:7 The FEAR of the LORD is the BEGINNING of KNOWLEDGE:
but FOOLS DESPISE WISDOM and instruction.

      The fear of YHH (following Torah) is the beginning of wisdom
but fools despise wisdom (won't follow Torah).


           HEAR THE TORAH OF YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER

KJV Proverbs 1:8 My son, hear the INSTRUCTION of thy FATHER, and
forsake not the TORAH of thy MOTHER:

          The instruction of the Father is YHVH the Father. The TORAH
of the mother is the instruction of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit
is Hebrew is Ruach HaKodesh which is FEMININE.

          The Holy Spirit is also associated with the Shekinah. In
Hebrew, the Shekinah is FEMININE.

          The Holy Spirit (Torah of your mother) writes the TORAH
upon our HEARTS.

KJV Ezekiel 36:26 A NEW HEART also will I give you, and a NEW SPIRIT
will I put WITHIN YOU: and I will take away the stony heart out of
your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

KJV Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put MY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU, and cause you
to WALK in my STATUTES, and ye shall KEEP my JUDGMENTS, and DO them.


           HEAR THE TORAH OF YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER

KJV Proverbs 1:10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

KJV Proverbs 1:15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain
thy foot from their path:
           
          How do we sin?

KJV 1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law:
for SIN is the TRANSGRESSION of the TORAH.

          After hearing the instruction of your father and the Torah
of your mother (following Torah), if sinners (those who don't follow
Torah) try to entice you (by telling you to NOT follow Torah) then
don't listen to them.
     

 
             WISDOM CRIES: WILL YOU FOLLOW TORAH?

KJV Proverbs 1:20 WISDOM CRIETH without; she uttereth her voice in the
streets:

KJV Proverbs 1:22 HOW LONG, ye SIMPLE ONES, will ye love simplicity?
and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

            Wisdom (those who follow the Torah) ask the simple (those
who don't understand they need to follow Torah): How long will you
remain simple minded and not follow Torah?


                        THE HOLY SPIRIT IS POURED OUT
                 UPON THE SIMPLE WHO PERSUE TORAH

KJV Proverbs 1:23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will POUR out MY
SPIRIT unto YOU (simple ones) , I will make known my words unto you.

KJV Isaiah 44:3 For I will POUR WATER upon HIM that is THIRSTY, and
floods upon the DRY GROUND: I will POUR MY SPIRIT upon thy seed, and
my blessing upon thine offspring:

           The Torah is likened to water. Water (knowledge and
understanding of Torah) will be poured out by the Holy Spirit to
those who are THIRSTY.


                     DRY GROUND HAS NO WATER

KJV Psalm 63:1 {A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of
Judah.} O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul
thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a DRY and THIRSTY
land, where NO WATER is;

         A dry land has no water (is not following Torah). YHVH will
pour out His Holy Spirit upon those who are a dry land (not following
Torah) BUT who are THIRSTY.


       BROKEN CISTERNS = NO WATER = FORSAKE TORAH

KJV Jeremiah 2:13 For my people have committed two evils; they have
forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out
cisterns, BROKEN CISTERNS, that can hold NO WATER.

KJV Jeremiah 2:29 Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have
TRANSGRESSED against me, saith the LORD.

KJV Jeremiah 6:19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this
people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have NOT
HEARKENED unto my words, nor
to MY TORAH, but REJECTED it.


             THE TORAH IS READ AT THE WATER GATE

KJV Nehemiah 8:1 And all the people gathered themselves together as
one man into the street that was before the WATER GATE; and they spake
unto Ezra the scribe to bring the BOOK of the TORAH of Moses, which the
LORD had commanded to Israel.

          In the Bible, the Torah is likened to water. So when
Nehemiah read the Torah (water from heaven), he read from the water gate.


      YESHUA GIVES THE WATER OF LIFE (Torah) FREELY

KJV John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give
him shall never thirst; but the WATER that I shall GIVE him shall be
in him a WELL of WATER springing up into everlasting life.

KJV Revelation 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and
Omega, the beginning and the end. I will GIVE unto him that is
THIRSTY of the FOUNTAIN of the WATER of LIFE freely.

KJV Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let
him that heareth say, Come. And LET HIM that is THIRSTY (the simple)
come. And whosoever will, let him take the WATER of LIFE freely.


PUNISHMENT AND EXILE FOR THOSE WHO DON'T FOLLOW TORAH

KJV Proverbs 1:27 When your fear cometh as DESOLATION, and your
DESTRUCTION cometh as a whirlwind; when DISTRESS and ANGUISH cometh
upon you.

KJV Deuteronomy 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt NOT
HEARKEN unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to DO all his
COMMANDMENTS and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all
these CURSES shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:

KJV Deuteronomy 28:22 The LORD shall SMITE thee with a CONSUMPTION,
and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme
burning, and with the SWORD, and with blasting, and with mildew; and
they shall pursue thee until thou PERISH.

          Those who don't fear YHVH through keeping His Torah will be
punished by YHVH with distress and exile.

KJV Proverbs 1:28 Then shall they CALL upon ME, but I will NOT ANSWER;
they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

          By not following Torah (blatent rebellion), YHVH will not
answer when you call.

KJV Deuteronomy 28:23 And thy HEAVEN that is over thy head shall be
BRASS, and the EARTH that is under thee shall be IRON.

KJV Jeremiah 6:19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will BRING EVIL upon this
people, even the FRUIT of their THOUGHTS, because they have NOT
HEARKENED unto my words, nor
to MY TORAH, but REJECTED it.

KJV Jeremiah 7:13 And now, because ye have done all these works, saith
the LORD, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but YE
HEARD NOT (didn't follow Torah); and I called you, but YE ANSWERED
NOT (wouldn't follow Torah)

KJV Jeremiah 7:16 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither
lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for
I will not hear thee.

KJV Proverbs 1:29 For that they HATED KNOWLEDGE (following Torah) ,
and did not choose the fear of the LORD (which is the beginning of
wisdom or following Torah)

        Those who REJECT WISDOM (following Torah) and DON'T choose
the FEAR of YHVH (following Torah) will suffer desolation,
destruction and anguish (exile) from YHVH.

        YHVH WILL PUNISH THOSE WHO DON'T FOLLOW TORAH

KJV Proverbs 1:31 Therefore shall they EAT of the FRUIT of their own
WAY (punished for NOT following Torah) , and be filled with their own devices.

KJV Jeremiah 21:14 But I will PUNISH you according to the FRUIT of
your DOINGS, saith the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in the forest
thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it.


       THOSE WHO FOLLOW TORAH WILL DWELL SAFELY IN YHVH

KJV Proverbs 1:33 But WHOSO HEARKENETH UNTO ME (follows Torah)  shall
dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

KJV Psalm 103:20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in
strength
, that DO his COMMANDMENTS, HEARKENING unto the VOICE of his
WORD.

KJV Leviticus 26:3 If ye walk in my statutes, and KEEP my
COMMANDMENTS, and do them;

KJV Leviticus 26:5 And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage,
and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat
your bread to the full, and DWELL in your land SAFELY.

        YHVH has promised that those who follow Torah will dwell
safely in the hands of YHVH.


                THE BOOK OF WISDOM: CHAPTER 1

        This concludes our study of Proverbs 1. In this chapter, we
see how Solomon exhorts those who are wise to follow Torah. The wise
pleads with the simple to follow Torah. The fear of YHVH (following
Torah) is the beginning of wisdom and understanding. The wise
understand the parables and dark sayings (hidden messages) of Torah.
A wise son listens to the instruction of his father (YHVH the Father)
and his mother (the Torah instruction of the Holy Spirit).

       Those who don't follow Torah will be punished by YHVH with
anguish, distress and exile and YHVH will not listen to their cry.
However those who do follow the Torah of YHVH
will dwell safely under the wings of YHVH.

       I pray that this study will help to see the book of Proverbs
in a new light. The book of Proverbs is a book written as
encouragement to follow the Torah and to praise the wise who follow
this advice.

      May YHVH continue to bless you in your studies.

Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int'l