PROVERBS: THE BOOK OF WISDOM
(Chapter 2)
Dear Mishpochah (family):
In the last
article from the newsgroup (Nov 26), I sent a detailed
study of Proverb 1. In that study, we learned that the SUBJECT of the
book of Proverbs is that the WISE FOLLOW TORAH. A summary of Proverbs
1 is as follows:
SUMMARY: THE BOOK
OF WISDOM: CHAPTER 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.
In this article, we will examine Proverbs
2. After studying
this chapter, we will see once again that Solomon is encouraging the
people of YHVH to observe the Torah.
THE BOOK OF WISDOM: CHAPTER 2
KJV Proverbs 2:1 My son, if thou wilt receive MY
WORDS, and hide MY
COMMANDMENTS with thee;
Solomon speaks about "my words" and "my commandments".
This is a reference to observing the Torah.
THE COMMANDMENTS ARE THE TORAH
KJV Deuteronomy 30:10 If thou shalt hearken unto the
voice of the LORD
thy God, to keep his COMMANDMENTS and his statutes which are written
in this book of the TORAH, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with
all thine heart, and with all thy soul.
KJV Proverbs 3:1 My son, forget not MY TORAH; but let thine
heart keep
MY COMMANDMENTS:
KJV Proverbs 7:2 Keep MY COMMANDMENTS, and live; and MY TORAH as the
apple of thine eye.
THE COMMANDMENTS ARE
HIDDEN IN OUR HEARTS
KJV Proverbs 2:1 My son, if thou wilt receive MY WORDS, and HIDE MY
COMMANDMENTS with thee;
Solomon told us to to "hide the commandments" with us. The
Torah / commnandments are to be hidden in our hearts.
KJV Psalm 40:8 I delight to do THY WILL, O my God: yea, THY TORAH is
WITHIN MY HEART.
PREACHING RIGHTEOUSNESS = PREACHING THE TORAH
KJV Psalm 40:9 I have PREACHED RIGHTEOUSNESS in the great
congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O
LORD, thou knowest.
KNOWING RIGHTEOUSNESS = TORAH IN OUR HEARTS
KJV Isaiah 51:7 Hearken unto me, ye that KNOW RIGHTEOUSNESS, the
people in whose HEART is MY TORAH; fear ye not the reproach of men,
neither be ye afraid of their revilings.
NOAH =
A PREACHER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (Torah)
KJV 2 Peter 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the
eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon
the world of the ungodly;
THE TORAH IS HIDDEN IN OUR HEARTS
KJV Psalm 119:10 With my WHOLE HEART have I sought thee: O let me not
wander from thy COMMANDMENTS.
KJV Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I HID in MINE HEART,
that I might not
sin against thee.
FOLLOWING TORAH = WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING
KJV Proverbs 2:2 So that thou incline thine EAR unto
WISDOM, and apply
thine HEART to 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
KJV 1 Chronicles
UNDERSTANDING, and give thee charge concerning
mayest KEEP the TORAH of the LORD thy God.
KJV 1 Chronicles
fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD
charged Moses with
concerning
dismayed.
Therefore, a person who is WISE and
has UNDERSTANDING will
follow the TORAH and will PROSPER.
OUR EAR ARE TO BE TOWARD
FOLLOWING THE TORAH
KJV Proverbs 2:2 So that thou incline thine EAR unto
WISDOM, and apply
thine heart to understanding;
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 Proverbs 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from
hearing the law,
even his prayer shall be abomination.
If we don't
follow the Torah, our prayers are an
abomination.
THE TORAH IS A HIDDEN TREASURE
KJV Proverbs 2:3 Yea, if thou criest after KNOWLEDGE,
and liftest up
thy voice for UNDERSTANDING;
Knowledge
and understanding is the Torah.
KJV Proverbs 2:4 If thou SEEKEST her as silver, and
SEARCHEST for HER
as for HID TREASURES
The Torah
his a hidden treasure.
KJV Matthew 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto TREASURE
HID in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth,
and for
joy thereof goeth and selleth
all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
Yeshua is teaching about seeking the hidden treasures
of the Torah. Yeshua is telling us to sell all that
we have (anything
that hinders us from) obtaining the hidden treasures of the Torah.
WHAT IS THE FEAR OF YHVH?
KJV Proverbs 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the
FEAR of the LORD, and
find the knowledge of God.
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
FEAR God, and KEEP his COMMANDMENTS: for this is the whole duty of
man.
WHAT IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF YHVH?
KJV Proverbs 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the
fear of the Lord, and
find the KNOWLEDGE of God.
THE KNOWLEDGE OF YHVH IS FOLLOWING TORAH
KJV Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for LACK of KNOWLEDGE: because
thou hast REJECTED KNOWLEDGE, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt
be no priest to me: seeing thou hast FORGOTTEN the TORAH of thy God, I
will also forget thy children.
KJV Malachi 2:7 For the priest's lips should KEEP
KNOWLEDGE, and they
should SEEK the TORAH at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD
of hosts.
WISDOM (FOLLOWING
TORAH) IS FOR THE RIGHTEOUS
KJV Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of
his mouth cometh
knowledge and understanding.
KJVV Proverbs 2:7 He layeth up sound WISDOM for the
RIGHTEOUS: he is a
buckler to them that walk uprightly.
KJV Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king
of
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.
THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND RIGHTEOUSNESS (FOLLOW TORAH) = GOOD PATH
KJV Proverbs 2:9 Then shalt thou UNDERSTAND
RIGHTEOUSNESS, and
judgment, and equity; yea, every GOOD PATH.
KJV Psalm 119:35 Make me to go in the PATH of thy COMMANDMENTS; for
therein do I delight.
KJV Psalm 119:105 NUN. Thy WORD is a LAMP unto my feet, and a light
unto MY PATH.
KJV Proverbs
that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
KJV Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the TORAH is
LIGHT; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
WISDOM (TORAH) IS TO BE IN OUR HEART
KJV Proverbs 2:10 When WISDOM ENTERETH into THINE HEART, and knowledge
is pleasant unto thy soul;
KJV Psalm 37:31 The TORAH of his God is in HIS HEART; none of his steps
shall slide.
KJV Ezra
LORD, and to do it, and to teach in
KJV Isaiah 51:7 Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the
people in whose HEART is my TORAH; fear ye not the reproach of men,
neither be ye afraid of their revilings.
WICKED = WALKS IN THE WAYS OF DARKNESS (Don't follow Torah)
KJV Proverbs 2:12 To deliver thee from the way of the EVIL MAN, from
the man that speaketh froward
things;
KJV Proverbs 2:13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to WALK in the
WAYS of DARKNESS;
THE FOLLOWERS OF MESSIAH DON'T WALK
IN DARKNESS
KJV John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them,
saying, I am the light
of the world: he that FOLLOWETH ME shall NOT WALK in DARKNESS, but
shall have the light of life.
WALK IN DARKNESS = NOT THE TRUTH
KJV 1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and WALK in
DARKNESS, we lie, and do NOT the TRUTH:
TRUTH = THE TORAH
KJV Psalm 119:142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
and thy TORAH is the TRUTH.
THE WICKED DON'T FOLLOW TORAH
KJV Proverbs 2:14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the
frowardness of the wicked;
KJV Proverbs 2:15 Whose ways are crooked, and they froward
in their
paths:
STRANGE WOMAN = FLATTERING WORDS ARE DON'T FOLLOW TORAH
KJV Proverbs 2:16 To deliver thee from the strange <02114> woman,
even from
the stranger which flattereth with her words;
The "flattering words" of a
"strange woman" which are EVIL
says "don't follow Torah". The "flattering words" from the
"strange
woman" says: "The Torah is bondage. You don't need to follow the
Torah."
KJV Hosea
they were counted as a STRANGE <02114>thing.
KJV Proverbs 5:3 For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb,
and her mouth is smoother than oil:
THE END OF A STRANGE WOMAN =
WORMWORD
KJV Proverbs 5:4 But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a
twoedged sword.
NOT FOLLOWING TORAH =
WORMWORD
KJV Deuteronomy 29:18 Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or
family, or tribe, whose HEART TURNETH AWAY this day from the LORD our
God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be
among you a root that beareth gall and WORMWOOD;
KJV Jeremiah 9:15 Therefore thus saith the LORD of
hosts, the God of
Israel; Behold, I will FEED THEM, even this people, with WORMWOOD, and
give them water of gall to drink.
FOLLOWING A STRANGE WOMAN = FORGETTING THE COVENANT OF YOUR YOUTH
KJV Proverbs
FORGETTETH the COVENANT of her God.
THE COVENANT IS THE TORAH
KJV 1 Chronicles 16:17 And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a
TORAH, and to Israel for an everlasting COVENANT,
KJV Psalm 78:10 They kept NOT the COVENANT of God, and REFUSED to walk
in his TORAH;
KJV Hosea 8:1 Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle
against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed MY
COVENANT, and trespassed against MY TORAH.
THE HOUSE OF A STRANGE WOMAN (NOT FOLLOWING TORAH) = DEATH
KJV Proverbs
unto the dead.
CHOOSING THE TORAH = CHOOSING LIFE
KJV Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day
against you, that I have set before you LIFE and DEATH, blessing and
cursing: therefore CHOOSE LIFE, that both thou and thy seed may live:
KJV Proverbs 13:14 The TORAH of the WISE is a fountain of LIFE, to
depart from the snares of death.
THE PATHS OF LIFE IS THE
TORAH
KJV Proverbs 2:19 None that go unto her return again,
neither take
they hold of the paths of life.
KJV Proverbs
KEEP the PATHS of the RIGHTEOUS.
If you
follow a "strange woman" (not follow Torah) then
you DON'T take hold of the paths of life (following Torah).
KJV Isaiah 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us
go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob;
and he will teach us of his ways, and we will WALK in his PATHS: for
out of ZION shall go forth the TORAH, and the word of the LORD from
Jerusalem.
THOSE WHO FOLLOW TORAH WILL
DWELL IN THE LAND
KJV Proverbs 2:21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the
perfect shall remain in it.
NOT FOLLOWING TORAH = CUT OFF FROM THE THE LAND OF ISRAEL
KJV Proverbs
the transgressors shall be ROOTED OUT of it.
KJV Deuteronomy 29:28 And the LORD ROOTED them OUT of their LAND in
anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into
another land, as it is this day.
KJV 1 Kings 9:6 But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or
your children, and will NOT KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS and my statutes which
I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them:
KJV 1 Kings 9:7 Then will I CUT OFF ISRAEL out of the LAND which I
have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name,
will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a
byword among all people:
SUMMARY: THE BOOK
OF WISDOM: CHAPTER 2
As we have seen, Proverbs 2
continues the message of
Proverbs 1 encouraging the people of YHVH to follow the Torah.
Wisdom and Understanding = Following Torah
We are to give our ear and hearts to following Torah.
The Torah is a hidden treasure.
A "strange woman" will flatter you with words to not follow Torah.
Don't listen to the voices which speak to not follow Torah.
Those who follow Torah will dwell in the land.
Those who don't follow Torah will be cast out of the land.
I pray that this study will continue to
help you 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