129 - Solomon’s Wisest Words
- Gwen Diaz
- May 9, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 21
May 9 - Nº 129 [Proverbs- see selected Proverbs below]
Soon after Solomon became king, God gave him the opportunity to have anything he wanted. Solomon asked for wisdom and understanding (see #124 - May 4). God granted his request, and he became the wisest man on the planet.
Solomon understood that wisdom is very different from (and far greater than) knowledge. The word wisdom literally means “skill for living.” A wise person searches for truth and righteousness, then applies the knowledge they find to living life. Ultimately Solomon discovered that the only way to find truth and righteousness is to acknowledge God’s greatness and obey His commands.
Solomon wanted to share the wisdom God had given him with others. So, he chose to pass it on in the form of stories and proverbs. In Proverbs 1 – 9, Solomon shared ten lessons with his son. In them, Solomon warned his son to avoid folly (which resulted from pursuing his own desires). Instead he encouraged him to pursue wisdom (which would require him to live by God’s standards). In these chapters, both folly and wisdom are characterized as women. Folly inevitably lures a young man away from God and into disaster; but wisdom always leads him toward God and results in His blessings.
Chapters 10 —29 are filled with proverbs that apply to anybody, in any generation, and in every walk of life.They are short, clever sayings that can easily be remembered. Many create vivid pictures in our minds. Solomon spoke over 3000 proverbs during his lifetime (see 1 Kings 4:32). Over 800 of the ones he spoke are shared in these chapters.
Sometimes Solomon’s sayings are serious, causing us to stop and reconsider our reactions. For example: “A soft word will calm another’s anger” (15:1). Other times they make us snicker like: “Don’t eat too much honey or you’ll throw up” (25:16). They often contrast a righteous man with a wicked man. For instance: “The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful” (12:5).
The last two chapters of the book contain proverbs written by a man named Agur and a king named Lemuel. The book ends with Lemuel’s familiar song of praise for a godly wife.
The book of Proverbs is certainly the most practical book in the Old Testament. It offers advice for handling everyday situations including family relationships, work habits, financial difficulties, needy neighbors, etc. Although the sayings sometimes seem to equate godly living with earthly success, the proverbs are not meant to be promises. They are more like probabilities that teach us that if we honor God, we are far less likely to encounter difficult circumstances in our lives. Take this one for example: “The righteous eat to their hearts’ content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry” (13:25).
Ultimately, the proverbs are meant to develop a desire in us to live by God’s standards rather than the advice of others. They encourage us to commit our way to God regardless of our circumstances.
Unfortunately, a time came in Solomon’s life when he stopped pursuing wisdom. He began trusting and relying on his own knowledge and instincts and no longer applied the wisdom God had given him. Sadly, his life fell apart as he ignored his own proverbs.
Solomon’s proverbs remind us that God is concerned with more than just how we handle the huge, impressive moments of our lives. He is interested in how we live during the mundane, unnoticeable times.
Are you searching for God's wisdom in everything you do--including the small circumstances of everyday life?
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