The Book of Proverbs might seem a strange Book to be included in the Bible.  It doesn’t seem very “spiritual” at times, and says little about private or public devotions.  There is no mention of Priests or Prophets and little about Kings – all the kind of people who figure prominently in the rest of the Old Testament!  As we study Proverbs it is helpful to understand the differences between the Books of Proverbs and Psalms.   Charles Swindoll observes that, “The Psalms tell us how to get along with God.  The Proverbs tell us how to get along with our family, friends and neighbours”!  He also suggests that the Psalms speak of spending time on our knees in prayer, but the Proverbs talk of spending time on our feet in the streets of our cities, in the demands of our work places and in the pressures of our busy lives and challenges, even in our homes! Solomon’s 900 Proverbs cover most of life’s important subjects, often presenting them as contrasts, as we have already observed up to Chapter 12, for example, Wisdom and Folly, Pride and Humility, Love and Lust, Wealth and Poverty, Work and Leisure, Masters and Servants, Husbands and Wives, Friends and Relatives, Life and Death! 

David Pawson says, “It is critical to realize that this Book is a Book of Proverbs, NOT Promises!  Therefore, we should not quote a Proverb as if it is a divine Promise!  In 1 Kings 4:29 we read that, “God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore!”  Do you need wisdom?  Surely Wisdom is one of the most important gifts God can give us.  If he gives us money, we need wisdom to know how to handle it!  Similarly, if we become famous we need wisdom to handle that situation, and all those other decisions in life that are constantly before us!  Let us constantly ask our Heavenly Father to bless us with His Wisdom, as the Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.”  Ephesians 1:7

***

Dear Father God, I praise and thank you for the redemption you have blessed me with, and for the knowledge that I am your child who experiences daily your Heavenly love, Peace and Joy!  I ask today for more of your wisdom too, so that I am better equipped to trust and follow your guidance, and to be a friend to family and friends who know they can trust Your Word through me,  Amen.