PROVERBS 2


2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

We want men and women who can think and do think‭; ‬and who are not afraid of truth which does violence to the thinking of the flesh.‭

Such an audience as this we seemed to have at Temperance.‭ ‬They seemed to listen as though they were thinking upon what they heard‭; ‬and such are the only people that will ultimately be led captive by the gospel of the kingdom.

Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come, Dec 1854



5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of Yahweh, and find the knowledge of Elohim.

Chapter 2 begins with an admonition to apply intense and consistent effort to acquire the divine wisdom that leads to life, just as keenly and persistently as men seek for hid treasure.

It promises that those who seek shall be given the great joy and comfort of wisdom from God, that will keep them from the ways of death. The chapter ends with the promise of the Kingdom

Bro Growcott



6 For Yahweh giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

It is remarkably characteristic of Proverbs that there is no reference to the many specific aspects of life under the Law of Moses, as the Sabbath, Tithing, Feasts, Sacrifices, etc.

This is clearly a divine book of instruction for all times, and for all circumstances. Those who do not accept the divine origin of the book cannot see how Israel -- so bound by the limited horizons of the Mosaic Law -- could produce such a book of instruction in daily walk that takes no special recognition of that Law.

Bro Growcott - BYT 1.19



10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;

11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:


All on one side of the line are fools -- on the way to death and eternal oblivion, regardless of what their natural fleshly accomplishments may be.

All on the other side of the line are wise -- on the way to life, regardless of the limitations of their education or their natural abilities...

...Until by meditation, and experience, and self-examination, we are impressed to the depths of our being with these two cardinal truths, we can make little progress in life.

The great revelation of the Bible is that man is naturally evil and foolish, that God is all wisdom, and that man's wisdom lies in seeking God with the whole being, and learning the teachings of His Word.

The more we see the wise of the world rejecting the eternal Word of God and building on the shifting sands of their own man-made, man-centered philosophies, and the more we observe the tragic results of this in corruption, immorality and violence, the more we are impressed with the infinite value of God's Word, and the infinite superiority of God's Way -- the Way of Beauty and Holiness and Truth and Life -- as compared with man's natural way of lust, pleasure, emptiness, greed and death.

The spirit of the Proverbs is awe and reverence, and the fullest recognition of man's littleness and weakness. Its lessons are many, but outstanding among them are these eternal truths --

In the long run, good and prosperity are the destiny of the righteous. Sin and self-pleasing, however temporarily successful, are manifested to be stupidity and self-destruction.

God's correction indicates His love. Education, discipline, self-restraint in harmony with spiritual law, constitute the way of wisdom and life.

All mental and physical powers, and all desires and strivings for holiness and spiritual beauty, are the gracious blessings and gifts of a loving Father, and to be joyfully used to His glory.

The Proverbs emphasize -- perhaps more than any other book of Scripture -- the vital truth that the Gospel of salvation is a WAY OF LIFE. It concerns and must control ALL activities of the mind and body, if it is to mean anything.

Being "in the Truth" is infinitely more than just believing a set of doctrines. If our whole life -- everything we are or think -- is not consciously striving toward ever-increasing harmony with God, we are on the way of death.

Bro Growcott - BYT 1.19

"TO FEEL SORRY FOR OURSELVES IS A REPROACH AGAINST THE LOVE AND GOODNESS OF GOD".

- Yes but somewhere in our consideration we need to allow for the 'black dog' of depression...

Psa 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Bro Paul Hart