One thing leads to another...and then another

The thing that led to another in yesterday's title is that sacrifice leads to the ability to understand life. And the ability to understand life leads to...

Understanding. Wisdom. The book of Proverbs says to seek wisdom and understanding. Proverbs is FILLED with advice, but let's remind ourselves as to the purpose of the book:

^{Proverbs 1:1-7 NIV} The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

² for attaining wisdom and discipline;
for understanding words of insight;

³ for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,
doing what is right and just and fair;

⁴ for giving prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young-

⁵ let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance-

⁶ for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.

⁷ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Take a moment and drink those verses in. Try and reflect on what Solomon is trying to accomplish with his writing. The whole book of Proverbs is about understanding life through wise living.

Wisdom is presented anthropomorphically by Solomon to his SON as a chaste but deeply attractive woman. Someone to LONG for. Someone to CHASE. Someone to GRAB HOLD OF and to NOT LET GO OF. I'm highlighting those words because as we read the book of Proverbs, we sometimes forget the context. And then we do goofy things like try to treat Wisdom as a goddess. We must read Proverbs within the context that it is written...and for the purpose that it was written.

To help you do that, let me set the scene for you. This is purely my imagination:

You are the young son or daughter of King Solomon. Your mother is one of many wives and you are one of many children. You live in the palace that King David built in Jerusalem overlooking the Temple Mount. The palace is a multi-story structure built against a tall wall. Many of the rooms look towards the Temple including the King's Bedroom.

You are called at the end of the day to come to the King's Bedroom. Your mother is there and your father, King Solomon, is there. It is a mini-court and there are a more limited number of attendants in the room when you arrive, but it still feels very formal to you.

As he is the King, you bow in his presence, being careful not to let your eyes look at him or let your head be above his head as you enter the room. You are directed to a spot in front of him. As you are led there, the servant reminds you that today is a very busy day, but your Father has set aside time to make a proclamation on your behalf and has requested that you give your full attention.

You wait patiently, head still bowed, as you look out of the corner of your eye towards the throne. An attendant walks forward with a scroll that has the King's colors and the King's seal on it. Your Father breaks the seal open and begins to read:

^{Proverbs 1:8-19 NIV} Listen, my son, to your father's instruction
and do not forsake your mother's teaching.

⁹ They will be a garland to grace your head
and a chain to adorn your neck.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice you,
do not give in to them.

¹¹ If they say, "Come along with us;
let's lie in wait for someone's blood,
let's waylay some harmless soul;

¹² let's swallow them alive, like the grave,
and whole, like those who go down to the pit;

¹³ we will get all sorts of valuable things
and fill our houses with plunder;

¹⁴ throw in your lot with us,
and we will share a common purse"-

¹⁵ my son, do not go along with them,
do not set foot on their paths;

¹⁶ for their feet rush into sin,
they are swift to shed blood.

¹⁷ How useless to spread a net
in full view of all the birds!

¹⁸ These men lie in wait for their own blood;
they waylay only themselves!

¹⁹ Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
it takes away the lives of those who get it.

Your father breaks character for just a split second and smiles at you, then regains his majestic look, and hands the scroll to the scribe standing next to him. The servant that led you into the room returns to your side and whispers in your ear, "The King has given you permission to approach him."

You stand up, walk up to the throne, and climb into your father's lap. You then start in, "Daddy, what does it mean when you say..."

I'll allow you to fill in what is said next as you pray to God for wisdom and understanding about this passage. Hopefully you can see both his majesty and his smile as you talk to him.