Getting Wisdom – It’s the Wisest Thing We Can Do! Proverbs 1:1-7

May 10, 2024 Cathy

Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. [Proverbs 4:7]

I don’t know about you, but I want as much wisdom as I can get to live now in these current times. The Word of God is the only place where true wisdom is found especially in the book of Proverbs.

NOTE: this is an outline, more details are on the podcast!

A proverb or an adage is a simple, traditional saying that expresses a perceived truth based on common sense or experience. An adage is a saying often in a metaphorical form that typically embodies a common observation. is a short, memorable saying that is considered to be true by the majority of people. These sayings may give wisdom about life.

The dictionary defines wisdom: an understanding of what is true, right, or lasting. The quality of having experience, knowledge, common sense, and good judgment; the quality of being wise. The soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of experience, knowledge, and good judgment.

The dictionary defines understanding as the quality of comprehension; and discernment. The faculty by which one understands, intelligence. Individual or specified judgment or opinion; interpretation. A reconciliation of differences. An agreement reached between two or more persons or groups.

Solomon wrote the book of Proverbs. Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived, and it was by the divine inspiration from God that he gained this wisdom. The purpose of writing these proverbs is to instruct us in wisdom and to help us perceive words of understanding. I think we all need more wisdom and understanding; therefore, this is the best book ever to gain that wisdom and understanding.

Knowledge is nothing more than an accumulation of raw facts, but wisdom is the ability to see people, events, and situations as God sees them. In the Book of Proverbs, Solomon reveals the mind of God. Matters about personal conduct, sexual relations, business, wealth, charity, ambition, discipline, debt, parenting, character, alcohol, politics, revenge, and godliness are among the many topics covered in this wonderful book of wisdom.

The Purpose of Proverbs

These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. [1]

Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived, and it was by the divine inspiration of God that he gained this wisdom.
These proverbs are unchangeable truths that transcend time and culture and should be used by all of us today as benchmarks for conduct and beliefs.
The book of Kings reveals that Solomon wrote 3,000 proverbs, much more than the 800-plus proverbs recorded in this book.

1 Kings 4:29-34 God gave Solomon very great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore. In fact, his wisdom exceeded that of all the wise men of the East and the wise men of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite and the sons of Mahol, Heman, Calcol, and Darda. His fame spread throughout all the surrounding nations. He composed some 3,000 proverbs and wrote 1,005 songs. He could speak with authority about all kinds of plants, from the great cedar of Lebanon to the tiny hyssop that grows from cracks in a wall. He could also speak about animals, birds, small creatures, and fish. And kings from every nation sent their ambassadors to listen to the wisdom of Solomon.

Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, To help them understand the insights of the wise. [2]

Solomon stated his purpose for writing these proverbs.
It is to instruct us in wisdom and to help us obtain words of understanding.
Everyone needs more wisdom and understanding; therefore, we all need to study this book.

Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives. To help them do what is right, just, and fair. [3]

God desires that every one of us would have wisdom and understanding.
Please note that it is never God who doesn’t give us wisdom.
It is up to us to be willing to desire and receive it.
That’s why Solomon emphasized to us receiving these things.

Ephesians 5:17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge, and discernment to the young. [4]

This verse is saying these proverbs will give wisdom to those who are easily seduced.
Satan’s only power is deception.
That’s why knowing what the Word of God says is so important.
Meditating on these truths will keep us from being fooled by the devil and his stupid cronies.

Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance. [5]

The book of Proverbs is to help all of us.
It is not just to help people who are foolish and ignorant.
These Proverbs will make a wise man wiser.
Give more understanding to those who already have understanding.
This is powerful.

By exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles. [6]

By the very wording of this verse, we can see that proverbs need interpretation.
What is prevalent through the Proverbs is the use of allegory and similes to convey truth.
An allegory is a narration or description in which events, actions, characters, settings, or objects represent specific abstractions or ideas.
A simile is a phrase that uses a comparison to describe. It is a figure of speech that uses the words “like” or “as” to compare two different things. A simile makes an explicit comparison between two things.

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. [7]

Any search for wisdom must begin with seeking the Lord first as the source of all wisdom.
Those who look for wisdom outside of the moral laws God are foolish,

Psalm 14:1 Only fools say in their hearts, there is no God. They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!

The fear of the LORD is reverence of the Love of God.
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.

Proverbs 9:10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.

Proverbs 8:13 All who fear the Lord will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech.