Tag: Proverbs

The Giants – Part 2

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Proverbs 9:18 But he knows not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell. 

Rephaim is translated “giant” in Deuteronomy 2:11, 20; 3:11, 13; Joshua 12:4; 13:12; 15:8; 18:16; 2Samuel 21:16, 18, 20, 22; 1Chronicles 20:4, 6, 8. The phrase “remnant of the giants” in Deuteronomy 3:11 and Joshua 12:4; 13:12 should be “remnant of the Rephaims,” because there were many nations of giants other than the Rephaims who filled the whole country trying to contest God’s claim on the promised land. They are listed as Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaims, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, Jebusites, Hivites, Anakims, Emims, Horims, Avims, Zamzummims, Caphtorims, and Nephilims (Gen. 6:4; 14:5-6; 15:19-21; Ex. 3:8, 17; 23:23; Deut. 2:10-12, 20-23; 3:11-13; 7:1; 20:17; Jos. 12:4-8; 13:3; 15:8; 17:15; 18:16). Og was of the remnant of Rephaims, not the remnant of all other giant nations (Deut. 3:11; Jos. 12:4; 13:12).

All these giant nations came from a union of the sons of God (fallen angels) and daughters of men after the flood. Beings of great stature, some of them even had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot and carried spears weighing from 4,5 to 11 kilogrammes (2Sam. 21:16-22; 1Chr. 20:4-8). Goliath, whom David slew, wore a coat of armour weighing 89 kilogrammes and was 3 metres tall (1Sam. 17:4-6). The pyramids of Egypt, the giant cities of Bashan and other huge monuments of construction may remain a mystery until they are accepted as the result of the labour and skill of giants.

The revelation of giants in Scripture gives us a true picture of what Greek mythology tries vainly to give. Mythology is but the outgrowth of traditions, memories, and legends telling of the acts of supernatural fathers and their giant offspring – the perversion and corruption in the transmission of actual facts concerning these mighty beings. The fact that giants were partly of supernatural origin made it easy for humans to regard them as gods.

A Foolish Woman

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Proverbs 9:13-17 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knows nothing. For she sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, To call passengers who go right on their ways: Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanted understanding, she said to him, Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. 

‘A foolish woman is clamorous.’ Five facts about a foolish woman: She is clamorous – in continual uproar; noisy; boisterous (9:13; 7:11). She is simple – silly; easily seduced (9:13; cp. 2Tim. 3:6); the opposite of wisdom in Proverbs 9:1. She knows nothing – knows no shame; utterly ignorant and depraved (9:13). No shame in her manner, clothing and appearance. She watches for victims of sin (9:14; Gen. 38:14; Jer. 3:2). Sinners always seek company. She is impudent or bold to call to any stranger and tempt the innocent to sin (9:15-17).

‘Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither.’ One who goes into a woman who behaves like a harlot lacks understanding (9:13, 16).

‘Stolen waters are sweet.’ The foolish woman (9:13) preaches that unlawful pleasures are sweeter than lawful ones. Upon this is built all the adulterous behaviour in the land (9:17).

The Beginning of Wisdom

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Proverbs 9:10-12 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. If thou be wise, thou shall be wise for thyself: but if thou scorn, thou alone shall bear it. 

‘The fear of the LORD’ – to have a whole reverence for God. We are warned to be in the fear of God all day long (23:17-18). The fear of the LORD is: to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth (8:13); the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding (9:10); prolonged days, whereas the years of the wicked shall be shortened (10:27); there is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge (14:26); it is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death (14:27); is the instruction of wisdom (15:33); men depart from evil (16:6); it tends to life: and he that has it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil (19:23); by humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life (22:4).

‘For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.’ Vice shortens life; righteousness has the promise of long life (Ps. 91:1-16).

‘If thou be wise, thou shall be wise for thyself.’ A wise man may profit himself, but not God; the same was true of a righteous man (Job 22:2-3). The sin of man cannot affect God’s plan or conduct; it only affects man’s destiny (Job 35:6).

‘But if thou scorn, thou alone shall bear it.’ Rebels seek wisdom but don’t find it because they reject God, the source of wisdom (1:7; 9:10).

A Scorner – Part 2

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Proverbs 9:7-9 He that reproves a scorner gets to himself shame: and he that rebukes a wicked man gets himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. 

Three examples of rebuking and being hated: Joseph (Gen. 37:2, 18-28). The prophet (2Chr. 25:16). John the Baptist (Matt. 14:1-10).

‘Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.’ We can rebuke or warn a fellow Christian, depending on how far and for how long such an individual has backslidden. Christ warns that He will spew such a person from His mouth because they are lukewarm (Rev. 3:15-17) and most people do not want to ‘hear the truth’ about their sinful state, that’s why they choose it and keep on living in that state – they reject the knowledge of the Truth and will thus be rejected (Hos. 4:6; Heb. 10:26).

Three examples of rebuking and being loved: Nathan (2Sam. 12:1-31). Two disciples (Luke 24:25-29). Peter (John 21:17; Gal. 2:11-14).

‘Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.’ To instruct – reading (or quoting), not preaching – from God’s Word will remind us of how we must live and act and keep us on the straight and narrow (Matt. 7:13-14) therefore Scripture commands us to be renewed in the spirit of our minds by His Word (Eph. 4:23-24; Rom. 12:1-2).

Forsake the Foolish and Live

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Proverbs 9:5-6 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. 

‘Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.’ The invitation of wisdom to eat her bread and drink her wine is a symbol of life through proper wisdom and understanding.  In the New Testament bread and wine symbolize the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ, which give life to all who appropriate their benefits by faith (Matt. 26:26-30; 1Cor. 10:16-17; 11:23-30).

No justification of using alcoholic beverages can be justified by using any Scripture. The word wine was the common word for the product of the grape (grape juice) and was taken from ‘fruit of the vine’ and fermentation (the process of rot that causes alcohol production) was not always clearly stated. Scripture, however, is clear on being sober (1Thess. 5:6,8; 1Tim. 3:2; Tit. 2:2,4,6; 1Pet. 1:13; 5:8) and the sin of drunkenness (Pro. 20:1; 21:17; 23:29-35; Isa. 5:11; Hab. 2:15; Gal. 5:21; Eph. 5:18; 1Tim. 3:3; Tit. 1:7) that refers to the user and not only the state of the user as most people interprets.

‘Wine which I have mingled.’ Among Jews, Greeks, and Romans, wine was rarely used without mixing with water. Some mixed 3 parts water with 1 of wine, and others 5 to 1. The common mixture was 3 parts water and 2 parts wine.

‘Forsake the foolish, and live.’ Four examples of forsaking things to live: Moses (Heb. 11:24-27); Rahab (Jos. 2:9-13; 6:25; Heb. 11:31); Ruth (Rth. 1:16; 2:11-12); Disciples (Matt. 4:18-22; 9:9; etc.).

Wisdom

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Proverbs 9:1-4 Wisdom has builded her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars: She has killed her beasts; she has mingled her wine; she has also furnished her table. She has sent forth her maidens: she cries upon the highest places of the city, Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wants understanding, she said to him…

‘Wisdom has builded her house.’ The personification of wisdom continues in this chapter. In Proverbs 8:1-36 she was manifested in all of God’s creation. Here she is the ruler of what she has built (9:1-12). In Proverbs 9:1-3 she is building a house, making a banquet, and sending out her maids to invite guests to partake of her bounties. She is pictured here as a builder, sculptress, butcher, and gracious hostess.

‘Sent forth her maidens.’ An Eastern custom. In the New Testament men are sent forth with banquet invitations (Matt. 22:3; Luke 14:17). The complete custom was that invitations were sent out to guests by a company of women, preceded by eunuchs. They went from door to door of the invited, delivering their message.

‘Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither.’ Their message to the simple and those who lack understanding is, to forsake the foolish things of life and live by going in the way of understanding (9:4-6).

‘Simple’ [Hebrew: pethiy] inconsiderate; unwary; artless, guileless, and unsuspecting; those who, through lack of knowledge and experience, act rashly and unwisely (1:22, 32; 7:7; 8:5; 9:4, 16; 14:15, 18; 19:25; 21:11; 22:3; 27:12). Referring to those who are unsaved.

‘Understanding’ [Hebrew: leb] is translated as heart over 500 times in the Old Testament, 76 of which are in Proverbs (2:2, 10; 3:1, 3, 5; etc.). Also translated as understanding (9:4, 16; 6:32; 7:7; 10:13; 12:11; 15:32; 17:18; 24:30); and as wisdom (10:21; 11:12; 15:21; 19:8).

Blessed are They That Keep My Ways

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Proverbs 8:32-36 Now therefore hearken unto me, O you children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso finds me finds life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. But he that sins against me wrongs his own soul: all they that hate me love death. 

‘Blessed are thy that keep my ways.’ Happy are they who keep my ways, and whoever finds wisdom obtains favour or grace from the Lord (8:32-35; Ps. 1:1-6). The one who rejects wisdom and sins against her does so to the damnation of his own soul (8:36). It is therefore not so much sin and satan, but the man himself that is responsible for his rejection or reception of wisdom which leads to eternal life. If he receives the teaching of God, sin will not have dominion over him, and if he resists satan, the devil will flee from him (Jas. 4:7; Rom. 6:14-23; 8:12-13).

Seven acts of a righteous man: Delights in the Word of God (Ps. 1:2). Meditates in it day and night (Ps. 2:1-12). Consecrates to obey it (Ps. 1:1). Makes it his rule of life and conduct (Jas. 1:22-27). Makes it his standard of faith and religion (2Tim. 3:16-17). Reads it to gain knowledge and wisdom (Matt. 24:15; Eph. 3:4; Rev. 1:3). Feeds on it to grow spiritually (1Pet. 2:1-3; Rom. 10:17).

‘All they that hate me love death.’ They that hate wisdom love sin which leads to death, so they can be justly accused of loving death, the penalty for sin. We see from John 3:19 the following: “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” This refers to when Christ came to the earth for the first time to bring us the gospel and give His life so that we don’t have to keep on living under the joke of sin, but men chose darkness and sin over light and righteousness. That is the problem today still, people are not willing to die to themselves (John 12:24-26; Matt. 10:37-39) and live a life following in His footsteps and the example He came to set for us (1Pet. 2:21-23).

The Foundations of the Earth

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Proverbs 8:29-31 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. 

‘When he appointed the foundations of the earth.’ All this refers to the original creation of the heavens and earth long before the six days of Genesis 1:3-2:25. Between this creation and Adam’s day the earth was inhabited by pre-Adamite beings who were ruled by Lucifer for an indefinite period of sinlessness, followed by a long period of rebellion before his defeat and that of the pre-Adamite beings and the angels and demons who took part in his invasion of heaven in the attempt to dethrone God (Isa. 14:12-14; Jer. 4:23-26; Ezek. 28:11-17; Matt. 13:35; Luke 10:18; 2Pet. 3:5-7).

‘Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him.’ Wisdom is pictured here as a child who is always near his parent, watching him at work and under his constant care. The passage is a personification of wisdom. These doctrines are plainly expressed in many other scriptures directly on the subject (Isa. 9:6-7; Mic. 5:2; John 1:1-2; Col. 1:15-18; Heb. 1:1-8; Rev. 1:8; etc.).

‘Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth.’ Wisdom is especially displayed in the works of God in the affairs of men. God’s providence is over all, and all are subjects of His eternal care.

He Prepared the Heavens

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Proverbs 8:25-28 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep

‘Highest part of the dust of the world.’ Before He made the first particle of dust.

‘When he prepared the heavens, I was there.’ This was before the creation of the earth (Gen. 1:1; Job 38:4-7). Genesis 1:1 refers to the creative ages which stretch from the dateless past to the end of the seven days of Genesis 1:3-2:25. This period may be called the dispensation of angels because they ruled on earth (Isa. 14:12-14; Ezek. 28:11-17; Col. 1:15-18).

‘Heavens’ There are three heavens (2Cor. 12:2, 4): The clouds above us that were called the firmament and our heaven (Gen. 1:8; Ps. 77:17-18; 104:2-3). The paradise that was moved after Christ’s ascension when He set the captives free (Eph. 4:8-10; Ps. 68:18; Heb. 2:14-15) – this is the place where current believers ‘who die IN Christ’ go to await the rapture (1Thess. 4:13-18). The third heaven which is God’s current dwelling place (Gen. 1:1; Isa. 14:13-14; 66:1; Rev. 21:2, 10)

‘Compass’ – A circle or vault.

‘Fountains of the deep.’ Deep underground water (Gen. 1:2; 7:11; 8:2; 49:25; Deut. 33:13; Ps. 104:6) to supply water sources on earth, it was the source for the floods of Lucifer (Gen. 1:2; Ps. 104:5-9; 2Pet. 3:6) and of Noah (Genesis 6:8 – 8:14).

Before His Works of Old

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Proverbs 8:22-24 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. 

‘The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.’ Wisdom is not acquired by God but by men, angels, and other created beings. Wisdom existed before: God’s creations of old (8:22). The creation of the earth (8:23). The depths and fountains of waters (8:24). The mountains and hills (8:25). The earth, fields, and dust of the world (8:26). The heavens and the clouds (8:28). The laws governing creation (8:29).

‘From everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.’ From the beginning of the ages.

‘I was brought forth.’ I was produced or manifested in the plan of God as well as in the creation of all things. By me (wisdom) God made all things (Ps. 104:24; 136:5).

When one stops to consider the infinite details of creation and the plan of eternal sustenance of all things – from the smallest creation to the largest  – he is forced to exclaim the truth of Romans 11:33 which states: O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!