Solomon

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; (Proverbs 1:1 KJV)

This is the book we studied last week. Here you can take a couple of verses and create an entire sermon, for these are short, plentiful and within a couple of verses you have the context.

Solomon begins with instructions on understanding proverbs:

To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:6-7 KJV)

The, he gives the best advice anyone can give:

My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. (Proverbs 1:10 KJV)

Doesn’t matter what the sin is – it will be recognizable since it is not God’s will – don’t do it. How much difficulty in our lives would be cleared if we followed but this one verse?

Eve would never have partaken of the fruit. She would never have offered it to Adam. Cain would not have killed Abel. God only knows what Noah’s life would have been without the ark, had people consented not when sinners enticed.

There are other one-liners that speak loudly:

Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: (Proverbs 2:11 KJV)

The third chapter has much to tell us, and begins with a promise:

My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. (Proverbs 3:1-2 KJV)

Solomon’s son did forget – and the kingdom was divided forever.

While these three verses can stand alone, they are astounding together:

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. (Proverbs 3:5-7 KJV)

Solomon continues on, seeing God as a loving, yet teaching, father:

My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. (Proverbs 3:11-12 KJV)

Reading the Bible through clearly shows the continuity of the loving father that Christ described:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)