This chapter can be separated into parts, the first being instructions and the latter that which following instruction keeps a man from.
In relation to the hand that penned it, we know that it was under the inspiration of the spirit of God, and is thus prophetic of the redemptive man to come. In that light some understanding is gleaned concerning Solomon, that despite being the product of an illicit relationship and having been anointed to be king, and in view of Gods foreknowledge it was still determined that he write these verses.
Solomon cried out for Wisdom, so that he might govern the people correctly. He asked not for himself. He was the seed of David, anointed to be king, a type of the Second man, the second Adam. Yet, he was also a consequence of Davids most grievous sin, that which had given the enemy opportunity and had not contributed to the land being possessed. David was warmed by a maiden in old age and the effect of the purity of it brought forth the keeping of his word, concerning Solomon. Bathsheba, he had also comforted in her loss, and through that commitment Solomon was loved of the Lord.
And does not the Lord love a broken and confused society.
That which has genuine care for another, originates from the Lord.
And is that not revealed from the seed that died at Calvary, the commitment to love separated sinners unto the very end.
The chapter starts with the continuation of the theme as a Father speaking to a Son. This carries us to the opening verse of the book, and the lineage and heritage of Solomon. Solomon is writing in the same vain as Matthew when he wrote the first chapter of his gospel. It is weighty and authoritative, it carries a sense of Gods order and dignity and has man interwoven in being a custodian over it. No where in the opening verse is there any sense of shame, nor of fig leaves. It is the beginning of the impartation of his wisdom, for the nation.
Here we have a principle, wisdom for a nation, is inseparable from Fathers passing on through relationship, instruction to their sons. Within this framework we already have the family nucleus, and it is one of original design: One man and One women.
In 1 Kings Ch 2 v1-12, we see that Solomon had been schooled by his Father.
We ought to notice in the opening verse of Chapter 2 that the commandments are life giving, they are quantified as treasure, that make the ear attentive and the heart inclined to wisdom. The commandments, are spoken to preserve life, they are not restrictive rather they are full of development that a man may reach a maturity, that a man may reflect the full stature of Him through whom he was made in the image of. This is Fathers business, and it is the liberty of the Spirit of abundant life. It is the foundation of the house God builds, love being the chief cornerstone.
The first man prior to being given a bride, is given one commandment, not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Then man is given a helper so that man is not alone, God knowing that this is not good.
Therefore, the commandment given to man is a cleaving word to that which is good. It is a cleaving word to that which should not be separated as God has joined it, and defined it as good.
Sexual intercourse between same gender, is a perversion of the function of the biological body parts. A women’s womb is designed to receive the word of God, from the custodian of the seed, to produce fruit made in the image of God: Male & Female (Romans Ch1 links the corruption of the image of God to rejection of the ‘knowledge’ of God).
The commandment given to man is one of covering love, a word to make one wise. Wise is the man who knows how to be a custodian of Gods Word. Wise is the man who obeys the Lords edict on an issue and is not prepared to cede it, to that which cannot produce life. If original man had obeyed the voice of the Lord, his hearing would have become more attentive and his heart would have grown in understanding – in fact knowledge would have been gained as to that which is good and that which is evil: through the increase and release of liberty and love, man would have understood without tasting, that disobedience brought death, as it would obviously have the opposite affect, a distance between Him and the God of love and intimacy, the God of exponential increase too.
It is interesting that Proverbs Ch 2 hinges from the good to the evil with speech. Expletives for a Christian are personal no grata, as it is perverted speech, especially vulgar words that are a perversion of every day issues of life and love. We are responsible for that which we directly or indirectly endorse concerning speech.
The thrust here to the son from the father, appears to me concerning friendship. In formative years and teenage, even venturing into the workplace – we are to be steadfast from compromising our speech to fit in. Having the attention of our ears directed to hear from Him, we are not to bond with people whose speech reveals that their heart is not pursuing that which is right, that which is according to his WORD, the word.
This is an issue of friendship with this world being enmity to God. And James Ch 4 v4 is preceded as Solomons wisdom was, by asking, yet he asked aright. The epistle of James focusses on speech perhaps like none other, and in this perhaps the Logos and new testament man; Jesus is revealed. That James links adultery with friendship with the world should also be noted in the ordering of proverbs Ch 2.
Taking aside the first five verses of this chapter can we excavate them within the life of the Son?
Jesus obeyed his earthly father and mother, in all things. And he grew accordingly in wisdom and grace.
These verses are hence for life, for the life of a son. In this respect they are instructions that are for every stage of life and circumstance. These verses concern growing into his likeness.
Not just passive, v2, but active v3.
All knowledge comes from God. That is why atheists who propagate science as a god of their own reasoning are very deceived.
Yet this knowledge of God, is not mere knowledge it is a very present help in times of trouble. It is the cool of the day, with you in each and every circumstance: Fear not.
At 33 years of age Jesus cried out for understanding at Calvary: Why have you forsaken me. His obedience as a son had lead him to this point, and at this point he cried out active, not passive. This is the hidden treasure of Gen Ch 22: the fathers obedience, reveals the provided sacrifice.
The hidden treasure is Gods answer to are sense of being forsaken. God did an eternal work of reconciliation at Calvary.
The fruit of Isaac and Rebekah’s union was twins, Esau and Jacob.
Rebekah conceived due to the prayer of Isaac. If it is that the Lord has answered prayer, why is it that the answer is fighting within me! Thus, she sought the Lord, and the Lord spoke to her.
This places women as equal to man, having direct communion with the Lord, and able to be attentive to his voice and to grow in the understanding of the heart. The divine order is not for the suppression of one gender, rather it is a commandment that all should know the Lord. I guess she is shown in type the first and second man: the carnal and spiritual and in that respect is it not a question that sources us all to the cry of the second man at Calvary. That Jacob is defined as a quiet man indicates that he speaks of the Spiritual man to come, Galatians Ch 5 v16-26.
But we know that this Jacob was also very much impacted by first birth. It is interesting that a man wrestles with him prior to meeting his brother again. Wrestling, is not a sport a quiet man would be as adapt at as a skilled hunter. Thus, prior to the encounter Jacob is brought to heel by Him who is the elder brother, the eternal Son. And in this we see something of the redemptive nature of God that not only descends from heaven but also spans the whole earth.
The Word that the Lord speaks to Rebekah is therefore a word of reconciliation, that through her passive receptivity and active participation the seed is born that crushes the serpents head. The younger son (2nd Adam) bringing to the Elder the reconciliation of heaven.
As a bride of the covenant, faithful to Him whom she ceded her own will to be done. Yes, had been her response, and if we read with wisdom that ‘yes’ brings sight and understanding: For behold he prays – the reconciliation of brethren a passive (listening as he finished the work) and active work (reciprocating) of the Spirit of God – ‘brother’.
These are the friendships God delights in, when brethren dwell together in unity. They are friendships that encourage a man, and a women to stay true to one another and to the covenants – that bring the possession of the land and blessing to other nations and families.
Jesus’s blood turned the earth beneath him red – earthen red. Making a way for a new nature to be formed in fallen and sinful Adamic man. Esau certainly cried out when he lost his birth right. But second birth is a finished work, the Fathers response to his Son was a spotless bride from every kindred tribe and nation: ‘For this my son was dead’.
At 33 Jesus still cried out for understanding. Why? The reconciliation of the world, to a loving Father: the truth that sets men free. The wisdom of God, Christ and Him crucified.
Solomons temple was destroyed according to the prophetic word of warning. But Christ did not do a temporary work at Calvary. At Calvary God made his knowledge accessible for all, a dying thief obtaining the hidden treasure, not just passive concerning what he saw and heard from him, but active, ‘remember me’! Today, if you will hear his voice. And how did the wisdom begin to penetrate a man not given to the ways of ‘uprightness’ – the fear of the Lord is the beginning, ‘doest thou not fear God, seeing we are being justly punished for our crimes, but he is innocent’.
David feared the Lord, because as a fallen man only a God full of mercy needs be feared – Psalm 130 verse 1-8. This is the knowledge that David knew would not leave his soul in hades. It is the knowledge of God that is with us in every test and trial.
The knowledge of God is the presence of Him, access in times of need.
The apostle John was attentive to that which Jesus did, he was the apostle of observation. John had his ear inclined to understand his heart. John saw the final text of inspiration, and penned the words of the revelation of Jesus Christ: Come ye out of her, Babylon the adulteress and Revelation Ch22 v6-21
Proverbs Ch 2 v19, has some mystery to it. Death is surely there. But we know that the women cast at his feet, was secured, not by the temple nor by the laws of Moses, but through him who rose again victorious, to meet her in the cool of the day.
Where her garments spotless? Well she was washed by the blood of the Lamb.
Abraham obeyed the voice of the Lord and it lead him to a provided sacrifice, the place where the devil and darkness in man were defeated.
The book of Revelation documents in Ch 18 v22 those instruments akin to those played to command men to bow down and worship an image, in the book of Daniel. Musical gifting is first ascribed to a son of Cain, the foundation layer of the first City.
We are commanded not to bow down to any image in worship. But we are commanded to Worship God alone, Him who parted the Red Sea and Him who is risen from the dead, Him who reconciled us to himself while we were yet dead in trespasses and sins.
The cross is where man reflects the original image of God.
Sacrificial and unconditional love. The Father speaking concerning his beloved Son: For this my son was dead and is alive again.
Revelation Ch 21 v6 passive, v7 active. The lineage of faith through Jesus Christ who saves men from their sin
God committed the covenant promises to Abraham because he obeyed the voice of God. He came out of the sphere of Babylon, and its idolatry.
Abraham would not cede anything to the king of Sodom, and neither should the Church of Jesus Christ, as it concerns the very image of God.
Paul had his eyes opened and he was given a word for the feet of Daniels vision, that the seed born of a virgin has crushed the serpents head (the Golden image of pride and vanity), and though his heel was bruised and Paul’s hand bitten, eternal life comes only through believing in that which he alone has done.
Roman Ch 1 v16-32 – the covenant hasn’t changed nor has the image of God, nor has the Logos nor the Mercy plea: Forgive them, yesterday, today and until the last trumpet call.
Be sure to be found in Him, and clothed in his righteousness. Be sure not to hear the words, ‘I never knew you’ – you fool, who says their is no God.
Abraham looked for a City that had foundations, whose builder and maker was God. A city that reflects the true nature of the lamb, the golden head shining like brass who’s message of forgiveness the redeemed have actively received and cry out in worship: “Worthy”
A preacher I once heard, told a story of a man who spoke at a prayer breakfast at the British Parliament. God gave him a word, and it was v16 of Romans Ch 1. He related it to the great mistake of the British Empire and that even today the consequences of this shame is being felt with ‘blow back’ as they say militarily.
Reading the biography of Goforth of China I can see a little bit more into that statement.
On page 121 Mrs Goforth shows that she too was a Proverbs women, who had her prayers answered. I am finding the book perhaps the best biography I have read, in part due to it being penned by a women who was truly married to a man of God. In this testimony to answered prayer we see Gods perfect symmetry.
China today, Russia, Britain, America, India and Africa. How they all need men like Goforth who was not ashamed of the light of this world.
God would have mercy upon all men, from every nation – no matter what the crime – that is the wonder of the second man, the man of Calvary.
eternalrays 