Who Wants to be Wise?

O. T. #1436  "Who Wants to be Wise?"
May 2, 2019
Introduction to Proverbs

If anyone desires to be a wise person, then read on, folks. We have a bushel full of wisdom to absorb in this book.

Here are some things I read in The MacArthur Bible Commentary concerning this book of the Bible:
The word proverb means to be like, so it is a book of comparisons between common, concrete images and life's most profound truths. It illustrates man's relationship to God, to himself, and to others. Two major themes are here: wisdom, which includes knowledge, understanding, instruction, discretion, and obedience; folly, which is everything opposite to wisdom.

Author
This book was written by King Solomon, the son of David, who ruled over Israel. God had granted him great wisdom (1 Kings 4). All but the last two chapters were written by him. (Chapter 30 was by Agur and chapter 31 was by Lemuel.)
Take note that Solomon's proverbs were written before his heart was turned away from God. (MacArthur)
Solomon spoke some 3,000 proverbs that led to 800 verses of Proverbs were the product of his hand, according to Falwell.

The sum of this wisdom is the personification in the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, we have the wise verses the foolish; in a sense, good versus evil. Using poetry and pose, Solomon gets his message across to the young who have so much to learn, and are warned.

No matter our age, if we apply these divine guidelines for our life, we will live long, prosper, and enjoy it along the journey. So our challenge throughout these 31 chapters is for us to ponder and apply the truths in our life.

In Matthew 10:16, Jesus told us to be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

I think that is the bottom line. Shall we be as serpents and doves today/wise and harmless?