Proverbs - A Virtuous Woman- Part 1

This post is about the last chapter in Proverbs, before reading it you should read the verses: Proverbs 31:10-31.

I also recommend that you read Matthew Henry commentary on these verses, you can find it online here.

Below you will find extracts of the commentary that I hope will be to our edification.

Here goes a good definition of what a virtuous woman is according to this text:

A virtuous woman is a woman of spirit, who has the command of her own spirit and knows how to manage other people's, one that is pious and industrious, and a help meet for a man. In opposition to this strength, we read of the weakness of the heart of an imperious whorish woman, Eze 16:30. A virtuous woman is a woman of resolution, who, having espoused good principles, is firm and steady to them, and will not be frightened with winds and clouds from any part of her duty. 

This woman is further described according to her excellent qualifications

She is very industrious to recommend herself to her husband's esteem and affection. Those that are good really will be good relatively. A good woman, if she be brought into the marriage state, will be a good wife, and make it her business to please her husband, 1Co 7:34. Though she is a woman of spirit herself, yet her desire is to her husband, to know his mind, that she may accommodate herself to it, and she is willing that he should rule over her. 

How she spends her time:

She is one that takes pains in the duty of her place and takes pleasure in it. This part of her character is much enlarged upon here. (1.) She hates to sit still and do nothing: She eats not the bread of idleness, Pro 31:27. Though she needs not work for her bread (she has an estate to live upon), yet she will not eat it in idleness, because she knows that we were none of us sent into this world to be idle, that when we have nothing to do the devil will soon find us something to do, and that it is not fit that those who will not labour should eat. (...)  She is careful to fill up time, that none of that be lost.(...)She applies herself to the business that is proper for her. It is not in a scholar's business, or statesman's business, or husbandman's business, that she employs herself, but in women's business: She seeks wool and flax, ;(...)She does what she does with all her might, and does not trifle in it (Pro 31:17); She girds her loins with strength and strengthens her arms; 

 Her Character:

She is discreet and obliging in all her discourse, not talkative, censorious, nor peevish, as some are, that know how to take pains; no, she opens her mouth with wisdom; when she does speak, it is with a great deal of prudence and very much to the purpose; you may perceive by every word she says how much she governs herself by the rules of wisdom. She not only takes prudent measures herself, but gives prudent advice to others; and this not as assuming the authority of a dictator, but with the affection of a friend and an obliging air: In her tongue is the law of kindness; all she says is under the government of that law. The law of love and kindness is written in the heart, but it shows itself in the tongue; if we are kindly affectioned one to another, it will appear by affectionate expression. [bold emphasis mine]

Her piety and fear of God are also clearly seen:

She is full of pious religious discourse, and manages it prudently, which shows how full her heart is of another world even when her hands are most busy about this world.

That which completes and crowns her character is that she fears the Lord, Pro 31:30. With all those good qualities she lacks not that one thing needful; she is truly pious, and, in all she does, is guided and governed by principles of conscience and a regard to God; this is that which is here preferred far before beauty; that is vain and deceitful; all that are wise and good account it so, and value neither themselves nor others on it.[ bold emphasis mine]

 Her Happiness:

She enjoys a firmness and constancy of mind, has spirit to bear up under the many crosses and disappointments which even the wise and virtuous must expect to meet with in this world; and this is her clothing, for defence as well as decency.

 She deals honourably with all, and she has the pleasure of doing so, and shall rejoice in time to come; she shall reflect upon it with comfort, when she comes to be old, that she was not idle or useless when she was young. In the day of death it will be a pleasure to her to think that she has lived to some good purpose. Nay, she shall rejoice in an eternity to come; she shall be recompensed for her goodness with fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore. [emphasis mine]

Of this last quote can we say that all we are doing, whatever our circumstance in life is,  is to some good purpose? can we say that we will reap the fruits not only in this life but also in eternity? Can we say that we can go to bed every night KNOWING that God was glorified by the way we lived and behaved?

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Now I suppose we need some good encouragement:

Many have done virtuously. Virtuous women, it seems, are precious jewels, but not such rare jewels as was represented Pro 31:10. There have been many, but such a one as this cannot be paralleled. Note, Those that are good should aim and covet to excel in virtue. Many daughters, in their father's house, and in the single state, have done virtuously, but a good wife, if she be virtuous, excels them all, and does more good in her place than they can do in theirs.[bold emphasis mine]

In reading others commentaries on this chapter there are parallel drawn between the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 to the Bride of Christ, so in this sense even men can profit very much from this chapter. Knowing that the Church is the bride of Christ we would expect that the Bible would describe what is the character of such bride.

...unable to do anything without him, yet everything through him: a "virtuous" one, inviolably chaste in her love and affection to Christ, her husband; steadfast in her adherence, to him by faith, as her Lord and Saviour; incorrupt in doctrine, sincere and spiritual in worship, retaining the purity of discipline, and holiness of life; and holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience: or a "woman of strength" , valour, and courage, as the word signifies... (John Gill's exposition on the Entire Bible)

May the Lord give us grace to live what we read.
In Christ
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Gal 6:9

Proverbs - Lay your hand upon your mouth!

We must bridle and suppress our own passion, and take shame to ourselves, whenever we are justly charged with a fault, and not insist upon our own innocency: If we have lifted up ourselves, either in a proud conceit of ourselves or a peevish opposition to those that are over us, if we have transgressed the laws of our place and station, we have therein done foolishly. Those that magnify themselves over others or against others, that are haughty and insolent, do but shame themselves and betray their own weakness. Nay, if we have but thought evil, if we are conscious to ourselves that we have harboured an ill design in our minds, or it has been suggested to us, we must lay our hand upon our mouth, that is:

Proverbs - Where there is no vision...

Where there is no vision, the people perish,

That is, "no prophecy", as the Vulgate Latin version renders it; and which is often the sense of the word, as the vision of Isaiah is the prophecy of Isaiah; and, in the New Testament, prophesying is often put for preaching; and here vision, or prophecy, signifies the public ministering of the word and ordinances, and want of persons to administer them; (...)

Now, where there is no preaching, men perish in their sins;

Proverbs - Holy Fear

The benefit of a holy caution.
It sounds strangely, but it is very true: Happy is the man that feareth always. Most people think that those are happy who never fear; but there is a fear which is so far from having torment in it that it has in it the greatest satisfaction.
Happy is the man who always keeps up in his mind a holy awe and reverence of God, his glory, goodness, and government, who is always afraid of offending God and incurring his displeasure, who keeps conscience tender and has a dread of the appearance of evil, who is always jealous of himself, distrustful of his own sufficiency, and lives in expectation of troubles and changes, so that, whenever they come, they are no surprise to him. He who keeps up such a fear as this will live a life of faith and watchfulness, and therefore happy is he, blessed and holy.
The danger of a sinful presumption:
 He that hardens his heart, that mocks at fear, and sets God and his judgments at defiance, and receives not the impressions of his word or rod, shall fall into mischief; his presumption will be his ruin, and whatever sin (which is the greatest mischief) he falls into it is owing to the hardness of his heart.

 from Matthew Henry Commentary

Proverbs- Open Rebuke

It is good for us to be reproved, and told of our faults, by our friends.

 If true love in the heart has but zeal and courage enough to show itself in dealing plainly with our friends, and reproving them for what they say and do amiss, this is really better, not only than secret hatred (as Lev 19:17), but than secret love, that love to our neighbours which does not show itself in this good fruit, which compliments them in their sins, to the prejudice of their souls. Faithful are the reproofs of a friend, though for the present they are painful as wounds. It is a sign that our friends are faithful indeed if, in love to our souls, they will not suffer sin upon us,nor let us alone in it. The physician's care is to cure the patient's disease, not to please his palate. 

It is dangerous to be caressed and flattered by an enemy, whose kisses are deceitful 

We can take no pleasure in them because we can put no confidence in them (Joab's kiss and Judas's were deceitful), and therefore we have need to stand upon our guard, that we be not deluded by them; they are to be deprecated. Some read it: The Lord deliver us from an enemy's kisses, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.  

from Matthew Henry Commentary

Proverbs - Sin

What an abominable thing sin is, and how hateful sometimes it is made to appear, even to the sinner himself. When his conscience is convinced, or he feels smart from his sin, he is sick of it, and vomits it up; he seems then to detest it and to be willing to part with it. It is in itself, and, first or last, will be to the sinner, more loathsome than the vomit of a dog, Psa 36:2. 

Proverbs - Governing self

The good character of a wise and virtuous man implied: 

He is one that has rule over his own spirit; 

he maintains the government of himself, and of his own appetites and passions;

 [He] does not suffer them to rebel against reason and conscience.

 He has the rule of his own thoughts,

 his desires,

 his inclinations,

 his resentments, 

and keeps them all in good order. [mine]

Proverbs - Be of good courage!

In the day of adversity we are apt to faint, to droop and be discouraged, to desist from our work, and to despair of relief.Our spirits sink, and then our hands hang down and our knees grow feeble, and we become unfit for anything. And often those that are most cheerful when they are well droop most, and are most dejected, when any thing ails them. 

Proverbs - Let not your heart envy sinners

A necessary caution against entertaining any favourable thoughts of prospering profaneness:

 “Let not thy heart envy sinners; do not grudge them either the liberty they take to sin or the success they are to be pitied rather than envied. Their prosperity is their portion (Psa 73:3), nay, it is their poison,” Pro 1:32. 

Proverbs - Foreseeing evil

The benefit of wisdom and consideration: 

A prudent man, by the help of his prudence, will foresee an evil, before it comes, and hide himself; he will be aware when he is entering into a temptation and will put on his armour and stand on his guard.

Proverbs - Follow after righteousness

What it is to make religion our business:

It is to follow after righteousness and mercy, not to content ourselves with easy performances, but to do our duty with the utmost care and pains, as those that are pressing forward and in fear of coming short. We must both do justly and love mercy, and must proceed and persevere therein; and, though we cannot attain to perfection, yet it will be a comfort to us if we aim at it and follow after it. 

What will be the advantage of doing so: 

Those that do follow after righteousness shall find righteousness; God will give them grace to do good, and they shall have the pleasure and comfort of doing it; those that make conscience of being just to others shall have the pleasure and comfort of doing it; those that make conscience of being just to others shall be justly dealt with by others and others shall be kind to them. 

The Jews followed after righteousness, and did not find it, because they sought amiss, Rom 9:31. Otherwise, Seek and you shall find, and with it shall find both life and honour, everlasting life and honour, the crown of righteousness..

Matthew Henry Commentary[ emphasis mine]

Proverbs - The Child's Duty - Honour

Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. Prov 20:20

An undutiful child become very wicked by degrees.
He began with despising his father and mother, slighting their instructions, disobeying their commands, and raging at their rebukes, but at length he arrives at such a pitch of impudence and impiety as to curse them, to give them scurrilous and opprobrious language, and to wish mischief to those that were instruments of his being and have taken so much care and pains about him, and this in defiance of God and his law, which had made this a capital crime (Exo 21:17, Mat 15:4), and in violation of all the bonds of duty, natural affection, and gratitude.


An undutiful child become very miserable at last: 
His lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness; all his honour shall be laid in the dust, and he shall for ever lose his reputation. Let him never expect any peace or comfort in his own mind, no, nor to prosper in this world. His days shall be shortened, and the lamp of his life extinguished, according to the reverse of the promise of the fifth commandment. His family shall be cut off and his posterity be a curse to him. And it will be his eternal ruin; the lamp of his happiness shall be put out in the blackness of darkness (so the word is), even that which is for ever, Jud 1:13, Mat 22:13.

extract from Matthew Henry Commentary

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Sin is in our very nature. Even very young children show evidence of this" inner wickedness ", which is not " learned ", or acquired, but born with. 
Blessed be God by  Parents  that have been " restrainers " (see Prov 22:15) , correcting us in the fear of God and delivering our souls from utter darkness. 


In Christ

Proverbs - Which counsel shall prevail?

There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand. Prov 19:21

 Men projecting

 They keep their designs to themselves, but they cannot hide them from God; he knows the many devices that are in men's hearts,

-devices against his counsels (as those, Psalms 2:1-3; Mic 4:11),  

- devices without his counsel (no regard had to his providence, as those James 4:13, this and the other they will do, and not take God along with them);

- devices unlike God's counsels; men are wavering in their devices, and often absurd and unjust, but God's counsels are wise and holy, steady and uniform. 

God overruling

Various men have various designs, according as their inclination or interest leads them, but the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand, whatever becomes of the devices of men. 

His counsel often breaks men's measures and baffles their devices; but their devices cannot in the least alter his counsel, not disturb the proceedings of it, nor put him upon new counsels, Isa 14:24; Isa 46:11. 

What a check does this give to politic designing men, who think they can outwit all mankind, that there is a God in heaven that laughs at them! Psalm 2:4. 

What comfort does this speak to all God's people, that all God's purposes, which we are sure are right and good, shall be accomplished in due time! 

 Matthew Henry Commentary

Proverbs - There is enough in God!

God's sufficiency for the saints: 

His name is a strong tower for them, in which they may take rest when they are weary and take sanctuary when they are pursued, where they may be lifted up above their enemies and fortified against them.

There is enough in God, and in the discoveries which he has made of himself to us, to make us easy at all times.

The wealth laid up in this tower is enough to enrich them, to be a continual feast and a continuing treasure to them. The strength of this tower is enough to protect them; the name of the Lord is all that whereby he has made himself known as God, and our God, not only his titles and attributes, but his covenant and all the promises of it; these make up a tower, a strong tower, impenetrable, impregnable, for all God's people.

The saints' security in God.
It is a strong tower to those who know how to make use of it as such. The righteous, by faith and prayer, devotion towards God and dependence on him, run into it, as their city of refuge.
Having made sure their interest in God's name, they take the comfort and benefit of it; they go out of themselves, retire from the world, live above, dwell in God and God in them, and so they are safe, they think themselves so, and they shall find themselves so.

extract from Matthew Henry Commentary

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:

It is healthful to be cheerful. The Lord is for the body, and has provided for it, not only meat, but medicine, and has here told us that the best medicine is a merry heart, not a heart addicted to vain, carnal, sensual mirth.(Solomon himself said of that mirth, It is not medicine, but madness; it is not food, but poison; what doth it?)

But he means a heart rejoicing in God, and serving him with gladness, and then taking the comfort of outward enjoyments and particularly that of pleasant conversation. It is a great mercy that God gives us leave to be cheerful and cause to be cheerful, especially if by his grace he gives us hearts to be cheerful. 

This does good to a medicine (so some read it); it will make physic more efficient. Or it does good as a medicine to the body, making it easy and fit for business. But, if mirth be a medicine (understand it of diversion and recreation), it must be used sparingly, only when there is occasion, not turned into food, and it must be used medicinally, sub regimine - as a prescribed regimen, and by rule.

but a broken spirit drieth the bones:

The sorrows of the mind often contribute very much to the sickliness of the body: 

A broken spirit, sunk by the burden of afflictions, and especially a conscience wounded with the sense of guilt and fear of wrath, dries the bones, wastes the radical moisture, exhausts the very marrow, and makes the body a mere skeleton. 

We should therefore watch and pray against all melancholy dispositions, for they lead us into trouble as well as into temptation.

 extract from Matthew Henry Commentary

Proverbs - Trust the Lord

 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good,....

That frames and composes his discourse well on any subject he takes in hand; or manages his affairs prudently and discreetly, in which he is concerned; or that wisely attends to the affair of humility, as Aben Ezra: or rather to the word, that is, to the word of God; is not a careless, negligent, unconcerned hearer of the word, but a diligent and attentive one; whose heart is opened by the Spirit of God to attend to what is spoken in it; who lays it up in his heart, and makes it the rule of his conduct in life: such a man finds good things; things which are for his profit, edification, and instruction; good truths, good doctrines, good counsel and advice, good directions and instructions; promises of good things, things for his present comfort and future happiness;

and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he; 

not to his own wisdom; 

nor in his own strength;

 nor in his riches, 

nor righteousness;

nor in the favour of men,

 no, not of princes; 

but in the Lord and in his Word ; 

he shall want no good thing,

he is kept in perfect peace;

 he is in the utmost safety,

 is like Mount Zion, that can never be removed, Jer 17:7.

 from John Gill's exposition of the Entire Bible

Proverbs - Before Honour is Humility

Before honour is humility:

• The fear of God and humility go together, where the one is the other is; and as the one is the way to wisdom, the other is the way to glory; 
• Christ's humiliation was before his exaltation; men are first humbled and laid low in their own eyes, and then they are raised out of their low estate, and are set among princes; and shall inherit the throne of glory, being made kings and priests unto God;
•  it is a frequent saying of Christ's, "he that humbleth himself shall be exalted", (Luke 14:11); such an one is raised to a high estate of grace, and at last to eternal glory.

extract from John Gill's exposition of the entire Bible

Proverbs - Prove your ways!

We have here an account of the way and end of a great many self-deluded souls. 

Their way is seemingly fair: It seems right to themselves; they please themselves with a fancy that they are as they should be, that their opinions and practices are good, and such as will bear them out. 

The way of ignorance and carelessness, the way of worldliness and earthly-mindedness, the way of sensuality and flesh-pleasing, seem right to those that walk in them, much more the way of hypocrisy in religion, external performances, partial reformations, and blind zeal; this they imagine will bring them to heaven; they flatter themselves in their own eyes that all will be well at last.

Their end is really fearful, and the more so for their mistake: 

It is the ways of death, eternal death; their iniquity will certainly be their ruin, and they will perish with a lie in their right hand. Self-deceivers will prove in the end self-destroyers.

Matthew Henry Commentary [ emphasis mine]

Proverbs - Hope

Hope deferred makes the heart sick 
It is therefore our wisdom not to promise ourselves any great matters from the creature, not to feed ourselves with any vain hopes from this world, lest we lay up matter for our own vexation; and what we do hope for let us prepare to be disappointed in, that, if it should prove so, it may prove the easier; and let us not be hasty.


When the desire does come
It puts men into a sort of paradise, a garden of pleasure, for it is a tree of life. 
It will aggravate the eternal misery of the wicked that their hopes will be frustrated; and it will make the happiness of heaven the more welcome to the saints that it is what they have earnestly longed for as the crown of their hopes.

Matthew Henry Commentary[ emphasis mine] 

What it is that keeps a fool from being wise:

His way is right in his own eyes; he thinks he is in the right in everything he does, and therefore asks no advice, because he does not apprehend he needs it; He is confident he knows the way, and cannot miss it, and therefore never enquires the way. The rule he goes by is to do that which is right in his own eyes, to walk in the way of his heart. Quicquid libet, licet - He makes his will his law.

He is a fool that is governed by his eye, and not by his conscience.

What it is that keeps a wise man from being a fool; 
He is willing to be advised, desires to have counsel given him, and hearkens to counsel, being diffident of his own judgment and having a value for the direction of those that are wise and good. He is wise (it is a sign he is so, and he is likely to continue so) whose ear is always open to good advice.

Matthew Henry commentary

[ Emphasis Mine]

Proverbs- Winning Souls

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life;

The righteous are as trees of life:
The fruits of their piety and charity, their instructions, reproofs, examples, and prayers, their interest in heaven, and their influence upon earth, are like the fruits of that tree, precious and useful, contributing to the support and nourishment of the spiritual life in many; they are the ornaments of paradise, God's church on earth, for whose sake it stands.

and he that winneth souls is wise.

 He that is wise, by communicating his wisdom, wins souls, wins upon them to bring them in love with God and holiness, and so wins them over into the interests of God's kingdom among men. The wise are said to turn many to righteousness, and that is the same with winning souls here, Daniel 12:3.

Abraham's proselytes are called the souls that he had gotten, Genesis 12:5. Those that would win souls have need of wisdom to know how to deal with them; and those that do win souls show that they are wise.

Proverbs-The Tongue

We are here admonished concerning the government of the tongue, that necessary duty of a Christian.   

1. It is good to say little, because in the multitude of words there wanteth not sin, or sin doth not cease. Usually, those that speak much speak much amiss, and among many words there cannot but be many idle words, which they must shortly give an account of. Those that love to hear themselves talk do not consider what work they are making for repentance; for that will be wanted, and first or last will be had, where there wanteth not sin.

2. It is therefore good to keep our mouth as with a bridle: He that refrains his lips, that often checks himself, suppresses what he has thought, and holds in that which would transpire, is a wise man; it is an evidence of his wisdom, and he therein consults his own peace. Little said is soon amended,( Amos 5:13; James 1:19)........

Matthew Henry Commentary

Proverbs - The way to understading

What is required of those that may have the benefit of this invitation ( Proverbs 9:5)

 They must break off from all bad company: 

“Forsake the foolish, converse not with them, conform not to their ways, have no fellowship with the works of darkness, or with those that deal in such works.” 

The first step towards virtue is to shun vice, and therefore to shun the vicious. Depart from me, you evil-doers. 

They must awake and arise from the dead; 

they must live, not in pleasure (for those that do so are dead while they live), but in the service of God; for those only that do so live indeed, live to some purpose. 

“Live not a mere animal-life, as brutes, but now, at length, live the life of men. Live and you shall live; live spiritually, and you shall live eternally,” (Ephesians 5:14)

 They must choose the paths of Wisdom, and keep to them: 

“Go in the way of understanding; govern thyself henceforward by the rules of religion and right reason.” 

It is not enough to forsake the foolish, but we must join ourselves with those that walk in wisdom, and walk in the same spirit and steps.

(Matthew Henry Commentary)

Proverbs-Hating Wisdom=Loving Death

This chapter in talking about wisdom or Christ ( who is the wisdom of God ), is another cry  to awake and give heed to the things which we are hearing . It might be interesting to consider first what are the consequences of hating Christ or wisdom. The second verse ( today I've picked two for a change) is a check up in which we can evaluate our true interest in Christ.

Proverbs - A warning against adultery

In this chapter, we have GOD's second warning against adultery. Note, that through observing GOD's commandments we shall live, but as it is written "fools despise knowledge".

Proverbs - A call to Spiritual Awakening

How long wilt thou sleep, O Sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Prov 6:9
To those that are slothful in the way of work and duty, in the duties of their particular calling as men or their general calling as Christians. 
“How long wilt thou waste thy time, and when wilt thou be a better husband of it?
"How long wilt thou love thy ease, and when wilt thou learn to deny thyself, and to take pains?"
"How long wilt thou bury thy talents, and when wilt thou begin to trade with them? "
"How long wilt thou delay, and put off, and trifle away thy opportunities, as one regardless of hereafter; and when wilt thou stir up thyself to do what thou hast to do, which, if it be not done, will leave thee for ever undone?” 
To those that are secure in the way of sin and danger: 
“Hast thou not slept enough?"
"Is it not far in the day?" 
"Does not thy Master call?" 
 "Are not the Philistines upon thee? ( Judges 16)"  
"When then wilt thou arise?”

Matthew Henry Commentary [ emphasis mine]

Proverbs-God's perfect plan

This is a most interesting and important chapter in the Bible. It deals with the dangers surrounding young men, and sounds a warning to all of us.

Proverbs- Aiming at perfection

The way of righteousness is light: 

The path of the just, which they have chosen, and in which they walk, is as light; the light shines on their ways (Job 22:28) and makes them both safe and pleasant.

Christ is their way and he is the light. They are guided by the word of God and that is a light to their feet; they themselves are light in the Lord and they walk in the light as he is in the light.

1.   It is a shining light. Their way shines to themselves in the joy and comfort of it; it shines before others in the lustre and honour of it; it shines before men, who see their good works, Mat 5:16. They go on in their way with a holy security and serenity of mind, as those that walk in the light. It is as the morning-light, which shines out of obscurity (Isa 58:8, Isa 58:10) and puts an end to the works of darkness.

Proverbs-Acknowledge God

In all thy ways acknowledge Him:
We must not only in our judgment believe that there is an over-ruling hand of God ordering and disposing of us and all our affairs, but we must solemnly own it, and address ourselves to him accordingly: 

(Matthew Henry Commentary )

This is war

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20)


Oops!!!! This is not a suggestion. It is a COMMAND. For the LORD's sake men, wake up!!! This is war!

"Shall not the Lamb have the full reward of His suffering?

May GOD have mercy on us.

To know more, visit http://www.joshuaproject.net/unreached-videos.php

Proverbs- True Wisdom

Points to take to heart:

•  Wisdom is to know one’s self (our true sinfulness) and the glorious way of salvation: Jesus Christ.

 Natural wisdom in all its branches, with all its improvements, and in its utmost latitude and perfection; and spiritual wisdom, which lies in the knowledge of a man's self, his own folly, impurity, impotence, and misery; 

being wise unto salvation; in the knowledge of Christ, as the only way of salvation, and of God in Christ; in partaking of the true grace, which is wisdom in the hidden part; 

in being acquainted experimentally with the doctrines of the Gospel; and in walking wisely and circumspectly, and as becomes it, which is practical wisdom: and all this is the gift of God; as is also Christ, who is wisdom, and is given to be wisdom to his people.

•  True wisdom is given freely by God

“is a very large comprehensive gift, an unspeakable one; which is given freely and liberally, and is never taken away again.”

• True Wisdom is given By the grace of God

"to caution such who search after wisdom, and find it, not to attribute it to their diligence and industry, but to the grace of God; and partly as a direction where to go for it; and as an encouragement to hope to have it, since the Lord freely gives it, (James 1:5); "

 John Gill 's Exposition of the entire Bible [emphasis mine ]

Proverbs- The Fear of God

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge:

Of all things that are to be known this is most evident, that God is to be feared, to be reverenced, served, and worshipped; this is so the beginning of knowledge that those know nothing who do not know this.