Proverbs 1:3
To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

In this one book, there is instruction in all of these areas and more. The person who learns and lives by the teachings of the godly and wise will be instructed in wisdom.

While wisdom is a skill that comes gradually, it can be imparted through the discipline of teaching. We are not born wise; we become wise. We must learn. God's way for people to learn is complex, but it almost always involves learning from those who have a track record before us.

The Proverbs instruct us in justice. As stated, real wisdom is the capacity to act rightly and exercise moral discretion, making just decisions. The Proverbs teach us that selfishness and injustice do no one good in the final analysis.

Good judgment is a by-product of studying the Proverbs as is equity. Throughout the many verses of this teaching are admonitions to act with fairness and judge between good and evil, wisdom and foolishness, and right and wrong.

Proverbs 1:2
To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

Wisdom is the great theme of Proverbs ad it is more than most people think it is.

Wisdom is not the aquisition of knowledge, but the ability to use that knowledge rightly. It is not primarily intellectual, bit moral, ethical, and relational. It is always played out in the arena of practicality and tested in the crucible of real life experience.

Theoretical knowledge is only part of what is included in a full wisdom package.

Wisdom is knowable. It is something that can be internalized and lived out in our experiences. It attaches itself to our hearts and creates in us a desire for more - thus, instruction becomes a vital part of our lives. Some translate this as "discipline." It is a love of the process of growing wiser. It is a hunger for becoming and attaining.

It comes with humility because so many want to learn, but resist being taught.

Knowledge is everywhere. the fact that some of you are reading this over the Internet indicates that you have discovered the Information Super Highway and are soaring over its asphalt at break-neck speed.

People are concerned today about the ability of governments, businesses, and even criminal enterprises to collect data on private citizens. Here is the clincher, without a means for perceiving it and organizing it, it does them no good.

So it is with us: we can have access to all the information in the world, but unless we grow wiser, we will not really hear it and perceive it. It will pass through us like a lazer through glass. Studying the Proverbs daily and deeply will help you to perceive their words of understanding.

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

In the first place, these are Solomon's proverbs. He collected them, taught them, practiced them, and made some of them up.

They are the proverbs of a king, a man who kew the particular challenges of leadership and the awesome responsibility of power. If anyone needed wisdom, it was Solomon.

If anyone exercised wisdom, it was also Solomon. Solomon was the forerunner of the information economy. The bible tells us that leaders from all over the world sought him out for guidance and principle-based teachings. They even paid just to spend time with and listen to him.

Knowledge is a marketable commodity, wisdom even more so.

As we study these words and hold them up against the backdrop of his times and ours, we will find that they are not only timely, but timeless.

Since September of 2005, I have been teaching the book of Proverbs on Tuesday and Wednesday nights at the Fellowship of Joy (and at Denny's). I have also been nurturing the discipline of daily reading in the chapter of Proverbs that corresponds to the day of the month. It is difficult to describe how much this has enriched my life.

What I will be doing in this journal is sharing some gleanings from my personal and corporate study. The structure will come as it comes.