Proverbs and Parables in the New Testament

                                      study 2 - 'the simple ones'

          As we underlined in our first study, the principles in the Book of Proverbs are not

          something new in the Scriptures.    Rather,  their earlier appearance is brought to

          a focus in this wonderful book. This helps us to understand its true significance.

          We gave an example of an early parable in 2nd Samuel 12v1-14. We also underlined that "the inception"

             of this book"lies in the beginning, at Creation"*. We also drew attention to"the seven stages of the pur-

             pose of Almighty God to fill the earth with His glory",    which is "epitomized in the 7-fold divisions of the

             Old and the New Testaments" - link to 'The Structure of the Bible'.     It is significant that 'Proverbs' is in

             the 6th section of the Old Testament, which refers to enlightenment and sacrificial witness to the Truth.

             *and this is supported by ch.8v12,23 - "I wisdom...was set up from everlasting, from the beginning…".

 

             The most important aspect of this study which we must cement into our minds is the aspect of "my son".

             The constant appeal of Deity,  shown as our Heavenly Father,  full of compassion for His children,       is to

             His sons and daughters. For instance, the early sections outlined page 1          concerning doctrine & practice

             from ch.1v8 to ch.9v18     are marked by an appeal to "my son" -         a change in emphasis from doctrine to

             practice being the only slight alteration-ch.4v1 addressed to "ye children",    a generic term which allows

             us to step back as it were and consider if we, individually, are the sons and daughters of the living God.

 

             This appeal is stark,and allows for no hesitation in our response#.It has both positive and negative com-

             ponents. As we emphasized in page 1,Proverbs is the story of two women,Wisdom and Folly  (also known

             as the "strange woman" etc).     Wisdom is the personification of the Truth,        by which God begets us as

             His children*cp ch.6v20 where it is termed our "mother".In another way, Wisdom becomes our "sister"

             and our "kinswoman", ch.7v4.   And yet again, Wisdom is "the wife of thy youth", ch.5v18.       These ways

             of varied pictorial personification may seem unusual at first,      but as we become gradually more familiar

             with Bible teaching, we learn to accept it as normal and highly beneficial.  #ch.6v3,5   *1st Peter 1v3,23

 

             The focus of this teaching is the absolute necessity of making Wisdom our own - for example:

             "Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her

             not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.  Wisdom is the principal thing;  there-

             fore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.   Exalt her,  and she shall promote thee:  she

             shall bring thee to honour,   when thou dost embrace her.      She shall give to thine head an ornament of

             grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee" - ch.4v5-9.

             The value of identification with the ways of Wisdom is       "to keep thee from the evil woman,   from the

             flattery of the tongue of the strange woman" - ch.6v24. Refer to page 1 & below for more re this theme.

            

              Israel was the national "son" of God, cp Exodus 4v22 - "Israel is my son, even my firstborn".Each true

              Israelite should also have regarded themselves as the son or daughter of God.    Compare also the com-

              posite and individual picture of the Bride of Christ as depicted in such passages as:

              Psalm 45v9-17; Ephesians 5v22-33; 2nd Corinthians 6v17,18.   

 

              God's law instructed His national son; and faithful Israelites, in conformity with this,        were commanded

              to instruct their own children, and to follow the faithful example of Abraham, Deut.6v6,7;Gen.18v19.

              Sadly, the record of the Bible and history is that Israel (except for the few)      did not prove faithful to this

              trust.    They rebelled continuously,    and God sent His prophets and later His Son and apostles to warn

              them and to try to lead them back to Him. In page 1 we quoted from Matthew 13,   where in verse 13 the

              Lord quotes from Psalm 78v2 - "Therefore speak I to them in parables". Once again we read of the ob-

              ligation to teach God's "testimony" and "law" to their children (v1-6) - for what purpose?

              "That they might set their hope in God,  and not forget the works of God,  but keep his commandments:

              and might not be as their fathers,   a stubborn and rebellious generation;    a generation that set not their

              heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God".

 

              It is significant that Psalm 78 is one of 13 "maschil psalms", which were used for public instruction.

              The number 13 signifies rebellion - cp Genesis 14v4. We must individually stand apart from this.

              Our present study is focalized in Proverbs 1v22 - "How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?

              and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?" 

              Here we have laid out the process of declension from the Faith. Being "simple" leads to "scorning",

              and the end-result of "scorning" is to become "fools". This becomes plain in the book of Proverbs.

              The assistance rendered by the Lord and all true "sons" to sufferers from apostacy     will be covered

              in our 4th study, where we consider the heart-warming parable of 'The Good Samaritan'.

 

              Let us notice here the differences between "Wisdom" and "Folly".

              "Wisdom crieth without;       she uttereth her voice in the streets:         she crieth in the chief place of con-

              course, in the opening of the gates:  in the city she uttereth her words" - ch.1v20,21.         This is "maschil"

              instruction, the gracious invitation of the Father to His rebellious sons and daughters.

 

              Contrast this with the subtilty of Folly, "which flattereth with her words...in the twilight,    in the evening,

              in the black and dark night...a  woman  with  the  attire  of  an  harlot,        and subtil of heart",   ch.2v16;

              7v9,10.   She is a "strange woman..which forsaketh the guide of her youth,  and forgetteth the covenant

              of her God" yet she"flattereth with her words" - ch.2v16,17 cp ch.5v3;7v21.She is really the"stranger"

              in Deut. 17v15 - "thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother".The same Hebrew

              word is translated "stranger" in Proverbs 2v16. A ploy of the "strange woman" is shown in ch.5v6 -

              "Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them".

              The "harlot" is representative of  the  Roman  "mother of harlots",  Revelation 17v15,  which operates

              under Roman time, with four watches (as above) recorded in Mark 13v35 - link here to 'apocalypse'.

 

              Consider also ch.24v21 - "meddle not with them that are given to change". The Truth is unchangeable,

              as is God Himself..."For I am Yahweh, I change not" - Malachi 3v6.  When the words of Scripture and

              the Pioneer brothers are twisted to give different meanings,      let us beware and extricate ourselves from

              compromising and apostate situations before we ourselves are lost in the destruction of the wicked.

               

              If anyone reading this has been deceived and misled by Folly,      represented by  a multiplicity of false re-

              ligions, let them hear the words of Wisdom:             "Hear me now therefore, O ye children,   and depart not

              from the words of my mouth.  Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house".

              "Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself...Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.  De-

              liver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler" -

              ch. 5v7,8; 6v3-5. There is no time to waste or it will be too late.

 

               Returning to the substratum of this study in Proverbs 1v22: "simple..scorner..fool".  

               This study concerns the "simple ones", and it is vital to comprehend and to fully appreciate what is   be-

               ing taught by the use of this phrase.    At the outset we must realize that it has no reference to a lack   of

               natural intelligence, but it refers to a lack of intelligence in the things of God.  It carries the meaning of

               those who lack moral direction. The question asked in Proverbs 1v22 - "How long, ye simple* ones, will

               ye love simplicity*?" demonstrates that we are dealing with those who are self-satisfied,  i.e. those who

               are really in love with their own ignorance...cp 2nd Peter 3v5 -      "they willingly are ignorant"...yet in a

               tragic irony, their minds are open to error but closed to the instruction of Deity.

               "For this people's heart is waxed gross,    and their ears are dull of hearing,         and their eyes they have

               closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears,   and should understand

               with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them" - Matthew 13v15.

               *the Hebrew for 'simple' and 'simplicity' (above) is from a root word sig. 'to be open' i.e. 'deluded'.               

 

               Consider Paul's words in Ephesians 4v14 concerning those who are open to false teaching:

               "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of  doc-

               trine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive".

               The words in italics are quotes from Proverbs 7 - v24 ("children") & v12 ("lie in wait").

               And verses 13-21 are concisely summarized (as shown above) - "to deceive".

               The picture is graphic and horrible.        It shows those who are unwary, who are open to false doctrine,

               as exemplified by "a young man void of understanding" who "went the way to (Folly's) house" - v7,8...

               and the chapter leads us to the inevitable outcome - capitulation to error and ultimate destruction. 

               "Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.         Let not thine

               heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded: yea,many

               strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death"-

               Proverbs 7v24-27. Do not place confidence in so-called "leaders" ("many strong men") who often fail. 

               "Be not many masters (Grk. sig. "instructors", "teachers") for false teaching will bring    "greater con-

               demnation" James 3v1..as "an instructor (same Grk. as above) of the foolish" Romans 2v20.

               This is a quotation from Proverbs 9v6 - "Forsake the foolish, and live..go in the way of understanding". 

               Wisdom will give "a crown of glory", Folly can only offer "death" - ch.4v9;2v18.

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                                                      this study is a continuing one, please visit regularly             

                                                      we are pressing on with this exposition     as quickly

                                                      as possible,    for it is vital background to 'messages'

                                                      page 3,                which sets forth the last-day prophecies

                                                      as they relate to the ecclesia.