The document provides an overview and analysis of key passages from the first chapter of the book of Proverbs. It discusses how Proverbs teaches about making right choices and avoiding wrong ones by listening to wisdom rather than folly. It notes that rejecting wisdom results in being "full with their own fancies" and relying only on one's own ideas or those of others. However, the chapter promises that those who listen to and dwell in wisdom will be secure and without fear.

1. Lesson 1

2. KEY TEXT
“The fear of the
Lord is the
beginning of
knowledge,
but fools
despise wisdom
and instruction”
Proverbs 1:7

3. From Eden onward,
the root of human
tragedy lies in wrong
choices.
“Man lost all because
he chose to listen to
the deceiver rather
than to Him who is
Truth, who alone has
understan-ding. By
the mingling of evil
with good, his mind
had become
confused.”
The book of Proverbs is all about helping us to make right choices, to choose the
way of God and not that of the deceiver. The father or the mother, speaking to
their son, not only warns him against wrong choices but also encourages him to
make the right ones. This is so important because the choices we make are
literally matters of life and death.

4. The first three chapters of Proverbs illustrate this method of education. After having
explained the purpose of the book: “to know wisdom” (Prov. 1:2), and having laid down
the motto of the book: “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Prov. 1:7;
compare 9:10), the author moves back and forth from warning us against listening to
foolishness to urging us to respond to the call of heavenly wisdom.

5. “The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel.” (Proverbs 1:1)
“The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, his utterance. This man declared
to Ithiel—to Ithiel and Ucal.” (Proverbs 30:1)
“The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught
him.” (Proverbs 31:1)
Most part of Proverbs was written by King
Solomon during the first years of his reign.
Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived
(1 Kings 3:5-14).
Some of the Proverbs where gathered together
during Hezekiah’s reign (Proverbs 25:1).
All those sayings—including Agur’s and Lemuel’s
ones—where inspired by the Holy Spirit. They
were preserved so we can learn from them.

6. According to Proverbs 1:2-6,
why is wisdom useful?

7. Which is the beginning or foundation of wisdom?
“The fear of the Lord is
the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom
and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7)
Fearing God involves:
 To be afraid of saddening Him.
 To respect Him and His will.
Making decisions according to His
Word.
 To love Him and to obey Him.
 To be conscious of His personal
presence at all times and
everywhere.

8. The best argument on behalf of
family education is its results.
These are the inner qualities of
character, which are like
ornaments on the head and
around the neck. In the Middle
Eastern culture, precious collars
and bracelets were passed on from
parents to children as a heritage of
value. Education matters more,
though, than material riches. The
time spent with our children will
be of much greater value for them
than the time spent at our
businesses. Also, the reference to
the neck and the head, which is
the individual’s face, suggests that
education will shape his or her
personality. In the way of fools or
sinners, only the feet (Prov. 1:15)
are mentioned, as if the wayward
son had lost his identity.
How can we learn to resist the
temptations that culture, society, friends,
or even family might throw our way?
REFLECTION

9. “My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake
the law of your mother; for they will be a graceful ornament on
your head, and chains about your neck.” (Proverbs 1:8-9)
Head and neck represent the personality. The
wise mold their personality by listening to
the advice of their parents.
That way they walk away from the path of
the foolish who disregard advice and follow
their own hearts. The feet in verses 15-16
represent that.
The parents are responsible for
educating their children for eternity.
That is a sacred task.
The time we spent with our children is
much more valuable than the time we
spent with our businesses. Education is
more important than material riches.

10. “The great work of parents and teachers is character building—
seeking to restore the image of Christ in those placed under their
care. A knowledge of the sciences sinks into insignificance
beside this great aim; but all true education may be made to help
in the development of a righteous character. The formation of
character is the work of a lifetime, and it is for eternity. If all
could realize this, and would awake to the fact that we are
individually deciding our own destiny and the destinies of our
children for eternal life or eternal ruin, what a change would take
place! How differently would our probationary time be occupied,
and with what noble characters would our world be filled!”
E.G.W. (Counsels to Parents, Teachers and Students; section 2, cp. 8, pg. 61)

11. “How long will you who are simple love
your simple ways? How long will mockers
delight in mockery and fools hate
knowledge?” (Proverbs 1:22-23 NIV)
Those who
don’t hear her call
(Proverbs 1:28-32)
“…they will call on me,
but I will not answer;
they will seek me
diligently, but they will
not find me.”
“…they shall eat the
fruit of their own way,
and be filled to the full
with their own
fancies.”
Those who
hear her call
(Proverbs 1:33)
“…[they] will dwell
safely, and will be
secure, without fear of
evil.”
If we reject divine wisdom,
then we’ll only have our
own or someone else’s lies.

12. Read Proverbs
1:22–32.
What is the
result of
rejecting
wisdom?
The reason that people reject wisdom has nothing to do with wisdom itself and
everything to do with the character of those who reject her. These are
described as arrogant and disdainful (Prov. 1:25; compare vs. 30), as if they
know better. The implication is that wisdom is for the naive and the simple. And
yet, those who reject wisdom are simple and naive; they are fools who “hate
knowledge” (Prov. 1:22 compare vs. 29).

13. Those who reject wisdom will
reap the fruit of their rejection.
Having refused to choose the
fear of the Lord, they will have
to be content with themselves:
they will be “full with their own
fancies” (Prov. 1:31, NKJV).
When we reject wisdom from
above, we often end up with the
fables and lies that we fabricate
for ourselves or the fables and
lies that others fabricate for us
and that we so readily accept. In
this way, we replace God with
idols. Ironically, those who
despise religion, mocking those
they judge as simple and naive,
often are superstitious in their
own way, placing value on the
most fleeting and useless things
that, in the end, can never
satisfy the most basic needs of
the heart.
Read Proverbs 1:33. Given the context in what
came before, what promise and hope are
found here for us? How is this promise
manifested in our own experience?

14. A. HOW TO FIND WISDOM:
1. Listening (v. 1-2)
2. Requesting (v. 3)
3. Searching (v. 4)
B. GETTING WISDOM:
1. God gives her to those who seek her
(v. 5-6)
2. We are protected (v. 7-8)
3. We understand justice (v. 9)
C. BENEFITS OF WISDOM:
1. She gives us discretion and
understanding (v. 10-11)
2. She delivers us from the way of evil
(v. 12-15)
3. She delivers us from the immoral
woman (v. 16-19)
D. OUR FUTURE:
1. Walking in goodness (v. 20)
2. Dwelling in the New Earth (v. 21)
3. Avoiding eternal death (v. 22)

15. Keeping God’s law which is
written in our hearts
(v. 1-2)
Truly living love and truth; both
in an outer (“bind them around
your neck”) and an inner way
(“on the tablet of your heart”)
(v. 3-4)
Trusting God and testifying
to Him (v. 5-6)
Depending on His wisdom
alone. Keeping way
ourselves from evil (v. 7)
“And so find
favor and
high esteem
in the sight
of God and
man.”
(Proverbs 3:4)
Receiving the
gift of wisdom
involves:

16. Why are those who find wisdom blessed (v. 8)?
God’s wisdom gives us present (v. 8-32) and future (v. 33-35) blessings.
PRESENT
BLESSINGS
• Physical health.
• Material abundance.
• Length of days, riches
and honor.
• Peace.
• Tree of life: life and
grace for the soul.
• Walking safely and not
being afraid.
• Close communion
with God.
FUTURE
BLESSINGS
• An eternal dwelling
place.
• Being exalted by
God’s grace.
• Inheriting
glory.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,” because “the wise shall
inherit glory, but shame shall be the legacy of fools.” (Proverbs 3:5, 35)

17. “In His word the Lord enumerates the gifts and graces that are
indispensable for all who connect with His work. He does not teach us to
ignore learning or despise education; for when controlled by the love and
fear of God, intellectual culture is a blessing; yet this is not presented as
the most important qualification for the service of God. Jesus passed by
the wise men of His time, the men of education and position, because
they were so proud and self-sufficient in their boasted superiority that
they could not sympathize with suffering humanity and become
colaborers with the Man of Nazareth… The attributes of the character of
Christ can be imparted to those only who distrust themselves. The highest
scientific education cannot in itself develop a Christlike character. The
fruits of true wisdom come from Christ alone.”
E.G.W. (Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, cp. 10, pg. 259)

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