Proverbs 1

Intro

"Berkley, if I said I would clean the cat poop, but I kept forgetting to do it, how would that make you feel?" Purpose: Starts with simple neglect or failure to act.

"What if I told you I memorized your request, thought about it constantly, and even prayed about it, but still never did it—how would that make you feel?" Purpose: Adds intentional thought and prayer, but still no action.

"How would you feel if I watched videos on how to clean the poop, went to a support group about cleaning it, and talked about how badly I wanted to do it, but still never actually did it? Would that make you feel like you could rely on me?" Purpose: Takes it to the extreme by showing a lot of investment without the final action, deepening the frustration and highlighting how inaction erodes trust.

Do you think Berkley’s responses are valid? Why? I’ve really thought a lot about it!

The reason it’s such a big deal is because I’m not actually doing what she asked. In fact, it’s almost worse than forgetting, because I actually remember, but I still choose not to act.

How many times do we treat God’s Word this way? Or His commands?

Now, yes, I’ll admit that God’s Word is powerful to meditate on, because it can transform us from the inside out. But God didn’t command us to simply attend Bible studies, go to church, pray, and then keep disobeying Him. It must be filled with obedience—turning away from sin and doing what He commands.

I used to think that the wise person was someone who had read thousands of books, looked like Harry Briley, and (add something). Harry is a wise man, but not just because of his intellect—it's how he uses it. To truly be wise, you have to live out both knowledge and action.

So, when I told Berkley I was going to clean the cat poop, memorized how to do it, even went to a support group for it, but never actually did it—how do you think that made her feel? In the same way, fearing God means walking in wisdom—not just knowing what He says, but actually living it out in obedience. You can't have one without the other. Wisdom isn’t just knowledge; it’s also living in a way that honors the One who gives that knowledge. Because Wisdom begins not with information, but with the posture of a reverent heart.

Pray

I. The Foundation of Wisdom (Verses 1-7)

The book of Proverbs is traditionally attributed to King Solomon (1:1), who was known for his extraordinary wisdom. Solomon asked God for wisdom when he became king (1 Kings 3:9), and God granted him not only wisdom but wealth and honor. Proverbs captures the essence of that wisdom—practical, moral, and spiritual insight.

Proverbs 1:1–7 ESV

1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, 3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; 4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— 5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, 6 to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

In this opening passage, we are introduced to the purpose and heart of the entire book of Proverbs. Solomon, the wisest of kings, wrote these words not just as a collection of advice or principles for life, but as a call to true wisdom that is rooted in the fear of the Lord. It’s not simply about knowing facts or gaining knowledge—it’s about being transformed through reverence and understanding of God’s ways. Proverbs was written to young men, future leaders, and those who are in the process of being shaped, trained, and instructed in the ways of wisdom.

Verses 1-6 lay out the intended audience and purpose of the book of Proverbs. This is more than just moral guidance; this is transformational teaching that aims to shape our character and actions according to God’s wisdom.

To know wisdom: Wisdom is the deep, relational understanding that comes from God. It’s not just intellectual—it’s lived out through our choices, actions, and relationship with God.

To understand words of insight: Insight here is about seeing life through God’s perspective. It’s about discernment in every area of life.

To receive instruction in wise dealing: This speaks to how we navigate relationships, decisions, and the world around us with integrity and godliness.

Let’s go to verse 4 again can someone read? Proverbs 1:4

Proverbs 1:4 ESV

4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth—

Scripture applies to all ages of course, but many people would state that this book is actually targeted for a younger audience specifically teenagers and young adults.

Proverbs is primarily written for young men (v.8), especially those who were being groomed for leadership roles within Israel. These were future kings, rulers, and judges—people who would need to make wise and just decisions on behalf of the nation. This book was designed as an instruction manual for developing good character and understanding how to navigate life with moral integrity and Godly wisdom.

Let’s dissect these words, someone go to Proverbs 22:3

The word prudent is similar to Wisdom but even more specific on utilizing your knowledge and acting upon it. Proverbs describes an example of this later:

Proverbs 22:3 ESV

3 The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.

The point of this book is to give you this prudence so that you will make good choices and discretion. Which simply means to know what to do with the information.

But, this is not a self help book. You can read a lot of this and use it and see benefit in your life. But that is not the point of scripture and it falls short. The purpose of scripture is to be rooted and planted in God. That’s the foundation of everything.

Proverbs 1:7 ESV

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

In other words, all this talk of prudence, knowledge, and discretion—it starts with your posture toward God.

If I truly respected Berkley in the first example, I would do what she asked of me.

Do you respect God? Because that is what the word fear means. It’s this deep respect where you don’t want to disappoint Him? A fancy word we say is reverence. Because apart from that, even the best advice won’t make you truly wise—it just becomes a moral shell with no spiritual root. The fear of the Lord is the foundation. It’s the difference between godly wisdom and worldly advice.

II. Being Wise is Not Easy (Verses 8-19)

We are going to read some portions of this and you are going to see the context played out. Remember when I said that this is written to younger men who are going to be in leadership? You will see a dialogue of some sort and you’ll see it all throughout Proverbs, but this is like an older man talking to one he is teaching.

Proverbs 1:8–10 ESV

8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, 9 for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

and then verses 15 and 16

Proverbs 1:15–16 ESV

15 my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, 16 for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.

Proverbs 1:19 ESV

19 Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.

What do you sort of see Solomon’s main point here?

Wisdom protects you from the temptation to follow sinners, especially the pull of greed and violence.

Solomon is taking the tone of a father or mentor. He’s not just giving abstract ideas—he’s giving life-shaping instruction to someone young and impressionable.

v. 8–9 – He tells his son to treasure his parents' teaching—like something beautiful and valuable (garland, pendants).

My dad was one who often gave me a lot of advice when I was younger. He didn’t just tell me what to do—he taught me to hold on to the truth, especially when it’s hard. He showed me what Scripture says and why it matters. He taught me to think critically, to not just take things at surface value, but to ask questions and seek wisdom. And looking back, I see now how that kind of instruction—just like Solomon describes—is like a graceful garland or a pendant: it stays with you, shapes you, and gives you something to hold on to when life gets confusing.

Do any of you have something you still remember to this day that your parent has said?

Now, your father and mother are not perfect. What this verse is truly saying is hold on the wise instruction and teaching that those in your life have given you.

v. 10 – He moves immediately into warning: “If sinners entice you, do not consent.” → The pull of sin is real. It's not a question of if you’ll be tempted, but when.

Berkley and I just recently watched How To Train Your Dragon, and I forgot how good this movie is. In How to Train Your Dragon, we have the main guy, and his name is Hiccup. He is born on an island of Vikings, and this island is often infested with dragons. These Vikings have only known one thing, and that is to kill the dragons. Now, in almost every movie, that would make sense—dragons are evil and dangerous, and humans can barely win against them. But in this movie, it’s a little different than that.

At the start of the movie, the dragons come to invade their village, and Hiccup wants to use a new weapon he’s crafted to shoot down the notorious Night Fury. No one has ever seen this dragon, and he’s determined to be the first one to bring it down. He sets up his weapon, fires, and hears a sound that seems like he actually hit something. But before he can celebrate, another dragon starts to chase him. Chaos breaks out, he causes damage to the village, and several dragons escape. His dad—who’s also the chief—is furious and embarrassed, and Hiccup gets scolded in front of everyone.

The next morning, he goes out to see if he actually hit the dragon—and sure enough, he finds it trapped. At that moment, he knows: if he kills the dragon, everything could be made right. He’d finally earn his father’s approval and respect from the whole village. It’s so tempting. But something in him—his conviction—tells him not to. As he later says, the dragon seemed just as scared as he was. So instead of killing it, he frees it.

Now, I won’t go into any more spoilers because the remake of the first movie is coming out, but I think an interesting question would be this, do you think you would have killed the dragon? As an outsider watching the movie and knowing how it ends, of course not, but in that moment, it seems so easy to just kill the dragon and be a hero in the village.

But that’s just how life works isn’t it? It’s full of choices that you have to make and they can be really difficult ones. Sometimes you have to make choices that seem right, better, and good. The choice that is wrong can actually be so tempting or as scripture says, so enticing, but if we know it’s wrong, Proverbs 1:10 says for us to not consent. Proverbs 1:15-16 says

Proverbs 1:15–16 ESV

15 to not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, 16 for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.

What Solomon is saying here is that we should be careful where we step—because once we take that first step on the wrong path, it becomes easier and easier to keep walking in that direction.

The wise thing might not make you look strong or successful in the moment, but in the long run, it leads to a life that is anchored in godliness and integrity and a fear of the Lord.

III. Wisdom is for All (Verses 20-33)

Wisdom is for all. Sometimes we may think that being wise is only for those who are like Harry or for older people but no. You all have a calling to be wise and not just sometimes but always.

Proverbs 1:20–23 ESV

20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; 21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? 23 If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.

Have you ever gone somewhere popular like the city and heard someone playing on the streets, talking…etc.

These were the centers of everyday life—places where people worked, traded, talked, and made decisions. Think of them like the modern-day downtown, school hallways, or social media feeds.

By placing wisdom there, Solomon is showing that God's wisdom isn't locked away in religious spaces—it’s speaking right where life happens. Wisdom meets you in the ordinary and public parts of life, not just private devotions.

In verse 20, wisdom is personified as a woman—something we’ll see often in Proverbs. This shift from a father’s instruction (v. 8–19) to Lady Wisdom calling out publicly. Now it’s not just one son—it’s everyone.

She’s not whispering in a corner—she’s crying out in the streets, markets, and city gates—places of public life, business, and decisions. This shows that wisdom is not hidden or exclusive; it’s available and calling out to everyone.

v. 22 She speaks to three kinds of people (v. 22):

Simple – Those who are uncommitted, naïve, easily influenced.

Scoffers – Those who mock truth and don’t take correction seriously.

Fools – Those who reject knowledge, live without fear of God.

She’s asking: How long will you stay in this? The tone is both a rebuke and an invitation. It’s like she’s pleading: You don’t have to stay this way. You can turn.

But then in Verses 24–28 describe Wisdom’s rejection for those who call upon wisdom too late:

“I called, and you refused...”

“You ignored my counsel...”

“You would have none of my reproof…”

Proverbs 1:29 ESV

29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord,

For me this speaks of the gospel

And it’s also practical now.

When God asks us to do something, he’s doing so out of love. He knows how we should live. It’s difficult, its enticing to fail, but it’s the right way to live and it leads to life. Both now and for eternity.

John 10:10 ESV

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

In Verse 29 we get the main poitn emphasized once again:

They did not choose the fear of the Lord.

From the Old Testament on, it’s been clear—wisdom isn’t just about doing good deeds or making smart decisions. It’s about living a life that’s rooted in a relationship with God. True knowledge—real understanding of how to live—is impossible without God. It’s impossible without the fear of the Lord.

That’s what Proverbs 1 is telling us:

The foundation of wisdom is a reverent heart—a heart that fears the Lord above all else.

The path of wisdom isn’t easy—it means saying no when the world pressures you to say yes.

The call of wisdom is for all of us. It’s loud. It’s public. It’s available. But you have to respond.

Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”

And Jesus fulfills that perfectly. He is the wisdom of God, and through Him, we’re not just told how to live—we’re given new hearts that actually can live it out.

Wisdom begins not with information, but with the posture of a reverent heart. And a heart that fears the Lord, walks in wisdom.

1 Corinthians 1:30 ESV

30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

Jesus is the wisdom we are searching for. You cannot have wisdom without Him

Colossians 2:3 ESV

3 in [Christ] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

The world may offer wise things that seem similar but without Christ it is not true Wisdom.

Matthew 7:24 ESV

24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

We see the connection: hearing and doing.

Wisdom Living

Do you fear God? Take time to honestly reflect—do you recognize God’s authority and submit to His wisdom in your life? The fear of the Lord is the foundation for true wisdom.

Walk in wisdom even when you don’t feel like it. Like working out, we don’t always feel like doing the right thing, but we know it’s ultimately for our good. The same is true with wisdom—it’s not always easy, but it’s always better. Choose wisdom, even when it’s hard.

Wisdom is not just for some, but for all. Wisdom is available to everyone—it’s not for a select few. Whether you’re a believer or not, the call to fear the Lord and walk in wisdom is for all people.