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This week Rabbi Loren & Rabbi Glenn are joined by Rebbetzin Martha and Rebbetzin Alexandra in a round table discussion of Proverbs 15.
Below is an introduction to Proverbs written by Rabbi Loren:
Passionate About Proverbs!
How And Why To Use The Book Of Proverbs
We come into this world far from God, lacking knowledge, lacking wisdom (wisdom is knowledge that is applied properly) and often lacking good character and morality. The Book of Proverbs is designed to help us acquire the fear of the Lord, knowledge, wisdom and morality.
We need knowledge and wisdom because our fallen nature and a fallen world will lead us to do foolish, destructive things.
Foolishness is the opposite of wisdom. Foolishness is ignoring God’s wise principles and results in damage and harm and loss, and perhaps even eternal loss. We don’t want to be foolish men and women!
Knowledge is good. Knowledge is power. Wisdom is the ability to use knowledge in the right way. Wisdom comes from applying knowledge in such a way that you live according to God’s wise principles that the Creator has designed into this universe. Wisdom is very beneficial. It does so much good for us! It results in divine favor and blessing and success in this life and ultimately eternal success in the Life-To-Come! We want more wisdom!
Why Should We Meditate On The Book Of Proverbs?
We should meditate on Proverbs because our culture is post-Christian, and increasingly anti-Christian and the culture no longer supports Biblical values and morality. The culture encourages foolish living. We and our children and grandchildren need to get wisdom directly from sources like the Book of Proverbs.
We should meditate on Proverbs because they are true. Because they are wise. Because the book of Proverbs teaches us about God, about morality, about the importance of good character, about righteousness (being in a right relationship with God and committed to doing the right things) and that God, and wisdom and morality and successful living are connected.
We should read and study on Proverbs because the book of Proverbs helps parents teach their children about God, morality, good character, successful living, and this is something that parents are responsible to do for their children; because the Book of Proverbs has very practical advice and also very spiritual advice. Because it helps us live a balanced life between the practical and the spiritual.
We should read and think about Proverbs because we can grow in wisdom and knowledge and because it becomes fun to grow in wisdom and knowledge. It’s like an interesting fun game, seeing into various situations, knowing how something will turn out before it happens because one of God’s principles was implemented or ignored.
We should meditate on Proverbs because they are short, they are easy to understand and to remember.
We should read and contemplate Proverbs because they contain spiritual wisdom, and practical wisdom to have a successful life in this world.
How Do We Read The Book of Proverbs?
Proverbs are principles. They should be understood as general rules, not absolute promises. They are generally true but not always true.
We read Proverbs slowly and thoughtfully. We consider different circumstances and people we know that fit a proverb, both good examples of fulfilling the proverb and bad examples of not implementing the proverb. We learn from their example, from their success or failure.
We read Proverbs as individuals. And it’s good to read Proverbs with a friend. When you read and discuss Proverbs with someone else, they bring their perspective to it. They may see something you don’t see. It stimulates conversations about issues the couple may be experiencing and helps them apply God’s principles to that situation. As families: It brings the family together, discussing a wide variety of practical and spiritual topics from God’s perspective.