WISDOM FROM PROVERBS

I've been reading through Proverbs lately, and I have spent some time pausing to look up words, which, to be honest, I didn't know what they really meant. We tend to do that sometimes. We read things, and yet we don’t stop to ask what that actually means, so here we go with a couple.

Proverbs 3:32 “For the Lord detests the perverse but takes the upright into his confidence.”

Detests means something abhorrent, morally repulsive, utterly incompatible with God's character. So God detests people who are perverse. So what's a perverse person? Someone who twists the truth or distorts the truth of God's word. Uses crooked speech, rejects correction, delights in what God hates. In other words, calling something good which God calls evil and delights in doing wrong.

Another one, Proverbs 5:1-2 “Turn your ear to my words of insight that you maintain discretion.

What does discretion mean? It means wise moral judgement, the ability to think ahead, discern danger, and choose what is right before sin traps you. Self-restraint. Wisdom in decision making. Wow, we can all do with more discretion in our everyday lives and decisions, don’t you think? Especially in what we watch online, etc. Interestingly, the whole context is avoiding sexual immorality.