Day 2 of Pastor Chris' Paraphrase of Proverbs Devotion

Day 2  God offers wisdom to those who want it and ask for it.  But true wisdom is not for the casual seeker.  It is for those who search after it with all their heart, soaking up God's Truth like a sponge, diligently applying what they've learned.   Pastor Chris’ Paraphrase of Proverbs 2:1-8 If you listen to what I say, child, and hold on to these truths in your heart, if you pay attention to my wisdom and really want to understand, if you beg for more insight and really try to get it, if it’s as important to you as silver, like going on a treasure hunt, then you'll get to know God and be awestruck by the Lord. The Lord makes us wise; He gives truth and understanding.  He fills good people with dependable wisdom.  He protects the innocent and maintains the road to justice, keeping his dedicated, godly people safe. If you want to be wise, seek God with all your heart.  As Jesus said in Matthew 7:7, "Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you." Prayer "Father in Heaven, make us hungry for wisdom that we may be persistent and determined as we seek You and the wisdom You want us to have.  In Jesus name, we ask.  Amen." Read Proverbs Chapter 2
New American Standard Bible	Pastor Chris’ Paraphrase
Proverbs 2 The Pursuit of Wisdom Brings Security 1 My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you, 2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; 3 For if you cry for discernment, [a]Lift your voice for understanding; 4 If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will discern the fear of the Lord And discover the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 8 Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones. 9 Then you will discern righteousness and justice And equity and every good course. 10 For wisdom will enter your heart And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 11 Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you, 12 To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things; 13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; 14 Who delight in doing evil And rejoice in the perversity of evil; 15 Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways; 16 To deliver you from the strange woman, From the [b]adulteress who flatters with her words; 17 That leaves the companion of her youth And forgets the covenant of her God; 18 For her house [c]sinks down to death And her tracks lead to the [d]dead; 19 None who go to her return again, Nor do they reach the paths of life. 20 So you will walk in the way of good men And keep to the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright will [e]live in the land And the blameless will remain in it; 22 But the wicked will be cut off from the land And the treacherous will be uprooted from it. Footnotes: 1.            Proverbs 2:3 Lit Give 2.            Proverbs 2:16 Lit strange woman 3.            Proverbs 2:18 Lit bows down 4.            Proverbs 2:18 Lit departed spirits 5.            Proverbs 2:21 Or dwell	Proverbs 2 The Value of Wisdom 1-5 If you listen to what I say, child, and hold on to these truths in your heart, if you pay attention to my wisdom and really want to understand, if you beg for more insight and really try to get it, if it’s as important to you as silver, like going on a treasure hunt, then you'll get to know God and be awestruck by the Lord. 6-8 The Lord makes us wise; He gives truth and understanding.  He fills good people with dependable wisdom.  He protects the innocent and maintains the road to justice, keeping his dedicated, godly people safe. 9-11 All this helps you understand the right way to live, justice and equality, and all that’s good, because wisdom fills your heart and you’ll love knowing the way things really are; you will make good decisions and your understand how to be safe.   12-15 It will steer you clear of people who would hurt you, speaking their lies and corrupting the truth, who refuse to do what’s right and prefer darkness to light; they love to do evil and revel in dark perversions.  They’re always devious crooks in every way. 13-19 You won’t get hurt by some crazy woman with no morals who cheats because nothing is sacred to her; she seems so alluring, but she’ll do you in; she walks a dark, dark path.  Those who go with her never come back. Their doomed. 20-22 So stay on the right path.  Don’t wander off course, because good people will live in a good land and those who stay clean will endure.  But bad people will get kicked out and those who cheat and deceive will be torn away.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation	Pastor Chris’ Paraphrase of Proverbs (PCP) Copyright © 2018 by Chris Mullis

Day 1 of Pastor Chris' Paraphrase of Proverbs Devotion

Day 1  What is wisdom? It's more than being smart. Wisdom is doing the right thing in the right way at the right time. It transcends intelligence and education. Wisdom starts with the Lord and is deeply spiritual, but it is far from naive.   Pastor Chris’ Paraphrase of Proverbs 1:1-7 These are the wise things Solomon, the king of Israel, the son of David said.  Their purpose is to teach wisdom and self-discipline, and offer understanding and insight so people can learn the disciplines of wisdom, right living, good judgment, and fairness.  These sayings also serve to teach the naive street-smarts and give young people the knowledge to succeed.   Even people who are already wise can learn a lot.  Listen and get as much wisdom as you can--the more the better; it helps you understand people’s strange ways. Knowing how things really are all starts with deep awe for the Lord; but fools turn their back on wisdom and refuse to learn. Wisdom all begins with a deep awe for God and the deeper your relationship with Him, the more wisdom available to you. Focus on your relationship with God as you read through Proverbs one chapter per day. You can gain more wisdom. Prayer "Father, help me to gain more wisdom that I may always do the right thing at the right time in the right way that I may serve You well and bring You glory. Amen." Read Proverbs Chapter 1
New American  Standard Bible	Pastor Chris’ Paraphrase
Proverbs 1 The Usefulness of Proverbs 1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; 4 To give prudence to the [a]naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion, 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. The Enticement of Sinners 8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction And do not forsake your mother’s teaching; 9 Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head And [b]ornaments about your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause; 12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit; 13 We will find all kinds of precious wealth, We will fill our houses with spoil; 14 Throw in your lot [c]with us, We shall all have one purse,” 15 My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path, 16 For their feet run to evil And they hasten to shed blood. 17 Indeed, it is [d]useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any [e]bird; 18 But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence; It takes away the life of its possessors. Wisdom Warns 20 Wisdom shouts in the street, She [f]lifts her voice in the square; 21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings: 22 “How long, O [g]naive ones, will you love [h]being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge? 23 “Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. 24 “Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; 25 And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof; 26 I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, 27 When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. 28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me, 29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the Lord. 30 “They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof. 31 “So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices. 32 “For the waywardness of the [i]naive will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them. 33 “But he who listens to me shall [j]live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.” Footnotes: 1.            Proverbs 1:4 Lit simple ones 2.            Proverbs 1:9 Lit necklaces 3.            Proverbs 1:14 Lit in the midst of us 4.            Proverbs 1:17 Lit in vain 5.            Proverbs 1:17 Lit possessor of wing 6.            Proverbs 1:20 Lit gives 7.            Proverbs 1:22 Lit simple ones 8.            Proverbs 1:22 Or naivete 9.            Proverbs 1:32 Lit simple ones 10.          Proverbs 1:33 Lit dwell	Proverbs 1 Introduction 1-6 These are the wise things Solomon, the king of Israel, the son of David said.  Their purpose is to teach wisdom and self-discipline, and offer understanding and insight so people can learn the disciplines of wisdom, right living, good judgment, and fairness.  These sayings also serve to teach the naive street-smarts and give young people the knowledge to succeed.   Even people who are already wise can learn a lot.  Listen and get as much wisdom as you can--the more the better; it helps you understand people’s strange ways. Warnings About Bad Influences 7-9 Knowing how things really are all starts with deep awe for the Lord; but fools turn their back on wisdom and refuse to learn.  Listen when your dad corrects you, and don’t throw away what your mama said.  Their sage advice is a precious treasure you should always cherish.   10-14 Don’t listen, son, when bad influences try to lead you astray.  If they say, “Join our scam! We’ll jump some dope, make them disappear; no one will ever know what happened.  We’ll be filthy rich and have everything we want.  Join our crew and we’ll split it right down the middle.”  15-19 Sweetheart, don’t go along.  Don’t go down that path.  All they want is violence and all they’ll find is evil.  Even a mouse knows to stay away if it sees the trap being set; but these reckless thugs set their own trap without knowing!  They hurt themselves most of all!  That’s what happens to everyone consumed by greed.  It devours you until you’re dead. The Call of Wisdom 20-23 Wisdom calls out from the streets; she preaches in every public arena.  She broadcasts it on primetime so everyone has a chance to hear: “How long’s it gonna take for you simpletons to wake up?  How long will the skeptics deny the truth and fools refuse to learn?  Heed my warning; it’s for your own good.  I'll give you the Truth; I'll bless you with the words of life. 24-27 Since I called and you didn’t answer, I reached out and you turned away, and because you ignored my advice and brutal honesty, I will laugh when you get what you deserve.  When everything falls apart and you’re suffering in desperation, I’ll be right there taunting, “I told you so!  I told you so!”  28-31 It'll be too late to call for help then;  I won't help them out.  Though they search and search, they won’t find me.  Since they hated discipline, had no respect for God, ignored my advice, and paid no attention to my warnings, they will get what they deserve.  They made their bed; now they can lie in it. 32-33 The naive die when they go the wrong way.  Careless fools are their own undoing, but those who pay attention to me will be safe and enjoy life and won't have to worry what disasters are up ahead.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation	Pastor Chris’ Paraphrase of Proverbs (PCP) Copyright © 2018 by Chris Mullis

Introduction to Pastor Chris' Paraphrase of Proverbs Devotion

Introduction
There was once a man who was made the king of all Israel while he was still very young.  How was he to lead when he had no experience?  God appeared to him in a dream and asked, “What do you want me to give you?”  The young man said, “O Lord my God, I am like a little child who doesn’t know what to do.  And here I am trying to lead a kingdom.  They’re too many of them to count! Give me wisdom so I can govern them well and know the difference between right and wrong. That’s the only way I’ll be able to govern Your people.”  

God was pleased and said, “Since you asked for wisdom to govern the right way and didn’t ask for a long life or wealth or revenge against your enemies, I will grant your wish! I will give you wisdom the likes of which the world has never seen! And I will also give you something you didn’t ask for—riches and fame!  No other king in all the world will even hold a candle to you!  And you will live a long, full life!” (Adapted from 1 Kings 3:5-14)

The young man was Solomon.  He is known as the wisest man who ever lived.  His wisdom lead Israel to a period of great peace, power, and prosperity.  Word of Solomon’s wisdom spread all over the world and people came from near and far to learn from him.  Solomon accumulated vast treasures of the finest quality.  His palace was luxuriously adorned.  He built a glorious Temple to honor God--the first Jewish Temple in Jerusalem.  

Solomon lived nearly 3,000 years ago.  His palace, his temple, and all his treasures are gone--faded into history.  However, Solomon’s most important contribution--the most valuable treasure he possesed--is still available to us today.  The Book of Proverbs is a collection sayings and advice that offer practical wisdom for life.  Many of the sayings were from Solomon himself; some were from others who were inspired by him.  Solomon’s love for wisdom and focused attention to it during his reign ensured the collection and preservation of Proverbs down through the ages.  Now, the wisdom that enabled a young, inexperienced man to become the greatest king Israel had ever known is available to guide our lives.

Wisdom.  It is more precious than silver and gold.  It is a faithful guard against trouble, injury, and death.  It is a fortress of protection and a treasure of immense value.  Wisdom leads to prosperity, honor, and success.  Those who have it want even more.  Those who scorn it suffer greatly for their folly.  To have great wisdom is better than any super power you could possess.

And yet wisdom of this magnitude is not something for casual amusement.  It is not something in which to merely dabble .  To find real wisdom, one must commit their whole heart to the journey.  Proverbs says we should search for wisdom as a man searches for hidden treasure.  He knows it is there and its worth is immeasurable and its value will alter the course of his life.  He doesn’t casually search for the treasure when he has a little extra time to spare here and there.  He doesn’t think about it one moment and forget about it for most of his day.  No, he thinks about that treasure all the time and he searches for it with his whole heart as often as he can, giving it everything he has, almost consumed by the search, because he knows finding the treasure will change his life forever.  That is how one searches for wisdom in the Book of Proverbs.  In fact, Pastor Chris’ Paraphrase of Proverbs 2:1-8 says, “If you listen to what I say, child, and hold on to these truths in your heart, if you pay attention to my wisdom and really want to understand, if you beg for more insight and really try to get it, if it’s as important to you as silver, like going on a treasure hunt, then you'll get to know God and be awestruck by the Lord.  The Lord makes us wise; He gives truth and understanding.  He fills good people with dependable wisdom.  He protects the innocent and maintains the road to justice, keeping his dedicated, godly people safe.”

Are you ready to search for God’s wisdom treasure passed down through the ages by the great king, Solomon?  I hope you are and I hope you will make it a lifelong quest.  It will change your life forever.

General Themes
You are about to make a start on your lifelong treasure hunt.  It begins with this thirty-one day devotion to the search of God’s wisdom.  Our goal together will be to grow closer to God as we grow in His wisdom.  There are several general themes I have discovered in my treasure hunt through Proverbs thus far.  I summarize them for you here.

First of all, true wisdom begins with a deep reverence for the Lord.  Even the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisest wisdom of man.  The wisdom we can attain by our own means is nothing compared to what God can give.  Therefore, if we want to be truly wise, we must humble ourselves before God and honor Him as our Lord, the Lord of all.  This in itself is wisdom.  It is to recognize the true state of affairs--that He is Lord and we are His.

Second, wisdom is a willingness to listen and learn.  Those who gain true wisdom are not necessarily the smartest, most skillful, or capable people.  It is not those who have the most natural ability or highest education who gain the most wisdom.  Sometimes these things even hinder the growth of wisdom because wisdom comes to those who are patient and humbly listen and learn.  Wisdom is not something you already have within you, it is something you receive from God when you listen and learn.

Third, a huge part of wisdom is controlling yourself and your impulses.  Again and again, Proverbs teaches people to control their tongue, their anger, their appetites, and desires.  Proverbs encourages self-disciple, hard work, persistence, and long-term growth.  One must be committed to the journey and willing to put off short term gratifications and gains for the sake of something more lasting.  This is wisdom.  Those who are ruled by their desires will miss out on wisdom.

Instructions 
This thirty-one day devotional is a great way to search for the treasures of wisdom in Proverbs.  It may be used as you embark on your treasure hunt for the first time or as an aid for those who have been lifelong students of wisdom.  Let me suggest some directions as you begin this thirty-one day journey.  

There is a short devotion for each day followed by a chapter from Proverbs.  Since there are thirty-one chapters in Proverbs, it makes a great month long devotion--reading one chapter of Proverbs per day.  Begin with a short prayer to the Lord.  Wisdom all starts with a deep reverence for God.  So, pray to God.  You don’t have to use the flowery language you might have heard a preacher or some deeply spiritual person use.  Simply talk to God as you would talk to someone you truly respect.  Ask God to teach you wisdom as you read the day’s devotion and chapter.  This is how King Solomon found wisdom.  He asked God for it.

Next, read the devotion at the beginning of each section.  These are short reflections that highlight insights I gained in my reading of Proverbs each day.  They will feature a short paraphrase that caught my attention.  Perhaps they will speak to you as well.

At the end of the devotion is my prayer for the day.  You may read it as my prayer for you or you may adopt the words as your personal prayer to God.

Finally, read the daily chapter of Proverbs.  I have compiled two versions side by side in parallel.  The version in the left column is the New American Standard Bible (NASB) and is one of the most accurate word for word translations of the Bible available in modern English.  It is a very reliable translation, but it is not always the easiest to understand.  Therefore, in the right column is Pastor Chris’ Paraphrase (PCP) where I have put the chapter in my own words, which I hope are as simple and straight as possible.  I suggest you read both versions--the NASB first and then the PCP.  After reading the chapter, close with a short prayer to thank God for being with you during your devotion and/or ask Him to continue to speak to you throughout your day about any particular insight that caught your attention.

Thank You!
Thank you for deciding to read my daily devotion.  I am proud of your commitment to spend time with God each day as you search for wisdom in Proverbs.  I am grateful you chose this devotional to be your guide.  I pray God will lead you to find more of this priceless treasure.  God bless!