Posted on 02/09/2019 4:46:25 AM PST by Pilgrim's Progress
“Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars” (Proverbs 9:1 KJV).
“I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength” (Proverbs 8:12-14 KJV).
Today, we will consider prudence.
Webster’s 1828 says the following about the word.
PRU'DENCE, n. [L. prudentia.] Wisdom applied to practice.
Prudence implies caution in deliberating and consulting on the most suitable means to accomplish valuable purposes, and the exercise of sagacity in discerning and selecting them. Prudence differs from wisdom in this, that prudence implies more caution and reserve than wisdom, or is exercised more in foreseeing and avoiding evil, than in devising and executing that which is good. It is sometimes mere caution or circumspection.
Prudence is principally in reference to actions to be done, and due means, order, season and method of doing or not doing.
The first instance of prudence in the book of Proverbs is found in chapter 1:
“My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood” (Proverbs 1:10-16 KJV).
The first pillar of wisdom is to avoid evil, wicked companions, and builds upon the “consent thou not” of verse 10. The first step toward folly is to follow the crowd and join a flock of bad birds, for birds of a feather will flock together.
How clearly this truth is given by Paul: “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners,” or as someone later decided to comment, “a rotten apple spoils the bunch.” A good person running with a bad crowd will not usually improve the crowd, but the crowd will turn the good person into on of themselves.
If you want to be wise, your first pillar is walk with the Lord and His people and avoid the things of the world.
Father, the world promises so much yet gives so little, and it takes away even that but we know that You will provide our needs—especially in the area of companions. Lord, You will even provide our helpmeet if we allow wisdom’s prudence to guide our way. Thank You for establishing us on a solid foundation of faith. Amen.
Let’s read a chapter of Proverbs a day and see what God might have for us. As the Lord leads, share with us what God has shown you in a special way and by His grace let us build up a devotional repository. Let’s keep our knives and forks handy for some daily bread!
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Under what title is the complete series to this?
Just making it up as I go.
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