Those closest to us should have the greatest benefit of our pursuing wisdom, especially those God has entrusted to our care – our children. Proverbs is a practical model of Deuteronomy 6 which encourages fathers and mothers to teach their children the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The point of this proverb is to show our children Wisdom’s Pathway and walk with them hand in hand leading them as they encounter the pitfalls and joys along the pathway. Our study of the Proverbs gives us road markers of the way we are to train our children to go.

Our wisest is foolishness to him. Our strongest is weakness. Any success we can amass comes from his good pleasure.

Our own judgment of ourselves is fraught with a narrowed focus, therefore we need something else to guide our steps other than our own ways. Thus the importance of revelation. Revelation is God’s voice piercing through the darkness saying, “This is the way walk in it.” Further, from verse 9 we also see the importance of redemption. Only the blood of Jesus can wash away all our sins.

The consequences of wisdom are no laughing matter. As these proverbs have expressed so far, keeping your foot firmly planted on Wisdom’s Way leads to life. Slipping off the straight and narrow means doom. I pray you have someone who will not scoff at you but instead will do what verse 25 encourages and correct when needed. The wise will accept correction that encourages walking wisely. The fool will despise such instruction.

Verse 24 ends Proverbs 18 the way we began with a word of comfort for one prone to isolation – there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. For those walking along Wisdom’s Way, you will find Jesus, who himself is Wisdom, to be such a friend. His friendship shows itself in every moment and lasts not for a lifetime, but for forever. What a friend we have in Jesus!

The poor but loving home is better than the rich home filled with strife. Love is always greater than hatred.

Depending upon the Lord means recognizing reality. Though we must cultivate attitudes that depend upon the Lord, depending upon God recognizes his position in all things. He is Lord and humanity moves and has their being in him.

Before we can be exalted we have to acknowledge our depravity, acknowledge our need for healing to our terminal condition called sin. God is telling us in these proverbs, The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

A king must rule from his heart, and his heart must be open to listening to the people (28), slow to anger (29), tranquil and free from evil (30), generous (31), just (32), wise (33), and righteous (34). A king who rules this way will be easily followed. A king like this is the favor we seek. Verse 35, a servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully. Jesus is a king matching these descriptors perfectly. Jesus is a king worth following, forever. Those who have his favor will be with him forever. Those not in his favor has his wrath resting upon them, forever. The call of the Proverbs: Be wise and live.

The heart and the mouth are more connected than we might realize. Proverbs 13 continues to encourage walking Wisdom’s Pathway through carefully guarding what we say. What we say is connected with our heart’s desires.

The pursuit of wisdom is more of a marathon than a sprint and takes an entire lifetime! Pursuing wisdom takes discipline. Proverbs 12 begins with this word for us, Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid

The whole Proverbs put our attention on eternal realities. We have more to live for than what we see. Verse 31 puts the matter on an eternal perspective and is quoted by Peter in his first epistle. The point, there is a final day awaiting everyone.

Much like a highway that we travel down with different destinations, the experiences of living come successively at different moments. In each circumstance, we have the Wisdom of God revealed through these Proverbs to keep us on the wise and narrow way.

The wise man is dedicated to continual progression in wisdom. If wisdom is a roadway, the wise man desires to continually travel down it. The wise person is not content camping on wisdom’s way. The posture of the heart of the wise is a posture of continual consideration for working wisdom in their life. Interestingly, the way the wise learn is through correction. Wisdom requires humility.

Wisdom is in plain sight and can be heard. Whether or not she will be listened to is another story. Wisdom’s way might be the most visible, but often, her path is the least traveled. This is why she puts her appeal in these terms, verse 5, O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools learn sense.

We are continuing the warning against sexual immorality through considering this Proverb. Our age is considered rampant with immorality, but the Proverbs demonstrates that the clarion call to flee sexual temptation is applicable at any age. The admonition is to store up the sayings of the wise father and live. The wise sayings of the father are to be closely guarded like a treasure.

Mom joins Dad in the instruction to their child. Mom and Dad together show the biblical paradigm and the importance of heterosexual, monogamous, marital, fidelity. Mom and Dad, as husband and wife, are together parenting. Their togetherness is an example of what the child should want and to not pursue the destructive immorality of adultery