Proverbs 1: 8-19

King James Version Proverbs 1:

8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:
12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:
13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:
14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:
15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:
16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.
17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.
18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.
19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

Complete Jewish Bible Proverbs 1:

8 My son, heed the discipline of your father,and do not abandon the teaching of your mother;
9 they will be a garland to grace your head,a medal of honor for your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you,don’t go along with them.
11 Suppose they say, “Come with us: we’ll ambush somebody and kill him, we’ll waylay some harmless soul, just for fun;
12 we’ll swallow him alive, like Sh’ol, whole, like those who descend to the pit;
13 we’ll find everything he has of value, we’ll fill our homes with loot!
14 Throw in your lot with us; we’ll share a common purse” —
15 my son, don’t go along with them, don’t set foot on their path;
16 Their feet run to evil,they rush to shed blood.
17 For in vain is the net baited if any bird can see it;
18 rather, they are ambushing themselves to shed their own blood, waylaying themselves.
19 So are the ways of all greedy for gain —it takes the lives of those who get it.

I have previously discussed the value of not only. learning but also receiving, wisdom as we grow in the Lord.Not just in the Lord,but,also, growing and maturing in life. Now, we see that Proverbs is teaching us to “heed the discipline of your father,and do not abandon the teaching of your mother.” Those words alone convey so much. In the world that we live in, especially. Sadly, too many children never have the value of parental teaching and guidance.

For this study, I will simply say that we are taught from birth, practically, to not ignore the words of our parents.
Proverbs teaches that ‘those words of wisdom’ so often ignored by youth… “will be a garland to grace your head, a medal of honor for your neck.”

Not exactly what any rebellious listener, child, or teen… or anyone… wants to hear.The words are true, nevertheless.
How often do we, as parents, teach our children NOT to cross the street without looking first? Not to touch a hot stove?
Not to go with strangers? Not to steal, not to lie? The list goes on. We do it for their protection…not because we enjoy
the sound of our own voices. We do it to ensure their safety and well-being. Just as our Father does for us.

We teach our children to not be afraid to stay true to themsleves; to not follow blindy where others may lead ..simply
to be in “the in crowd.” We teach them to remain strong in their beliefs: that only then, will they be truly happy.
That being part of that crowd may be fun, for awhile….but the feeling goes away and leaves them feeling empty.
That true friends will be there because of who our children are. NOT because of their clothes that day; or the latest hairstyle.
We try to teach them that following the crowd is not always a good thing.

Proverbs tells us that,”if sinners entice you,don’t go along with them.Suppose they say, “Come with us: we’ll ambush somebody
and kill him, we’ll waylay some harmless soul, just for fun; we’ll swallow him alive, like Sh’ol, whole, like those who descend
to the pit;we’ll find everything he has of value, we’ll fill our homes with loot! Throw in your lot with us; we’ll share a
common purse” — don’t go along with them, don’t set foot on their path; Their feet run to evil,they rush to shed blood.”

Sound familiar??? ~ Don’t go with the crowd: don’t follow after strangers.Even if they promise a good time….”let’s do it
for fun!” That crowd will end up possibly being your worst nightmare. As you run, to be “part of the crowd”… it becomes a
net of evil; entrapping you even as a net might entrap a bird. Do not get so caught up in becoming part of the crowd, that you
forget the words of your youth. The Words that haunt your heart…”I love you, my child, I know what’s best for you. Please don’t go down that road”.

Do not get so caught up with “it’s all just fun” lest you forget that you may be setting yourself
up for a heartbreak. A heartbreak that you may never get over. “They are ambushing themselves to shed their own blood, waylaying themselves.
So are the ways of all greedy for gain —it takes the lives of those who get it”. In having so much “fun” you may end up
causing yourself far much more pain that you can even imagine.

I am not trying to tell anyone that having fun is wrong: far from it. I am only trying to stress that we use our hard earned
wisdom in making that choice. Whatever choice that might be. It applies to anything; not just”fun”. Anyone can have fun doing anything.
Eating ice cream can be blast:just ask a two year old! I can have fun just simply  being with someone that I care about. I believe that Proverbs
is teaching us that. Do not be so greedy, or so caught up with following that elusive crowd, that you forget to be YOU.
That you forget the wisdom of those far wiser than you; who have taught you. Do not forget your own wisdom, in making your choices in this life.

Sometimes, I know, that our emotions seem to be more in control than our wisdom. THAT is what we (me included) must attempt to evade.
Our emotions may not always make the best choice. Running with the crowd is fun for a while. Unfortunately,we always have to come home…alone. Can you be alone,and be absolutely happy with the choices that you have made? We can’t always be with the crowd. We have to face the mirror. We have to stare at ourselves, and decide if we can live with our choices.

“A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb,
and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge”.

Be Blessed, my friends, as we all grow and learn in His wisdom.