WISDOM, LIFE, AND CHRIST IN THE BOOK OF PROVERBS
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One of my greatest joys is to see Christ in the OT. Compare these two passages:
1 Corinthians 1:24  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the Wisdom of God.

Proverbs 3:13-18  Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. {14} For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. {15} She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. {16} Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. {17} Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. {18} She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

I would encourage all of you to find passages dealing with wisdom and life in the book of Proverbs and show their outlook to the New Covenant in Christ. This would be an edifying thread.

Here is the rest of the passage dealing with life and wisdom in Prov. 3:

Proverbs 3:19-22  The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. {20} By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew. {21} My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: {22} So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
Through Christ we know God. Often times depths refers to the lost people among the Gentiles, whether His scattered people or the Gentiles themselves:
Psalms 68:22  The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:
Psalms 71:20  Thou, which hast showed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
Psalms 77:16-19  The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled. {17} The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad. {18} The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook. {19} Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.
Also, the clouds dropping dew could very well be referring to the Gospel of life and light that comes to God's people:
Deuteronomy 33:28  Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.
Isaiah 45:8  Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.
Psalms 78:23-24  Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, {24} And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.
Of course these last two are a type of Christ who is the manna from heaven:
John 6:32-33  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. {33} For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
John 6:35  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
However Israel existed in continual spiritual drought:
Isaiah 5:6  And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.
So then, since the clouds are what drops the rain, and we are the vehicle used to spread the living waters of the Gospel of life, these passages make more sense:
Zechariah 10:1  Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.
We are the heavens:
1 Chronicles 16:31  Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth.
Psalms 19:1  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork.
We are the heavens which declare the glory of God. Of course this glory is the righteousness of God:
Psalms 22:30-31  A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. {31} They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.
Psalms 50:5-6  Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. {6} And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.
Psalms 96:1-3  O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. {2} Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; show forth his salvation from day to day. {3} Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
Psalms 97:6  The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his GLORY.
Now, compare this last one with these two passages:
Isaiah 40:4-5  Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: {5} And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Luke 3:5-6  Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; {6} And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
The passage in Luke is confirming John the Baptist as the voice crying in the wilderness. Both passages clearly show the synonymity of salvation and glory. The NT writers agree:
Romans 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

1 Peter 1:4-5  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, {5} Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Hopefully this sheds light on Proverbs and the clouds dropping down rain. Yes, believe it or not, all these ideas are correlated in Christ. When the Bible says God would reconcile all things to Himself:
Colossians 1:20-22  And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. {21} And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled {22} In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
God was saying that those in the heavens (first century believers in the first part of the heavenly tabernacle) and those in the earth (OT believers who had died having not received the promises) would all be gathered together in one in Christ Jesus:
Ephesians 1:10  That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Proverbs 4:7-13  Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. {8} Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. {9} She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. {10} Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. {11} I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. {12} When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. {13} Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

Since Wisdom is indeed Christ, it follows that we are to exalt Him. In fact with all our getting get understanding. But is understanding really Christ?
Proverbs 8:14-21  Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. {15} By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. {16} By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. {17} I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. {18} Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. {19} My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. {20} I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: {21} That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
Do you all see how these things are referring to Christ? This stuff is so important.
Proverbs 4:13  Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
From the very beginning of the covenant creation of Israel God established Himself as their life:
Deuteronomy 30:20  That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
Consider also the phrase "length of days" here in Deuteronomy. The context deals with the blessings and cursings that would come upon Israel depending on whether they chose life or death:
Deuteronomy 30:19  I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
As we have studied, heaven and earth represents the conscience under the law that Israel was guilty before God. Romans clarifies that choosing death was the equivalent of justification by works and choosing life was the equivalent of justification by faith, or entering into heaven:
Romans 10:6-10  But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) {7} Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) {8} But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; {9} That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. {10} For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Verses 6-8 are quotations from Deuteronomy 30:10-15
Deuteronomy 30:10-15  If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. {11} For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. {12} It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? {13} Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? {14} But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. {15} See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;
With this in mind it becomes clearer as we consider God, who is our Life:
Deuteronomy 30:20  That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy ife, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
Notice that Life and Land are equated here. We should observe the meaning of "length of days" in Proverbs and how this is related to dwelling in the land.

Remember that Israel lived in constant fear of being uprooted out of their land by other nations. But God promised that one day she would no longer be plucked up out of her land:

Jeremiah 24:6  For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up.
Jeremiah 31:28  And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the LORD.
There would come a day in which God would give them length of days in their land and they would dwell safely:
Deuteronomy 32:46-47  And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. {47} For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.


Notice that "setting their hearts" unto all the words of this law was life. Since Christ is our life, we see this complete righteousness fulfilled in Him:

Romans 8:1-4  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. {2} For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. {3} For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: {4} That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Compare with the prophecy:
Jeremiah 31:31-34  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: {32} Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: {33} But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. {34} And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
And of course Ezekiel:
Ezekiel 36:24-29  For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. {25} Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. {26} A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. {27} And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. {28} And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. {29} I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.
The Psalmist equates several familiar elements with length of days:
Psalms 21:1-7  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! {2} Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah. {3} For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head. {4} He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever. {5} His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him. {6} For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance. {7} For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.
And from Proverbs, as we have seen:
Proverbs 3:16-18  Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. {17} Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. {18} She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
So again:
Proverbs 4:13  Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
Compare with:
Proverbs 4:13  Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
Remember that Christ, who is the wisdom of God (1 Cor 1) is our life.
Proverbs 4:20-22  My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. {21} Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. {22} For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
Solomon wrote "attend unto my words...for they are life..."

Jesus spoke:

John 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
The two verses previous in Proverbs read:
Proverbs 4:18-19  But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. {19} The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
Related to this shining Light, we know Christ as the Light of the world and:
John 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Concerning the Light for the "perfect day"...
Luke 1:78  Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

2 Peter 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

Related to this is:
Proverbs 6:23  For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
Obviously the commandment is:
1 John 3:23  And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
And the law is:
Micah 4:2  And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Here are some connections between law and life:
Proverbs 13:14  The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

Romans 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Israel is identified as the harlot or the woman full of fornication and adultery primarily because she sought protection from the arm of the flesh (i.e. works, other nations). At the time of Christ, especially, she seemed very ambitious in her pursuit to convince the nations of justification by works.

As I have been examining the book of Proverbs and life, wisdom, and Christ I have seen what appear to be realities of the type of which Solomon spoke. Consider this comparison:

Matthew 23:15  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
and,
Proverbs 6:26  For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.
Not by any means to lessen the force of Solomon's present application, but that it seems to also be a strong type of Israel, the apostate Jews, as they sought to spread the cancer of justification by works. But Paul said:
2 Corinthians 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
Israel was the unclean thing and all her righteousnesses were as filthy rags (menstrual rags). Paul seems to be alluding to Isaiah's prophecy:
Isaiah 51:6  Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.
and
Isaiah 52:11  Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.
Here it is in context:
Isaiah 52:7-11  How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! {8} Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion. {9} Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. {10} The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. {11} Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.
Here is the fourth in a series on the book of Proverbs and how this book identifies Christ as Life, Wisdom and Light. This particular study is in outline form, so I encourage you to search the references.

Proverbs: The Wisdom of God

I. Purpose of the Book:

A. Proverbs 1:1-7  The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; {2} To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; {3} To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; {4} To give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. {5} A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: {6} To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. {7} The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
II. To know wisdom
A. Examining wisdom
1. The beginning of wisdom
a. Proverbs 1:7  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
b. Job 28:28  And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
c. Psalms 111:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
d. Proverbs 9:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
e. Isaiah 11:1-2  And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: {2} And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
B. The personification of wisdom
1. Wisdom cries
a. Proverbs 1:20-23
b. Proverbs 8:1  Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
2. Wisdom creates
a. Proverbs 8:2-36
b. Psalms 104:24  O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
c. Psalms 136:5  To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
d. John 1:1-4  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. {2} The same was in the beginning with God. {3} All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. {4} In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
e. Colossians 1:12-18
f.. Prov 24:3  Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
1.) Hebrews 3:3-4  For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. {4} For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
3. Wisdom feeds
a. Proverbs 9:1-6
1.) cf. vs.5 with John 6:35  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
b. Proverbs 10:21  The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
C. The identification of wisdom
1. 1 Corinthians 1:17-31
III. The Promise
A. Proverbs 1:23  Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
1. The outpouring of the Spirit
a. Isaiah 44:3  For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
b. Joel 2:28  And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
c. Joel 2:29  And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
d. Zechariah 12:10  And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
e. Acts 2:16-18  But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; {17} And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: {18} And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
f. John 7:38-39  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. {39} (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
IV. New Wine
A. Proverbs 3:9-10  Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: {10} So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
1. Joel 3:18  And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.
2. Zechariah 9:16-17  And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land. {17} For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.
3. Luke 5:37-39  And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. {38} But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. {39} No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.
4. Acts 2:12-15  And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? {13} Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. {14} But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: {15} For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
V. The Tree of Life
A. Proverbs 3:13-18  Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. {14} For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. {15} She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. {16} Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. {17} Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. {18} She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
1. Proverbs 11:30  The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
2. Proverbs 13:12-19  Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. {13} Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded. {14} The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. {15} Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard. {16} Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly. {17} A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health. {18} Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured. {19} The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.
3. Proverbs 15:4  A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
4. Revelation 2:7  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
5. Rev 22:2  In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
VI. Fear and Life
A. Proverbs 14:26-27  In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. {27} The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
B. Proverbs 19:23  The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
C. Proverbs 22:4  By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
D. Proverbs 16:6  By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
VII. Righteousness and Life
A. Proverbs 4:10-18  Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. {11} I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. {12} When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. {13} Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life. {14} Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. {15} Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. {16} For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. {17} For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. {18} But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
B. Proverbs 11:4  Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
C. Proverbs 12:28  In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.
D. Proverbs 21:21  He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
1. Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
2. Mat 5:6  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
3. John 6:35  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
4. John 6:53  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
a. Proverbs 13:25  The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.
b. Proverbs 28:25-26  He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat. {26} He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
c. Proverbs 16:31  The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
VIII. Wellspring of Life
A. Proverbs 16:22  Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
1. Isaiah 12  And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. {2} Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. {3} Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. {4} And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. {5} Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. {6} Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.
2. Psalms 87:5-7  And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her. {6} The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah. {7} As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs (wells) are in thee.
3. John 4:10-14  Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. {11} The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? {12} Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? {13} Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: {14} But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
IX. Glory
A. Proverbs 3:35  The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
B. Proverbs 4:7-9  Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. {8} Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. {9} She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
1. The crown of Glory
a. 1 Peter 5:4  And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
1.) 1 Peter 1:3-5  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, {4} To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, {5} Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
b. Isaiah 28:5  In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,
X. House of Life and Righteousness
A. Proverbs 12:7  The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.
B. Proverbs 14:11  The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.
C. Proverbs 15:24-25  The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath. {25} The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.
D. Proverbs 24:3-4  Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: {4} And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
XI. The Presence of God
A. Proverbs 16:14-15  The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it. {15} In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
B. Proverbs 25:6-7  Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: {7} For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.

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