Through God's Spirit we have understanding. As God reveals when he tells us that the "fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom". Without the spirit we cannot understand God's words.
Prov 1:5-6 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. (KJV)
The book of Proverbs must be interpreted if we are to understand these words and dark sayings.
2 Pet 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (KJV)
We can't interpret God's word on our own, we need God's Spirit to properly understand his words while this verse speaks of prophecy it also relates to all of God's words. As you say God has blinded mankind so that they cannot understand.
I'm not so sure that I would call the entire Book of Proverbs parables though. I do believe that Solomon and the other writers of the Proverbs where teaching literal sons and the children of Israel imagery is used in these instructions quite often though.
cp
Hi thanks for the reply . (sorry for the rambling)
Not a salvation issue but I would think more how can we hear God not seen ? What are the tools need to seek his approval acording to the loving Conamnedemt (2 Timothy 2:15) .
One of the first things many says is .The bible is to confusing mysterious. ?Who could know what it says? Some are led I believe to search out the matter. .
I think parables and proverbs are used as a querry . . how and why the poetic tongue ? Why are they mixed with the literal historical interpretation ? How does a person search out the mustery? etc
It is interesting that we are informed in the new testement that without parables Christ spoke not..blinding some that say they see and making deaf those who say they hear his unseen understanding.
Mark 4:12 That seeing they may see, and
not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and
not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
I would offfer I believe the Holy Spirit works in new born again creatures to both to will (ears to hear) the spiritual unseen understanding :and empower mankind to do his good pleasure opening the eyes of our new hearts . He desires we decreace as he increases in that way.
In the book of Philipians 2: 13-14 we are reminded not to murmur as did Jonas when he was draged to pring the gospel .Our ezanple of goal more like that of jeuses who delighted in doing the will of the Father
Parables hide mysteries . . . What would that mean? Should we search? Where, why (purpose), and how? Do they destroy the literal historical understanding or are they mixed with the literal ?
They would seem similar .Both interpret a dark word with hidden understanding. Like looking into a glass dark glass. . a partial understanding is discovered.
When walking in the light (understanding of faith) or what the bible calls “mixing faith” the mystery is revealed. Like the proverb. . the glory of God to conceal the understanding the privedge to a kingdom of priest (Christians) to search it out.
Helping to reveal the light of faith Christ's light in us. It is something I would give you honor, you have a great way of expressing it in your writtings.
Dark and light seem to be used that way to either hide the glory or when understand reveal the hidden manna. In that way dark is never called good.
Job 29:3 When his candle shined upon my head, and when b
y his light I
walked through
darkness;
Psalm 49:4 I will incline mine ear to a
parable: I will open my
dark saying upon the harp.
Below the interpretation of the dark saying is considered the "wisdom of God "
Proverbs 1:6 To understand a
proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the
wise, and their
dark sayings.
The spiritual (faith to faith) unseen understanding spoken of in 1 Corinthians 2:also refered to as face to face.
1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass,
darkly; but then
face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
Many times Jesus would speak a parable and hide the understanding. Sometimes a whole series all working the same conclusion , that way we “walk by faith” or “walk in the light “.
Parables teach us how to walk by faith the eternal not seen in that way and not by sight the temporal.
2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which
are seen, but at the things which
are not seen: for the things which are seen
are temporal; but the things which are not seen
are eternal.
