READING PROVERBS

PROVERBS OVERVIEW

Author: Mostly Solomon (with the primary exception of chs. 30-31; this book contains 513 of the approximate 3000 proverbs written by Solomon).

Date: 931 B.C. What are proverbs? The word “proverb” means “to be like,” so they are short statements

designed to demonstrate truth and wisdom in concrete terms. They are not absolute promises, but they are principles and guidelines.

Background: These proverbs reflect the wisdom God granted Solomon in response to his request (1 Kings 4:29ff); they were primarily written before his heart was turned away from God (1 Kings 11).

Structure: o wisdom for the young (chs 1-9)o wisdom for everyone (chs 11-31)

Topics: Proverbs covers many different topics, including:o relationships with Godo relationships with fellow meno family relations, especially marriage and parentingo charactero fear of Godo sin and righteousnesso idolatryo immoralityo life and deatho tongue and wordso worko wealtho anger

Key verses: 1:7; 9:10; 3:5-6. Key chapter: 1.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

There are numerous authors to the book, though Solomon is the primary author. It is noted that Solomon spoke/wrote some 3,000 proverbs (1 Kings 4:32); approximately 513 are contained in this book. He is the author of 1:1-22:16, 25:1-29:27, though the later collection was compiled by Hezekiah’s court (25:1). Other authors include the wise men (unknown by specific name, 22:17-24:34), Agur (30:1-33) and Lemuel (31:1-31).

Solomon’s wisdom was a divine gift from God rather than a natural ability (1 Kings 3:6-15), with the result that he was described as being wiser than all men (1 Kings 4:30-31) and so that men from many foreign lands came to hear his wisdom (1 Kings 4:34; 10:1-13, 24). While

Solomon ruled Israel from 970 to 930 B.C., no doubt the dominant proportion of his proverbs were written in the early part of his life, prior to his turning to false idols (1 Kings 11:1-13).

WISDOM LITERATURE

The Proverbs seem to be similar to the Egyptian proverbs, dating around 1000-600 B.C., and have a history in Egypt dating back to approximately 2700 B.C. [Unger, Unger’s Bible Handbook, p. 291.] Interestingly, there also seems to have been a class of wise men in the Hebrew society of that time, and “in its highest form, Hebrew hokhmah sought to look into the essence of God’s truth, and grasp the general ideas which gave the Israelite faith dimensions fitting it to become a world religion.” [Archer, Old Testament Introduction, p. 423.] The word “wise,” “then, apparently was very practical — it was not merely for the intelligentsia, as is often the case today.” In fact, Archer says that “the ‘wisdom’ with which these ancient sages were concerned was of a practical rather than a theoretical nature,” and in fact, “it came to be applied to the art of getting along successfully with God and with men.” [Archer, p. 422.]

Wisdom literature is generally associated with most of the poetical books in the Old Testament: Job, selected Psalms, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. Additionally, the New Testament book of James is generally regarded as being the closest to wisdom literature. In fact, James is fairly closely related to the book of Proverbs, because of its many short sections and single units of thought. And while Job is regarded as the epitome of wisdom literature, the book of Proverbs, not surprisingly, contains the majority of the proverbs in the Bible.

CHARACTERISTICS OF PROVERBS

DEFINITION: “A proverb is a brief, provocative saying that expresses practical wisdom in colorful language. Often, it is a principle dressed up in an illustration. For instance, while a principle might state, ‘Good service is a mark of successful business,’ a proverb would say, ‘Business is like the game of tennis. Those who don’t serve well end up losing.’…The images they use are not only memorable, but they also open up areas of the mind and heart that are energized by concrete word pictures more than by mere ideas.”

They do not argue; they assume (e.g., 15:1) They are universal in nature. While Solomon served as the King of Israel, the name

“Israel” is never mentioned in the book while “man” is mentioned 42 times. They are comprehensive; they deal with every facet of life: home, social, spiritual.

In doing so, they comprise the three fundamental relationships of man: man in relation to himself, his fellow man, and God.

They are not always universal truths; some must be understood to be generalizations (maxims). E.g., 10:27.

They instruct on a high moral plane in contrast to the immorality that was common in the surrounding cultures of the day.

They are true to life. E.g., 25:24. They are practical, not theoretical. This is a “do-it-yourself” book.

THEOLOGY

While there is no one major concern of the writer in the book of Proverbs, with the possible exception of contrasting the fool with the wise man, there are many different doctrines that are mentioned throughout the book. Among these are: the sovereignty of God, God as creator, God’s omniscience, the idea of the covenant between Israel and God, reward for virtue, judgment for evil and the value of truth. In all his sayings, the writer is attempting as much as possible to make this book practical for the people whom he is writing for in their daily living.

PURPOSE: TO MAKE MEN WISE (1:2-6)

The key word in Proverbs is “wisdom,” and making men wise serves as the fundamental purpose of the book (cf. 1:2). Stated most simply, wisdom is the skill of living life beautifully so that it demonstrates a skill governed by the truth of Scripture. Wisdom results in distinction, reason, ability and confidence. It is the skill of living the way God intended us to live when He made us. Having God’s wisdom means “having the ability to cope with life in a God-honoring way.” Buzzell, BKC, p. 902.] In teaching men to live wisely, the book “schools us in the areas where we would be unruly.” In the opening verses a picture of the nature of wisdom is sketched for the reader:

to attain wisdom and instruction (v. 2a). Wisdom appeals to our reason and conscience. It teaches, and then corrects with discipline (cf. 3:11; 4:1; 23:13; 24:32).

to discern the sayings of understanding (v. 2b). Wisdom makes one “mentally mature. Mental maturity is necessary for spiritual maturity. As we study God, we learn of God. This produces knowledge of God, which produces fear of God. Fearing God leads to loving God, which results in imitating God -- a Biblical progression (1:6).”

to receive instruction in wise behavior (v. 3). Specifically, the wise person is the one who is trained to be righteous (a controlled life), just, and equitable (to live “without wrinkles”).

to give prudence to the naive (v. 4). Wisdom takes one who is unaware of the ways of Satan and provides him with a wise course of action that will protect him from destroying himself.

to acquire wise counsel_ (vv. 5b-6). He not only understands the subtle temptations of Satan, but he understands the difference between wise and unwise words and where to go for sound counsel that will guide him to truth (cf. 2:5; 3:6).

THEME: THE FEAR OF THE LORD (1:7)

In Proverbs, the concepts of wisdom and the fear of the Lord are seen as inseparable. Fearing God includes terror (Dt. 5:5), emotion (Gen. 31:31), and worship/reverence (2 Kings 17:32-34; Lev. 26:2). It looks to the whole of life and the obedience of the believer. To fear God is to respect God enough to care what He says and to be afraid enough to submit to His authority. When we fear God, His attitudes become our

attitudes, His will becomes our will, His goals become our goals, and His feelings become our feelings. Moreover, the fear of God is an unending process for the believer (Dt. 14:23; Ps. 34:11).

“‘Reverent fear’ is evidenced by a tender conscience, a watchfulness against temptation, and avoiding things that would displease God.” [Raymer, “Proverbs,” Bible Knowledge Commentary.]

“The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.” [Oswald Chambers]

“One cannot gain knowledge of spiritual things if he begins at the wrong point, refusing to fear the Lord.” [Buzzell]

CONTENT

The book may be divided into three general categories: The father’s admonition to acquire wisdom (1:1 – 9:18) The collection of Solomon’s proverbs (10:1 – 22:16; 25:1 – 29:27) The collection of Proverbs from the wise men (22:17 – 24:34; 30:1 – 31:31)

The first nine chapters are didactic and conversational — they are the words of a father instructing his son about the various forms of wisdom. The final 22 chapters are poetic and largely comprised of single proverbs or single pairs of proverbs which each “stand on their own” (there is no progressive, contextual arguments or discussions).

The book is a book of contrasts (e.g., in chs. 10-15 virtually every chapter is divided by the word “but”), helping the son to cultivate discernment.

The primary emphasis of the book is to contrast wisdom with foolishness, yet there are also a number of important doctrines expounded upon in the book: the sovereignty of God, the covenant between God and Israel, the importance of truth, reward for virtue, and judgment for evil.

MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS

FOOLISHNESS

There are five primary words for the fool in Proverbs:

Peti. The fool is easily deceived and seduced and thus morally irresponsible: 1:10; 12:11; 14:15; 15:21.

Kesil. The fool is dull and obstinate; he is impatient. His fault is not that he lacks mental ability, but that he refuses to look for wisdom: 1:29, 32; 15:2, 14. This word is used nearly 50x in Proverbs.

Eviyl. The fool is stubborn or quarrelsome. He is a “stupid,” flippant person: 1:7; 10:8, 14. It appears 19x in Proverbs.

Nabal. The fool is religiously and morally senseless: 17:9; 30:22, 32. Les. The fool is a scoffer, a deliberate troublemaker: 9:7-8, 13:1. It is used 17x in

Proverbs.

CHILDREN AND PARENTING

Discipline children early in life: 13:24. Correct the moral nature of the child: 19:18. Train the whole child. Give the child a taste for life according to his age,

development and nature: 22:6. Instruct the child in discipline. Words (instruction) must accompany discipline:

29:15, 17.

CHRIST AS THE EMBODIMENT OF PROVERBIAL WISDOM

Christ personifies the wisdom of Proverbs. He lived out these truths (1 Cor. 1:17). The truth that “Christ is our wisdom” appears 8x in the NT: Mt. 15:34; Lk. 2:40, 52;

1 Cor. 1:30; 2:2; Col. 2:30; 3:16; Rev. 5:12.

THE RELATIONSHIP OF PROVERBS TO OTHER POETICAL BOOKS

CONCLUSION

The book of Proverbs is written with the idea to prevent the people of Israel from, falling into the trap of foolishness. Instead, the writer exhorts the people to be wise, and then he lists the characteristics of wisdom, and how they are carried out on a practical level. This book is not theoretical. conversely, it is very practical, even for the Christian church today, as it truly is a book of wisdom.

THE POETICAL BOOKS

MAN’S SIDE GOD’S SIDE

JOB

PSALMS

PROVERBS

Suffering

Songs of praise

Wisdom for living

Vanity of life

Love in marriage

Sovereignty

Worthy of praise

Bestower ofwisdom

Meaning of life

Author of love

ECCLESIASTES

S. OF SOLOMON

* Martin R. De Haan II, Knowing God Through Proverbs .