The Proverbs

© John Stevenson, 2010

BookBook

Pain & sufferingJobJob

PsalmsPsalms

ProverbsProverbs

ThemeTheme

Prayer & Worship

Conduct

Why do bad things happen to good people?

QuestionQuestion

How do I approach God?

How shall I live?

The Book of WisdomThe Book of Wisdom

What goes aroundWhat goes aroundcomes aroundcomes around

Title of the bookTitle of the book

The proverbs of Solomon the The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel son of David, king of Israel (Proverbs 1:1).(Proverbs 1:1).

lv;m'

From theroot word

(mashal)

Proverbs 1:2-4Proverbs 1:2-42 To know wisdom and instruction,

To discern the sayings of understanding,

3 To receive instruction in wise behavior,

Righteousness, justice and equity;

4 To give prudence to the naive,

To the youth knowledge and discretion,

Proverbs 1:5-6Proverbs 1:5-65 A wise man will hear and increase in learning,

And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,

6 To understand a proverb and a figure,

The words of the wise and their riddles.

Exodus 28:2-3

2 "And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.

3 "And you shall speak to all the skillful persons whom I have endowed with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister as priest to Me.

Proverbs 1:7Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;

Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

• A Fear that Drives AwayA Fear that Drives Away

• A Fear that brings WonderA Fear that brings Wonder

PsalmsPsalmsBook of Worship

ProverbsProverbsBook of Wisdom

Speaks to our Spirit Speaks to our Intellect

Life in the prayer closet

Life out in the street

Teach us how to be holy before God

Teach us how to practice holiness

before menLove the Lord with all your heart, soul, and

mind

Love your neighbor as yourself

The Nature of The Nature of Wisdom LiteratureWisdom Literature

• Stands apart from God’s covenants.Stands apart from God’s covenants.– No mention made of Moses or Israel.No mention made of Moses or Israel.

• The Nature of its Inspired MessageThe Nature of its Inspired Message– Utilizes observation of nature instead of Utilizes observation of nature instead of

“thus says the Lord.”“thus says the Lord.”

God spoke invarious ways

(Heb. 1:1)

Moses TheophaniesProphetsSages

Spiritual communicationsInsightful observations

Proverbs 24:30-31 Proverbs 24:30-31 I passed by the field of the sluggard And by the vineyard of the man lacking sense, 31 And behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles; Its surface was covered with nettles, And its stone wall was broken down.

Proverbs 24:32-34 Proverbs 24:32-34 When I saw, I reflected upon it; I looked, and received instruction. 33 “A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest,” 34 Then your poverty will come as a robber And your want like an armed man.

1-91-9

Appeal to

Wisdom Proverbs of

Solomon

10-2010-20

Proverbs of

Hezekiah

One Verse Maxims Larger Couplets

Good Woman

21-2921-29 3030 3131

Words of Agur

Words of King Lemuel

Proverbs 1:8-9Proverbs 1:8-9Hear, my son, your father’s instruction

And do not forsake your mother’s teaching;

9 Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head

And ornaments about your neck.

hr'Ahr'ATT

((TorahTorah))

Proverbs 1:10-12Proverbs 1:10-12My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us ambush the innocent without cause; 12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit;

Proverbs 1:13-14Proverbs 1:13-14“We will find all kinds of precious wealth,

We will fill our houses with spoil;

14 Throw in your lot with us,

We shall all have one purse,”

Proverbs 1:15-16Proverbs 1:15-16My son, do not walk in the way with them.

Keep your feet from their path,

16 For their feet run to evil

And they hasten to shed blood.

Proverbs 1:17-19Proverbs 1:17-19Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net

In the sight of any bird;

18 But they lie in wait for their own blood;

They ambush their own lives.

19 So are the ways of everyone who gains by violence;

It takes away the life of its possessors.

1:10-191:10-19

The Enticement The Enticement of Sinnersof Sinners

1:20-331:20-33

The Appeal of The Appeal of WisdomWisdom

Proverbs 1:20-21Proverbs 1:20-21Wisdom shouts in the street,

She lifts her voice in the square;

21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out;

At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings:

(First line is plural,(First line is plural,then returns tothen returns to

singular)singular)

Proverbs 1:22-23Proverbs 1:22-23“How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded?

And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge?

23 Turn to my reproof,

Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you;

I will make my words known to you.”

Proverbs 1:24-25Proverbs 1:24-25“Because I called and you refused,

I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;

25 And you neglected all my counsel

And did not want my reproof;

Proverbs 1:26-27Proverbs 1:26-27I will also laugh at your calamity;

I will mock when your dread comes,

27 When your dread comes like a storm

And your calamity comes like a whirlwind,

When distress and anguish come upon you.

Proverbs 1:28-29Proverbs 1:28-29“Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;

They will seek me diligently but they will not find me,

29 Because they hated knowledge

And did not choose the fear of the LORD.

““Therefore everyone who hears Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on these words of Mine and acts on

them, may be compared to a wise them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the man who built his house on the

rock. rock. 2525 And the rain fell, and the And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and slammed against that house;

and and yet yet it did not fall, for it had it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.” been founded on the rock.”

(Matthew 7:24-25).(Matthew 7:24-25).

““Everyone who hears these words Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. his house on the sand. 2727 The rain The rain fell, and the floods came, and the fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell-- and great that house; and it fell-- and great

was its fall.” was its fall.” (Matthew 7:26-27).(Matthew 7:26-27).

Chapter 1Chapter 1

Wisdom calls Wisdom calls out for the out for the

reader to comereader to come

Chapter 2Chapter 2

The reader is The reader is told to search told to search out Wisdomout Wisdom

Proverbs 2:1-2Proverbs 2:1-2My son, if you will receive my words

And treasure my commandments within you,

2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom,

Incline your heart to understanding;

Proverbs 2:3-5Proverbs 2:3-5For if you cry for discernment,

Lift your voice for understanding;

4 If you seek her as silver

And search for her as for hidden treasures;

5 Then you will discern the fear of the LORD

And discover the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 2:6-8Proverbs 2:6-8For the LORD gives wisdom;

From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;

He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

8 Guarding the paths of justice,

And He preserves the way of His godly ones.

Proverbs 2:21-22Proverbs 2:21-22For the upright will live in the land

And the blameless will remain in it;

22 But the wicked will be cut off from the land

And the treacherous will be uprooted from it.

Proverbs 3Proverbs 3

Proverbs 3:1-2Proverbs 3:1-2My son, do not forget my teaching,

But let your heart keep my commandments;

2 For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you.

Proverbs 3:3-4Proverbs 3:3-4Do not let kindness and truth leave you;

Bind them around your neck,

Write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 So you will find favor and good repute

In the sight of God and man.

Proverbs 3:5-6Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the LORD with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:7-8Proverbs 3:7-8Do not be wise in your own eyes;

Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

8 It will be healing to your body

And refreshment to your bones.

Proverbs 3:9-10Proverbs 3:9-10Honor the LORD from your wealth

And from the first of all your produce;

10 So your barns will be filled with plenty

And your vats will overflow with new wine.

Are the proverbs…Are the proverbs…

Promises? or Probabilities?

No single Proverb No single Proverb contains all the truth.contains all the truth.

They must all be taken They must all be taken and weighed together.and weighed together.

The pen is The pen is mightier mightier than the than the sword sword

Actions Actions speak speak

louder than louder than words words

You’re You’re never too never too

old to old to learnlearn

You can’t You can’t teach an teach an old dog old dog

new new trickstricks

Proverbs 26:4Proverbs 26:4

Do not answer a fool according to his folly,

Or you will also be like him.

Proverbs 26:5Proverbs 26:5

Answer a fool as his folly deserves,

That he not be wise in his own eyes.

Proverbs 17:9Proverbs 17:9

He who conceals a transgression seeks love,

But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.

Proverbs 28:23Proverbs 28:23

He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor

Than he who flatters with the tongue.

Describes a situation in life Describes a situation in life without commenting on whether without commenting on whether

it is good or badit is good or bad

A bribe is a charm in the sight of A bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner; its owner; Wherever he turns, he prospers. Wherever he turns, he prospers. (Proverbs 17:8).(Proverbs 17:8).

The poor is hated even by his The poor is hated even by his neighbor, neighbor, But those who love the rich are But those who love the rich are many. (Proverbs 14:20).many. (Proverbs 14:20).

Proverbs 3:19-20Proverbs 3:19-20The LORD by wisdom founded the earth,

By understanding He established the heavens.

20 By His knowledge the deeps were broken up

And the skies drip with dew.

Proverbs 3:21-22Proverbs 3:21-22My son, let them not vanish from your sight;

Keep sound wisdom and discretion,

22 So they will be life to your soul

And adornment to your neck.

Proverbs 3:23-24Proverbs 3:23-24Then you will walk in your way securely

And your foot will not stumble.

24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;

When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

Proverbs 3:25-26Proverbs 3:25-26Do not be afraid of sudden fear

Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes;

26 For the LORD will be your confidence

And will keep your foot from being caught.

Proverbs 4:20-21Proverbs 4:20-21My son, give attention to my words;

Incline your ear to my sayings.

21 Do not let them depart from your sight;

Keep them in the midst of your heart.

Proverbs 4:22-23Proverbs 4:22-23For they are life to those who find them

And health to all their body.

23 Watch over your heart with all diligence,

For from it flow the springs of life.

Study and present the roles of Study and present the roles of the following women in Proverbsthe following women in Proverbs

The Woman The Woman of Follyof Folly

Proverbs Proverbs 2:16-192:16-19

5:3-65:3-67:1-277:1-27

The Wise The Wise WomanWoman

Proverbs Proverbs 1:20-331:20-338:1-208:1-209:1-69:1-6