Proverbs: Why Study? = Week 01 - Sunday

Why Proverbs? An Introduction

PROVERBS: WISE SAYINGS OF WISE MEN

I. Introduction

Proverbs are the collected wisdom through the centuries of learned and/or observant people. They contain moral, ethical and social teachings drawn from life. They normally use few words, with many of them antithetical. That is, they draw a contrast between two extremes of attitude or action.

What is the difference between knowledge and wisdom? Between understanding and wisdom? Can we know much, but not have wisdom? How is this possible?

The author and collector of many of the proverbs in this book was probably Solomon. In 1 Kings 4:32 we find that this wise king wrote 3,000 proverbs. This book, however, only contains 900 of the 3,000. Many of the proverbs probably came from Solomon’s experience and insights, but some may have already existed. Others were copied out by the scribes of King Hezekiah (Proverbs 25:1). Agur and King Lemuel wrote the last chapters, but nothing is known of them except that Agur was the son of Jakeh and Lemuel was king of Massa.

The first nine chapters are devoted to establishing the value of wisdom, written to the king’s son, apparently (or perhaps to all young men, allegorically), and to warnings against the prostitute and other loose women. The prostitute and the loose women are a symbol of a foolish way of living rather than wise behavior and decision-making. Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, was undoubtedly intelligent and capable, but extremely foolish (1 Kings 12).

The book is timeless in its message. It speaks to us today, just as it did to those of Solomon’s day. Therefore, we can benefit even now from its practical and general messages.

II. Prologue (1:1-7)

The first words attribute the writing to Solomon, son of David. It was generally the practice in ancient times to give the author’s name first, because otherwise, one would have to scroll to the end of the roll to find who wrote it. Paul’s epistles show this pattern. Giving Solomon credit for the book does not mean that he wrote all of it. He may have composed most of it, but we know from the latter part of the book that he didn’t write all of it.

 

III. An overview of Proverbs

• A. Introduction
• 1. The Title: THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON 1:1
• 2. The goal of the book is to teach . . . 1:2-3
• a. Attaining WISDOM and DISCIPLINE
• b. Understanding WORDS OF INSIGHT
• c. Acquiring a DISCIPLINED and PRUDENT LIFE
• d. Doing what is RIGHT and JUST and FAIR
• 3. The Target Audience 1:4-6
• a. SIMPLE and YOUNG
• b. WISE and DISCERNING
• B. An Appeal: The Value of Seeking Wisdom 1:8-9:18
• 1. My INSTRUCTION 1:8-7:27
• 2. Wisdom Personified: Lady Wisdom makes her appeal 8:1-36
• 3. A final appeal to seek WISDOM 9:1-18
• C. Proverbs
• 1. Proverbs from SOLOMON 10:1-22:16
• 2. Proverbs from the WISE 22:17- 24:22
• 3. More Proverbs from the WISE 24:23-24:34
• 4. Proverbs from Solomon as collected by the men of HEZEKIAH 25:1-29:27
• Two important conclusions:
• a. Although much of the book of Proverbs may date to Solomon’s time, the Biblical book of Proverbs cannot be dated earlier than 700 BC!
• b. The book of Proverbs is a COLLECTION of WISE SAYINGS (Compare 18:8 with 26:22; 20:16 with 27:13)
• 5. The Wisdom of Agur son of Jakeh an ORACLE (or of MASSA) 30:1-33
• 6. The Wisdom of KING Lemuel an ORACLE (or king of Massa) 31:1-9
• 7. Anonymous Wisdom: The Ideal Wife 31:10-31

 

IV. Proverbs

• A. The general nature of proverbs.
• 1. Consider the conflict in our own modern proverbs: 
• Too many cooks spoil the stew –AND– Two heads are better than one.
•  Look before you leap –AND– He who hesitates is lost.
• 2. Consider the conflict in Israel’s ancient proverbs (3:1-2 and 10:4, 6).
• 3. Consider the conflict in 26:4-5

 

V. Conclusion

 It takes WISDOM and EXPERIENCE to know when and how to apply a proverb (26:9). Applying it in our life is much more difficult than just knowing it. The goal of this series of lessons is to help us gain wisdom and experience in applying the book of Proverbs to our lives.

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