Practical Wisdom in a Foolish World (Proverbs)
By Matt Messsner
Eastside School of the Bible
October 3, 2007
Welcome, prayer, opening discussion:
Share with your group one Proverb that stands out to you or has had a significant impact on your life. (Each table needs to come up with one example to share from their group). Share your experience with Proverbs 3:5-6, 4:23
Background of the book of Proverbs
Authorship
The principle author of this book is Solomon (The source of his wisdom was God Himself; 1 Kings 3:5-15, 1 Kings 4:29-34).
As a patron of science and wisdom, he is credited for the popularization of the wisdom tradition with the Hebrews.
Other authors are identified as Agur (Prov. 30) and Lemuel of Massa (Prov. 31:1-9). It is likely they were members of the northern Arabian tribe of Massa, descendants of one of the sons of Ishmael (Genesis 25:14, 1 Chron. 1:30). They are evidence of the international character of wisdom and the acceptance of truthful words from those who were not Jewish (Another example of non-Israelite wisdom is Job who was an Edomite, and these (Lemuel and Agur)were of Arabian origin).
The un-named Wise Men (24:23-34, 31:10-31).
Date
The different sections of Proverbs were written at different times – Hezekiah’s scribes were involved in putting part of the collections together, around the end of the 8th century B.C. – Prov. 25:1. This section was written long after the death of Solomon – Hezekiah was the King of Judah following the fall of the Kingdom of Israel. (950 BC - Solomon, 700 BC – Hezekiah) Other sections were collected by Solomon, and then most feel that the anonymous sayings and the appendices of 30-31 were compiled later than the section that was collected by Hezekiah’s men, so it was written over a span between the 10th Century to the 6th century B.C.
Purpose
Textbook for the children of the royal court?
The “wise men” or “sages” generally were associated with the royal court and functioned as the one who compiled and taught wisdom, especially to the next generation of Hebrew leaders. Some say it was a textbook for the children of the royalty. In ancient times collections of traditional wisdom were the textbooks for educating young men. Proverbs often implies that it was written for young men for a similar purpose.
We know that it is written to young people and the message of this book hinges on the belief that wisdom can be taught and passed from one generation to the next. This is evident in the way the narrator appears frequently as a father speaking to his son.
More than a collection of individual proverbs. Every culture has its own proverbs and traditional wisdom – We have records from Egypt, Mesopotamia and Greece.
Unique in that it asserts God to be the starting point in the search for true wisdom: Prov. 1:7. Proverbs deals with the practical concerns of an individual who knows God.
Written primarily to young people, but in the first seven verses it challenges the young and simple as well as the wise and discerning.
Written to help us deal with the ordinary matters of life as well as an examination of moral issues. It is very practical.
One commentator described it this way: “It is a book that (like the figure Wisdom) calls across to you in the street about some everyday matter or points things out at home. It puts godliness in working clothes.
It reflects God’s appointed school of character – not as legalistic alternatives of grace, but the means and expression of it.”
The Purpose of this Book (1:2-7)
Group activity: Analyze these verses and identify the purpose(s)
I. To know wisdom and discipline;
II. To receive teaching in wise dealing, righteousness, justice and equity
III. To help the simple gain prudence and the youth to gain knowledge and discretion
IV. To increase learning and to acquire skill in understanding
V. To understand proverbs, parables, wise sayings and riddles
VI. To learn the fear of the Lord
These verses serve as an introduction to the entire genre of Biblical wisdom literature.
Keep them open
Many key words in these verses…with key points…Here are some of them.
1. Instruction/training (NIV – Discipline): (musar): Linked to correction or reproof. To discipline with a focus on the outcome.
2. Understanding/Insight (bina, tebuna): discernment between good and evil, right and wrong.
3. Prudence: Wise dealing: good sense, practical wisdom, cautious, calculated. Opposite of the Simple.
4. Shrewdness/knowledge/discretion: the power of forming good plans.
5. Knowledge and learning: An informed mind as knowing of truth and knowing God.
It is an examination of one question: Is this (behavior) wisdom or folly?
Do we not agree that we have an obligation to offer instruction to all our young people on the importance of good character?
Wisdom is for anyone who wants it. Fools are invited to come and learn.
Definitions
A “Proverb”: The Hebrew word, masal, has two meanings.
1. A simile or a powerful word. To be like
2. “To rule”
The first emphasizes the way proverbs tend to be analogies or comparisons.
The second emphasizes the authoritative nature of these sayings.
A working definition then would be that a proverb is a saying founded on experience and containing a truth.
It is a winged word linking two times – one generation to another. They link two ages and two realms. The age of experience and youth, and the realms of God and humankind.
Not always to be taken as an absolute promise but they are general principles for living based on careful observation of the human experience.
It contains the following types of expressions:
Proverbs (short, carefully constructed ethical observation or teaching. A short sentence founded on long experience, communicating truth – making it valuable information.
Admonition: A command written as either a short proverb or as part of a long discourse.
Numerical Saying: Items that have something in common.
Better Saying: A better saying follows the pattern A is better than B: See 21:19
Rhetorical Question: One with an obvious answer which draws the reader in to deeper reflection (Pr. 30:4)
Wisdom Poems: Teach moral lessons. Often acrostics.
Example story: 7:6-27.
Major Themes
The Fear of the Lord, life
Key verses: 1:7, 8:35
The Fear of the Lord
Once again, this is a worshiping reverent submission to the God of the covenant. It is part of a right relationship to God – one of obedience to his covenant stipulations which creates right thought and right behavior.
Common themes:
(Discussion – come up with the list…Then assign a theme to each table and see what references they can tie into that theme)
Warnings!!...folly, the adulteress,
Invitations to learn…
Life (full): Material, personal, psychological, moral, spiritual
The fear of the Lord
Paths (of the wicked and of the righteous, adulteress, )
Weathly
Honor the Lord
Honor
Justice
The motley crew of the Fool, the Simple, The Scoffer 17x – un-teachable. , the Sluggard: The simple: The gullible. One who is easily led astray. Inexperienced and drifting into temptation, even courting it. One who is dull and obstinate, a menace
Sluggard vs. Discipline: Lazy with ridiculous excuses. Does not initiate, does not complete things and avoids things.
Reputation/name
Work ethic and personal finance
Parent/Child relationships: Disciplines,
Family: The marriage/husband and wife.
Human Sexuality
Words/Speech (Words have great power – 18:21)
Companionship and friendship: The good friend/good neighbor: Constancy, candour, counsel.
Humility vs. pride
Book Outline
The Structure of Proverbs
Proverbs is a collection of several books:
I. Title and Purpose: Proverbs 1:1-7
II. A Father’s Reflections on the Way of Wisdom
a. Discourses on Wisdom (1:8-4:27)
b. Instructions on Marriage and Warnings Against Adultery (5-7)
c. Wisdom Personified (8-9)
III. Proverbs of Solomon (10:1-22:16)
IV. Anonymous Wise Sayings (22:17-24:22)
V. Further Anonymous Wise Sayings (24:23-34)
VI. More Proverbs of Solomon (copied by Hezekiah’s men) (25-29)
VII. Appendices
a. Sayings of Agur (30)
b. Sayings of King Lemuel (31:1-9)
c. Acrostic Poem on the Nobel Wife (31:10-31)
The Purpose of this Book (1:2-7)
To know wisdom and instruction
To receive teaching in wise dealing, righteousness, justice and equity
To help the simple gain prudence and the youth to gain knowledge and discretion
To increase learning and to acquire skill in understanding
To understand proverbs, parables, wise sayings and riddles
To learn the fear of the Lord
1:8-19 Interesting section in chapter one that addresses the lure of quick profits through violence, the appeal of gangs, the conflict between youth and parents.
The father is passionately concerned for his son’s life, and the preservation of the community of God.
Proverbs 2: Parental discourse.
Marital faithfulness (Proverbs 5) – Develop this theme . Sexual purity, fidelity in marriage. 6:20-7:27! Continues with a narrative as well. Against a high view of marriage, sexual sin is presented in its true ugliness. As a parting of ones honor, a taste of death, a squandering of ones best years, of courting physical danger and social disgrace.
Personification #1: Proverbs 1:20-33, #2: 4:6-9, #3: 7:4, #4: 8:1-36, #5: 9:1-12
This personification of wisdom is a uniquely Biblical. No other god or goddess existed by that name.
The noun is feminine and contrasted to the woman Folly, who is a personification of sin.
Wisdom’s discourse (Proverbs 8): The personification of wisdom. (Read it): The personification of the teaching of the sages. Interesting figure in a male centered society. Who is this?
By her instruction her students, the foolish become wise, politicians gain wisdom, and those who listen and learn are crowned with honor and riches.
Contrast Pr. 9:4-6 (The Woman Wisdom) and 9:13-18 (the Woman Folly)
Discuss:
What are the characteristics of the Person Wisdom?
In what ways does she contrast the Woman Folly?
In what ways does the Woman Wisdom remind you of Christ?
Many have taken this as a description of Jesus.
Proverbs 10 marks a sectional break: The Proverbs of Solomon (10:1-22:16)
Why the repeated Proverbs?: This is a compilation of several books and so some of the proverbs were included in more than one book.
A very practical section dealing with speech, work, finances, etc.
13:12 “Hope deferred make the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”
14:12 “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” 16:25
15:1 “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
15:22 “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”
16:3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed.”
16:8 “Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.”
18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run to it and are safe
18:21 “The tongue has the power of life and death.”
18:22 “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.”
18:24 “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Proverbs 31 is an acrostic poem.
What does Proverbs 31:10-31 suggest about the role of women in ancient Israel?
Read it.
Conclusion
Prayer:
Has this study caused you to recognize an area in your life where you need to apply the lessons of Wisdom? Share this at your table and pray for one another.
Next week: Wisdom Through Passionate Worship: The Book of Psalms
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