The Proverbs
For this lesson, we will continue our study of the books of poetry.
To quickly review: In our last lesson, we briefly touched on the Psalms.
· It is a collection of Proverbs: Many feel that it is a collection of different authors.
· It is not told as a story—One Proverb does not have to follow the other. There is a flow to first few chapters which have themes.
· It is written as Hebrew Poetry. It doesn’t rhyme! It never did! It’s poetry because the second part of a verse retells, or reinforces the first part, or closely relates to it.
prov·erb (pr¼v“ûrb”) n. 1. A short, pithy saying in frequent and widespread use that expresses a basic truth or practical precept.
(1 Ki 4:30-32 NKJV) Thus Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt. {31} For he was wiser than all men; . . . and his fame was in all the surrounding nations. {32} He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five.
It seems that most of the proverbs were Solomon’s, but there are some which appear to be a collection of other wise sayings.
The Proverbs are hard to organize, but here is one outline:
I. Fatherly Exhortations Addressed Mainly to the Young. (1-9)
II. Wisdom and the Fear of God Contrasted with folly and sin. (10-24)
III. Proverbs of Solomon Selected by the Men of Hezekiah. (25-29)
IV. Supplemental Proverbs by Agur and Lemuel (30-31)
(Prov 1:1-7 NKJV) The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
{2} To know wisdom and instruction,
To perceive the words of understanding,
{3} To receive the instruction of wisdom,
Justice, judgment, and equity;
{4} To give prudence [or wisdom] to the simple,
To the young man knowledge and discretion;
{5} A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
{6} To understand a proverb and an enigma,
[1. One that is puzzling, ambiguous, or inexplicable. 2. A perplexing speech or text; a riddle.]
The words of the wise and their riddles.
{7} The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
(Prov 8:13 NKJV) The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.
The Virtues:
· Pursuit of Wisdom
· Piety or holiness
· Liberality
· Marital faithfulness
· Honesty in Business relationships
The Vices
· Intemperance in eating and drinking
· Lustfulness
· Falsehood
· Laziness
· Contentiousness
· Keeping bad Company
Many Other Notes:
· Child rearing
· The requirements of a Godly walk
· As well as other points.
Let’s begin our Study with “Many Other Notes:”
Child rearing
The use of the Rod1
1(lit.) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.)
NKJV, KJV, NIV, and NASV all use rod.
Note: Going by God’s word could get you arrested, or your children taken from you.
(Prov 13:24 NKJV) He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.
(Prov 22:15 NKJV) Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him.
(Prov 23:13-14 NKJV) Do not withhold correction from a child, For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. {14} You shall beat him with a rod, And deliver his soul from hell.
(Prov 19:18 KJV) Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
(Prov 19:18 NKJV) Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction. (Two very different translations of the Hebrew.)
(Prov 29:15 NKJV) The rod and rebuke give wisdom, But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
The requirements of a Godly walk
(Prov 3:5-7 NKJV) Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
{6} In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
{7} Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
(Prov 14:12 NKJV) There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
(Prov 6:16-19 NKJV) These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
{17} A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
{18} A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
{19} A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.
The Vices:
· Intemperance in eating and drinking
(Prov 20:1 NKJV) Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
· Lustfulness
(Prov 6:25-27 NKJV) Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, Nor let her allure you with her eyelids. {26} For by means of a harlot A man is reduced to a crust of bread; And an adulteress will prey upon his precious life. {27} Can a man take fire to his bosom, And his clothes not be burned?
· Falsehood
· Laziness
(Prov 6:6-11 NKJV) Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise,
{7} Which, having no captain,
Overseer or ruler,
{8} Provides her supplies in the summer,
And gathers her food in the harvest.
{9} How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?
{10} A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to sleep;
{11} So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.
(Prov 22:13 NKJV) The lazy man says, "There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!"
(Prov 22:13 TLB) The lazy man is full of excuses. "I can't go to work!" he says. "If I go outside, I might meet a lion in the street and be killed!"
(Prov 10:4-5 NKJV) He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich. {5} He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.
(Prov 13:4 NKJV) The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.
(Prov 13:18 NKJV) Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, But he who regards a rebuke will be honored.
Contentiousness
(Prov 27:15-16 NKJV) A continual dripping on a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike; {16} Whoever restrains her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand.
(Prov 25:24 NKJV) It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
(Prov 21:19 NKJV) Better to dwell in the wilderness, Than with a contentious and angry woman.
Note: Since Solomon had a 1,000 wives, the chances are good that this is the voice of experience.
Contentious Men Can Also be Problems!
(Prov 26:21 NKJV) As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife.
Keeping bad Company
(Prov 12:26 NKJV) The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray.
(Prov 13:20 NKJV) He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.
Let me encourage you to take time to read and meditate on the Proverbs. They contain much wisdom.