Introduction to Proverbs

We finished with book of Philippians the book of joy, now we will spend some time in doing a survey of book of Proverbs focusing on Proverbs 1-9 in verse by verse look, and an overview of chapters 10-31.

Q - Is common sense very common anymore?

Q - Why do you think common sense is lacking these days?

I think we can agree that people need wisdom, in fact there is a great need for wisdom in our society today. For the lack of wisdom has made common sense not very common and our society has become a free for all to do anything. This lack of wisdom is destroying the lives of many young people making fools out of them, and the older, well even some of them lack true wisdom these days, they have traded it or forgotten it.

The Christian is to be wise (turn with me to Ephesians 5)

Eph5:15-17 “15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

Q - how is a person to be wise here in these verses?

Be careful how you walk

Make the most of your time

Understand what the will of the Lord is

This life, this time is fleeting by and it seems quicker and quicker each day, many days we miss God given opportunities to be wise, act wise and share wisdom with others through our lives and our life experiences and the best way through God’s word.

For it is the word of God that gives true wisdom and equips the man of God.

2Tim3:16-17 “16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

Sound advise for daily living, that sounds good, right? Isn’t that what our parents, in general, tried to do when raising us up and we try to share with the generations behind us?

The book of Proverbs, written by a Son of David, Solomon the wisest man who ever lived because of God given wisdom (2Chr1:7-12) wrote over 3000 proverbs (1Kn4:29-34); We have only a portion of them recorded here as well as wise words recorded by Agur the son of Jakeh to Ithiel and Ucal (Pro30:1-33) and then the great words of King Lemuel, sharing wisdom spoken to him by his mother (Pro31:1-31).

Proverbs are short statements for practical life. They are not law, they are not doctrine. They are general sayings. They are not intended to be applied “across the board.”

This afternoon we are going to look at purpose, the purpose of the Book of Proverbs. (Turn to Pro1:1-6) Please

pro1:1-6 “1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 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, 5 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.”

Q- What general observation do you notice in our passage?

Q - How do we know who the writer is?

Q - Can you see the purpose in these verses?

To know wisdom and instruction

To discern (perceive) understanding

To receive instruction for behavior, righteousness, justice and equity

Q - Who do we see these instructions, proverbs being to (vv.4-6); and why?

Prudence to the naive (your’s may say simple) - Prudence, what does prudence mean?

To the youth (knowledge and discretion)

To the wise man (increased learning)

To man of understanding (wise counsel)

Do any of you have a NKJV? In v.6 it uses the word enigma, anyone know that that word means?

Enigma - a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand.

So, the book is laid out, designed, set up to make a person wise! To learn how to act wisely and righteously and to treat others with fairness. To give the naive common sense, the young, sound advise and the wise, even more wisdom.

Definition and value of wisdom

Q - What is the definition of wisdom?

20th Century Encyclopedia of Religious knowledge defines it as “a realistic approach to the problems of life.”

Bible scholar and commentator Homer Hailey says “ wisdom is insight into the underlying causes and significance or consequences of things, which insight enables one to apply to the best end the knowledge which he has.”

Commentator David Guzik says it very simply “The difference between wisdom and knowledge . One may have knowledge without wisdom. Knowledge is the collection of facts; wisdom is the right use of what we know for daily living.” Knowledge can tell one how financial systems work; wisdom manages a budget properly.”

Let me lay out a scenario, you tell me in each which is wisdom.

Someone gets up in your face, yelling screaming, ranting, raving. and you.

get back in their face and yell back and punch them

You do nothing, you do not react at all

You reach with a soft, kind reply?

Pro15:1 “1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Wisdom is the discernment, insight, knowledge applied on doing the right thing, and it brings glory to God.

Value of Wisdom: As we start our survey of Proverbs you will see that the first nine chapters are all about wisdom and the value of wisdom, and warnings about not discerning, applying wisdom, such things as:

Evil companionship (Pro1:10-19)

Hanging with the immoral woman (Pro5:1-14)

And, yep, even laziness (Pro6:6-11)

We will get to those in detail when we get to those chapters, today is just our introduction.

I think it is wise not to touch a hot stove, or walk into on-coming traffic. I think there is true value of knowing and applying these things, wouldn’t you? Wisdom is available and now let’s look at some sources of wisdom.

Sources of wisdom

Q - What do you think are some sources of wisdom?

Q - Is all wisdom good wisdom?

One source is trial and error (personal experience)

While Solomon was the wisest (2Chr1:7-12); He sought out and tested wisdom from many personal experiences (Ecc1:14) - much of his life was not applying godly wisdom, but seeking personal wisdom through trial and error. And when it came to Solomon there were many errors, but the errors brought him to a good conclusion though

Ecc12:13-14 “13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.”

Choices have consequences, so we need to be careful and choose wisely, using proper wisdom.

Another source of wisdom is the counsel of others (proven experience)

This is good if you are willing to heed from the experience of others. Solomon was good at giving wise advise, just not following it himself.

Advantage of wisdom obtained this way, it can help you avoid things that can be harmful to yourself, or good to help lead you in the right direction.

So, there is good in this way of obtaining wisdom.

The book of Proverbs is valuable to obtain some great words of wisdom and avoid the trial and error method that does not always work out well due to consequences for wrong, poor or unwise choices.

I love what it says in James about wisdom

Jm1:5-8 “5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

The book of Proverbs is a way to ask God for God given wisdom that is practical, that is applicable for our lives today.

I think now in our remaining time this afternoon we will look at the purpose of wisdom, some of the words the teacher (Solomon) uses.

Pro1:2 “2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding,”

So, he starts with to know wisdom and instruction to discern words, sayings of understanding.

While we live in a world with just a few keystrokes we can have all the knowledge available to man, it does not mean that man is wise in application of the knowledge available.

Remember that wisdom is right use of the knowledge we have of the facts we have and have perceived.

Commentator Boice says this “it is probably a safe bet to say that most people today are not much interested in wisdom. They are interested in making money and in having a good time. Some are interested in knowing something, in getting an education. Almost everyone wants to be well liked. But wisdom? The pursuit of wisdom is not a popular ideal.”

It says to receive instruction of wisdom

Proverbs is a place, like a school. We need to come, and when we come we need to come with open mind and an expectation to get something from it, to learn for application.

If we do, if we come that way then we will see justice, judgment and equity from from it (v.3).

Pro1:4 “4 To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion,”

The naive, the simple one is the uneducated who is in need of instruction, of wisdom that is practical and applicable. The wisdom found in Proverbs will makethe young, simple, naive, inexperienced one know what to do and how to do it in live. It will give knowledge and discretion (v.4)

One characteristic of the simple man is that he is gullible. The simple, naive one believes every word, but the prudent considers well his steps. May we consider

Pro14:15 “15 The naive believes everything, But the sensible man considers his steps.”

then we get to

Pro1:5 “5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,”

Wisdom is not just for the simple, the naive, but for the one who is wise too. the wise man will find much to help and to guide him, if he will only hear. Even a man of understanding can attain wise counsel (v.5)

Commentator and educator Ross said: Proverbs is not simply for the naive, the simple and the gullible; everyone can grow by its teachings. Discerning people can obtain guidance from this book so that they might continue in the right way.”

Next we see

Pro1:6 “6 To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles.”

Most versions use the word “enigma” and we defined that earlier.

David Guzik states “The wisdom of the Book of Proverbs can also help us to solve difficult problems and some of the riddles of life.”

So, now to sum this up, wrap this up for the day

We have introduced the book, the writers

We have looked at the purpose

We have defined some words

We have looked at some application

Next week we will get to the theme of the book

Pro1:7 “7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Of course, can’t leave Jesus out of this before we close

Col2:1-3 “1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

True wisdom comes from above and is available to all, all who are willing to believe, receive and obey, or in other words apply. God sent His Son to give us a way to wise up and be reconciled to Him through the blood of His Son!