Proverbs part 1

Intro

starting a new series on the proverbs

I like to reference Ecclesiastes all the time

proverbs is a slightly less depressing book of wisdom from Solomon

King Solomon

asks for discernment between good and evil

this is supposed to point you back to the garden

in the garden Adam and Eve were tempted by the snake to determine what those things were for their selves

to take the fruit is to take the production is to take the power

Solomon in so many words does the opposite not the same

Solomon recognizes that he does not have that power despite the status he has inherited

he asks God instead to guide him to determine what is good and what is evil

and so that pleased the LORD

Solomon is attributed in the beginning with all of the wisdom literature even though some of it is later attributed to other writers and speakers

The idea is that Solomon was the greatest and wisest so he is the figurehead for wisdom lit

The Book’s Structure

two parts

the first nine chapters are a connected set of the lectures from father to son

personifying wisdom as a woman

having some continuity

the rest is simply a compilation of wise words from many authors and places that seemed worthy of being gathered and preserved

the underlying idea being that all wisdom just like all truth comes from God one way or the other

Chapter 1

Introduction before the first lecture

to understand words is to understand one’s character

speech and character are closely related in this people’s mind

like when Moses says “hear o Isreal” he is saying hear this and do it

ones word is his character

if you say you’ll do or be something you will

and if your words are those of one with understanding, you will have righteousness, justice, and an upright character

a trio that is repeated later

think so that you will say so that you will do

maybe you’ve heard something similar to this before

here is the idea from God’s word

Application

write down a difficult decision you had to make

write about how discerning good from evil can help in making those difficult decisions

write some decision you will have to make in the near future

write what important factors you need to weigh before you make that decision

If God does not appear in at least one thing you’ve written down then maybe you should reconsider the way you think