Prov003-Bible Study- Proverbs 1

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Passage

Proverbs 1:1–7 “The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Chapter Outline:

Remember our interpretive method as we work our way through the book.

The author gives us his own introduction to the book.

Also Provides an amazing framework for thinking in general!

He opens with a title (v. 1): (SUBJECT / POINT / PERSON / OBJECT)

Plainly, this designation of the author means that Solomon composed and/or selected the proverbs of the first section.

Later we shall see that the contributions of other inspired writers also are included. And indeed, other proverbs of Solomon himself are appended.

The next six verses (vv. 2–7) provide a fitting general introduction to all that follows, (Find the Purpose behind Subject)

Describing the purpose for which the book was written.

Verses 8 and 9 urge youth to heed to the counsels of their parents, (Seek Instruction)

Verses 10 through 19 warn against those who would tempt them to get involved in bloodthirsty robbery, (Identify the Problems)

Verses 20 through 23 echo with the call of Wisdom, (Find the Solution)

The chapter concludes with a description of the terrifying results of a failure to heed her call (vv. 24–33). (Consider of the Result)

It is a powerful introduction to the words of the first nine chapters in particular and to the Book of Proverbs as a whole.

The main purpose of Proverbs

Proverbs 1:2 “To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight,”

Two points are clearly seen in this verse:

Note what is up front. If you want wisdom and knowledge, there is wisdom and knowledge to be had.

That means can find instruction about the will of God in this book.

It is a book of revealed truth.

Secondly, that will of God is called wisdom, a key term in this book.

By reading this material, learning from its insights and following its instructions, one will become wise.

The wise man is one who competently lives for God, in skillful service to God.

ILL: - Like a kungfu panda type ninja would live in skillful service to his master.

This wisdom, however, does not come easily; it is attained only by disciplined training in righteousness (see 2 Timothy 3:16).

As one reads again and again the wisdom that is inculcated in Proverbs, and prayerfully, and consistently applies it in life, he trains himself in righteous living.

This is a training manual.

The word for discipline here (musar) is also used in 22:15.

But there is also a concern for the reader to understand words of discernment (lit., “to discern the words of discernment”).

The word bin, from which these terms are derived, means instruction or understanding that comes with the ability to separate or distinguish between things that differ.

The ability to see the black from the white and grey.

One of the principal ways in which people run into trouble is from their lack of discernment.

Proverbs 1:3 “to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;”

In verse 3, a string of related words appears: to receive disciplined training in prudence, right living, judgment and uprightness.

Not only will one learn the best ways of doing something from Proverbs, so that he may act prudently when doing so,

But in addition, he will discover what right living means,

How to make good judgments

And what it is to be upright in all things.

He will be able to settle questions of right and wrong,

Will know what is morally right in God’s sight

And will be able to move through life with the care and patience born of prudent action.

The acquisition of that characteristic alone would reduce the number of issues we often faceby at least a third—wouldn’t it?

Proverbs 1:4 “to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth—”

Now the sort of person who needs the teaching of this training manual is mentioned: to give clear perception to the naive, knowledge and discretion to the young man (v. 4).

The “simple” or naive is the one who is highly impressionable, who is open to all sorts of influences—both good and bad.

He lacks the know-how and the discretion to distinguish the one from the other.

So many people have been scammed into all sorts of things thinking that they were doing right only to wake up too late to the fact that they were “had.”

They, like the young man who lacks experience, are naive, gullible.

That is understandable in one who is only beginning life, but if they have for years possessed the Book of Proverbs and remain so, there is no excuse for the sort of naivete´ that leads to trouble and sin.

It is time for them to grow up; time to learn what the world is all about.

Proverbs 1:5 “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,”

The fool drifts along with what knowledge and discernment he has (which generally is little to begin with, and even that is slipping away).

No wonder many persons need counsel about even the simplest matters.

But the wise man is ever increasing his store of information and sharpening his intellectual and social skills in ways that please God.

He wants to know about the teachings he will discover in Proverbs, and will find waiting to put them into practice difficult.

He will devour new truth from God and improve his life as a result.

Application

Therefore, we must be encourage toward this trait for learning. How the very acquisition of a new truth from God can change everything.

Those who exercise discernment are always glad for wise counsel, no matter who may give it.

Here, it is Proverbs that is the source of such counsel.

But, note well, the Bible firmly stands on the side of using counsel that one obtains from the Scriptures.

To often though, on the other hand, some are not interested in such counsel as shown from this passage (and many others in this book) how unwise their disinterest is.

Proverbs 1:6 “to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. (dark sentences)”

It is not always easy to interpret the Bible on one’s own (though it is the obligation of every believer to growingly become able to do so), so it is necessary for many to consult with those who can make sense of those things that are difficult for them.

They seek wise counsel in order to understand a proverb and its interpretation, the words of the wise and their dark sentences.

Why isn’t all Scripture equally perspicuous?

Some of its sentences are dark.

God may have many reasons for this.

Certainly all those things that have to do with the way of salvation and with basic Christian living are patent on their surface. But there are other passages into which one must delve, diving very deeply for understanding.

These He may have given in the form of parables and enigmatic sayings in order to fix their richness in one’s mind once he understands them.

It is possible too that He reveals truth in such a manner in order to induce us to engage in more serious study of His Word.

Whatever God’s purposes in this matter may be—and we do not need to inquire into them more fully—we know that the dark sayings of the Bible do serve to nudge us into deeper study of it.

Conclusion

One of the key take away’s in this introduction is the call for us to delve deep into study to know how to live skillfully as God’s people.

Questions

Open for questions

Homework

Continuation of homework

Still - Read through the first 9 verses. But now considering the way we interpret the ‘compact-truth’ of proverbs.

Highlight the the most noteworthy Proverbs in these verses to yourself, We’ll discuss them next week.

Prayer

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Fellowship Discussion