Prov 2 - Not so Trivial Pursuit

Intro

Details matter!

A person does not need advanced education to understand the meaning of Scripture, but sometimes things that we miss in our English translations are so basic that even a 5 year old would pick them up in their native language.

For example: Our English language has how many letter? (26) How many of them are vowels? (5 - a,e,i,o,u) leaving how many consonants? (26-5=21).

I didn’t catch this until reading one of my commentaries from somebody smarter than me, but it is pretty cool when we consider how detailed God was when he directed men to write down his Word. When writing materials were expensive and rare, people leaned on little tricks called mnemonic devices to help them remember Scripture, so this chapter is called an alphabetic poem.

In the Language that Proverbs was originally written there are 22 consonants. So, 2 halves would be 1-11, and 12-22.

The first letter of the first half of the alphabet is aleph - it looks similar to our “X” and is silent (often like “e” in our alphabet).

The first letter of the second half (the 12th letter) is lamed - it looks like our “L” if the bottom dropped out.

If a 5-year-old was looking at Proverbs 2 he would see aleph starting (Hebrew is written right to left) all the ideas in the first half (yellow circles), and Lamed starting all the big ideas in the second half (green circles).

Imagine in our English word “if” and our English word “then” both began with the letter “A”, even an early reader would recognize the same letter “if” (im) in vv. 1,3, & 4 and “then” (ʾāz) in vv.5 and 9. The same reader could also easily identify the “L” or lamed is the first letter of the word “deliver” (lehaṣṣîlekā) and in that language lamed begins “so that” (lemaʿan) in v.20

TRANSITION: Knowing this aleph/lamed stuff doesn’t change the meaning, but it does help us to ask ourselves, “Do repeated words indicate a grouping of an idea?” I see 4 groupings that provide the basis for the 4 points of your handout.

The honorable disciple desires Wisdom (Pr 2.1-4)

The Human father’s words are from the Heavenly Father’s mouth

cf. Pr 2.1-2 with Pr 2.6-7 details

The father’s words (v. 1) > (give) wisdom and understanding (vv. 2, 3)

Words, Wisdom, and understanding > [give] knowledge of God (v. 5)

Wisdom, understanding, and knowledge < (given by) mouth of God (v. 6)

The Humble Disciple seeks the truth (Pr 2.4)

as silver

The Book of Proverbs, Chapters 1–15 (a. Introduction: Conditions (2:1–4)) The reference to silver instead of gold may indicate an early time when silver was priced higher than gold.47

as hidden treasure

The Book of Proverbs, Chapters 1–15 (a. Introduction: Conditions (2:1–4)) and as for hidden treasures, refers to objects so precious, such as silver and gold bricks or gems, that they need to be hidden in secrete places (Isa. 45:3; Jer. 41:8; Matt. 13:44) to protect them from thieves (cf. 4:7).

The honorable disciple is defended by Wisdom (Pr 2.5-11)

The wisdom that the disciple hears and pursues becomes a strong fortress

How do I get the idea of a strong fortress? Where else would we find these 4 items besides in a garrison that is to be defended?

shield, guarding, watching over, guard

the cause-consequence nexus

As an individual protects or guards the sage’s words (Pr 2.2-4), those same ideas become an asset (Pr 2.5) that watches over and guards the disciple (Pr 2.11)

TRANSITION: With this guard in place, the disciple can avoid falling into the hands of scheming enemies.

The honorable disciple is delivered by Wisdom (Pr 2.12-19)

The structure of this section looks like this:

The Book of Proverbs, Chapters 1–15 3. Lecture 2: Safeguard against the Wicked (2:1–22)

A “to deliver you” from the speech of perverse men v. 12

B “who abandon” straight paths v. 13

C description of their crooked “paths” vv. 14–15

A′ “to deliver you” from words of the “strange woman” v. 16

B′ “who abandons” the partner of her youth v. 17

C′ description of her deadly “paths” v. 18

the speech of perverse men

notice the word abandon. In order to abandon, one had to have once been in/on it. (Pr 2.11)

those who forsake are turning away from something they once held.

A buzzword in Christian social media is “faith deconstructed” it is the process where one premise is questioned which leads to a rejection that finally concludes with an outright apostasy or “falling away.” This is not a new concept because Solomon warned his son of this in Pr 2.13.

while there have been “deconstructors” ever since the question was asked, “Did God really say?” The fear of the Lord, the pursuit of wisdom can deliver the vulnerable disciple from this end!

the words of the strange woman

Just like the man who has strayed from the lifestyle of righteousness that he once walked, Solomon proceeds to describe the woman who made a covenant to a husband then later forsakes her husband by forgetting her covenant.

we see the word adulteress in Pr2.16 and immediately think of physical infidelity. But that is only one way in which covenant is broken.

emotional adultery happens when affection that should be reserved for one’s spouse is shared with another.

spiritual adultery was a frequent accusation of the Hebrews who turned their worship away from the one, true God.

Today, many false religions that call themselves “christian” have left the orthodox truth passed down from the Apostles to chase after experiences or feelings.

As our women in the gym, and men on Friday study Revelation, they encounter the name Babylon ( 6x in Rev 14-18) or description of the prostitute (5x in Rev 17-19). These references (along with the 18x that adultery is mentioned in the OT) are not always speaking of a physical act for money. But they do always speak of a person who breaks a covenant.

The honorable disciple’s destiny is set by Wisdom (Pr 2.20-22)

the chapter concludes by talking about 2 paths toward 2 destinations. Have you considered that for the believer, their existential being will never be worse than they are right now, and for the unbeliever, their existential soul will never be better than they are right now?

Inhabit the good land (Pr 2.21)

For the believer, he walks with God through this life (cf Ps 23.2-3), straight through the gateway of death into God’s presence and ultimately to a new heaven and inhabits a perfect land where it is on earth as it is in heaven. (Pr 2.21)

Cut off from the land (Pr 2.22)

For the unbeliever, he strives with God through all of this life, only to be cut off from the earth at death and ultimately cast into a place of torment.

Conclusion

When God created man the intent was a place of perfect fellowship on the land that God had provided. Man thought (and thinks) he could come up with a better plan. The plans are rebellion, or what the Bible calls sin. This sin broke that perfect fellowship and requires a death sacrifice. We must pay that price unless there is some other death that can stand in our place. That is what Jesus did on Calvary, and when he rose from the tomb, He now offers pardon for any who will accept His death and hand over our plans for His plan. That is the glorious GOSPEL available to every single person who believes.

I hope you have accepted Jesus’ offer. If you are not sure, our Elders and other mature women stand ready to help you receive that glorious gift!

for those who know that exchange is safely and securely in place, I offer some practical application of this chapter.

Light & Lamp Application:

Light for my Path

God rewards those who desire wisdom with defense and deliverance and ensures their destiny.

Lamps for my Steps

When instructing others make sure your ideas come from God

When faced with decisions, determine to follow God

When making a choice, first seek if God has already answered the question in His Word.