Words to the Wise

Intro: I want you to think of who you go to first for Wise advice.

Read Verses: 1:1-7

Main Point: True Wisdom begins with God

I. What is a Proverb?

The title of the book is called proverbs and the opening words start off with “the proverbs”. We have all heard the name and we know that biblically its is a book of sayings that may or may not go together in a story or narrative. But what is a proverb? The definition is that A proverb is a short, pithy saying that expresses a traditionally held truth or piece of advice, based on common sense or experience.

You may have heard some cultural one such as a bad penny always turns up, or a dog is a mans best friend or a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.These are the sayings that maybe you heard your grandparents say in a time that someone needed advice or encouragement or maybe some proverbs, like a fool and his money are soon departed are used for correction.

Biblical proverbs do some of the same things but they bring everything back to God and that the beginning of knowledge is the fear of God. God is the point that the writer brings the hearer to its not wise just because it seems like common sense, but because God is the author of all wisdom. So if you listen to these words, you are really listening to God.

So who wrote these sayings down?

II. Who Wrote The Proverbs?

How do we get all of the proverbs, how do they permeate our language and society? Some proverbs have been invented by philosophers, people like Ben Franklin or other authors, such as JRR Tolkien, use folklore or other stories to pass along wisdom. many times they are just so plain and simple that they get passed down through the generations.

In the opening verse, the book tells us that these are the proverbs of Solomon and he is he author of most of the book.

Solomon saw the Law of God as the foundation for a life of wisdom (, , ; ). As Moses set life and death before the people (cf. , ; , ), so Solomon called upon his readers to choose life and avoid death (e.g. ; ; ).

But there are a few other names toward the last few chapters that have written down certain proverbs that became biblical wisdom.

Agur the son of Jakeh’ wrote chapter 30 and King Lemuel,wrote down the words of his mother in chapter 31. There is no mention of these two people in the Bible so it is difficult to pinpoint their importance, but ultimately the proverbs point the hearer to living a Godly life.

Many proverbs are of the proverbs are a father telling a son how to be successful, God is telling his children how to live a life worthy of following Him.

TS: why do the sayings stick around?

III. Who Does it Benefit?

When we heed the instructions or sayings, like a man who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client we can avoid mistakes. Our life is hard enough without making it harder on ourselves.

Augustine said you should regulate your life and conduct by the commandments of God, which we have received to enable us to lead a good life, beginning with a religious fear for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, whereby human pride is broken down and weakened.

Why, because you have to take someone else’s advice. And you have to not listen to the world, In Paul quotes saying I [God] will destroy the wisdom fo the wise and I will set aside the intelligence of the intelligent. How? With the Good news of Jesus’ life and death on the cross Not with eloquent wisdom of some complicated system or how many good works you do.

It goes farther than that thought because you have to get rid of your pride you can save yourself. Paul says for the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved.

We can be discerning because we are given the understanding from the Holy Spirit to understand God’s teachings.

As Solomon says, let a wise person listen

Conclusion:

The proverbs are wisdom written down for us, not because Solomon was really wise, but becuase God is. Over the coming weeks, we will look at the Wise words that bring us close to God,teach us about life, money and relationships, among other things.

This week, look at where your gaps in knowledge are. None of us know everything and we can always learn something and we are encouraged to learn something new everyday. The most important hint we an learn everyday is something about God.