Proverbs

Introduction: Have you ever been in an airplane and looked out over the landscape? (story of airplane ride) It’s amazing how much land mass you can see from that high vantage point. If we were in a hot air balloon looking over the whole city of Bellefontaine, we would see things very different than walking on the street. From the bird’s eye view we would be able to pick out buildings and landmarks all from the same vantage point.

In same way we are going to be in a hot air balloon this morning, looking over the whole book of Proverbs and as your pilot I want to direct your attention to five key observations.

Transition: Read Proverbs 1:1-7

Overview

Type of writing (1:1)

Proverbial. (The proverbs…) Condensed, memorable, humorous statements that embody some important fact of life.

Where does fit in the rest of the Bible? O.T. - Law, History, Prophets, and Poetry. Proverbs is poetic commentary of the Law. Example: Deut 30:15-20, cff. Proverbs 3:1-2, 8:36, 12:28

Deuteronomy 30:15–20 ESV

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

Structure: First 9 chapters offer conversations between a father and son about the benefits of wisdom. Chapters 10-31 are full of actual short statements of wisdom on a wide variety of life.

Point: The book of Proverbs contains truth for every person in every season of life.

Examples: Young men- Proverbs 10:1 Young Women- Proverbs 11:22 Anxiety- Proverbs 12:25 Manhood- Proverbs 24:5-6 Womanhood- Proverbs 31:10-31 Finances- Proverbs 15:16 Humility- Proverbs 15:33

Transition Question: Will I read these Proverbs with a heart ready to listen?

Human authorship (1:1)

His gracious and grievous birth. (II Sam 12:24-25)

2 Samuel 12:24–25 ESV

Then David comforted his wife, Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her, and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And the Lord loved him and sent a message by Nathan the prophet. So he called his name Jedidiah, because of the Lord.

His anointing as King of Israel under distress while David was dying and older brother Adonijah was trying to take the kingdom. (Reference I Kings 1-2)

Kingdom established at the hand of Solomon. (I Kings 2:46)

Read a passage about Solomon’s asking for wisdom. (I Kings 3:1-15)

1 Kings 3:1–15 ESV

Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt. He took Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her into the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the Lord and the wall around Jerusalem. The people were sacrificing at the high places, however, because no house had yet been built for the name of the Lord. Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places. And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.

Told of his reign during the glory years of the nation of Israel. He has a forty year reign while Israel was a united kingdom. (I Kings 4:20-34)

Unfortunately, his wisdom dried up. Read account about Solomon’s heart being turned to idols. ( I Kings 11:4)

1 Kings 11:4 ESV

For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.

The Lord used him to write most of the book of Proverbs. We are told in I Kings 4:32 that he spoke 3,000 proverbs.

Transition: Am I being distracted away from the Lord?

Purpose of the book (1:2-4)

1. to know (be aware of and posses information)

wisdom( hak*mah) skill, and instruction (disciplined directions)

2. to understand (pay attention and examine)

words of insight

3. to receive (grasp, accept, take what is offered)

instruction (disciplined directions)

in wise dealing (comprehension) what should we comprehend?

righteousness (what is right), justice (the action of treating others rightly) , equity ( the equal distribution of justice without discrimination)

4. to give prudence (discretion in practical affairs of life) carefulness & diplomacy.

to the simple (the one lacking common sense)

5. to give knowledge and discretion (reasoned ability and the trait of making wise decisions)

to the youth (adolescent or young person)

Observation: this is not patronizing or condescending toward youth, we all recognize there are many adults who fall into this category.

Question: Are you taking advantage of the opportunity to spend time with more seasoned generations of men and women.(ie. Sunday mornings at 9:30) If your not taking advantage of this opportunity you are being foolish and setting yourself up for a life of hard knocks.

Prayerful hope (1:5-6)

Let the wise hear and increase in learning (5a)

May the one who is wise add to their skill.

Let the one who understands obtain guidance (5b)

May the one who pays attention, attain the ability to steer that wisdom into a prudent course of action. (6) So that we would actually understated the proverbs and put them into practice.

This is a prayer that as we embark upon this journey of studying through the book of Proverbs, may it not return void. May it not just be an activity of religious entertainment. May we actuality increase in wisdom. Basically what we find in verse 5-6 is the prayerful hope of James 1:5.

James 1:5 ESV

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Pray.

Major theme (1:7)

fear- profound respect, reverential awe, holy fear.

of the Lord- Yahweh

the beginning- starting point, first fruit.

knowledge- the ability to discern

fools- a person who lacks good judgment

despise- look down with contempt ( When given advice to to reply with “I know” or “I agree”?)

wisdom and instruction- skill and training

Question: How do I receive instruction? What is my attitude when offered advice?

Christ Connection

Conclusion: You do not have to be unfaithful like Solomon. As we are reminded from Jesus word in Matthew 12:42 ...

Matthew 12:42 ESV

The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

Also, be reminded of what we are told in I Corinthians 1:26-31

1 Corinthians 1:26–31 ESV

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

If you are in Christ you have the Holy Spirit living in you who will give you wisdom and understanding of the truth. Close by praying Ephesians 1:17.

Ephesians 1:17 ESV

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,