Wisdom Calls / Part 1, Lessons from the Book of Proverbs

Intro

Part 1 - Wisdom Calls

Series - Lessons from the Book of Proverbs

Text - Proverbs 1.1-7

Proverbs 1:1–7 NKJV

1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding, 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity; 4 To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion— 5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

About the Book

Authorship

Solomon - wrote most of its contents

Agur - Proverbs 30.1 “1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, his utterance. This man declared to Ithiel—to Ithiel and Ucal:”

Lemuel - Proverbs 31.1 “1 The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother taught him:”

The Collection

Proverbs 25.1 “1 These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied:”

collection was probably done under King Hezekiah, some 200 years after Solomon

In the Hebrew Scripture, Proverbs is part of the Poetical Books, together with Psalms and Job

The Title

Proverbs - Heb mashal

translated in English -

proverb/s - about 23 times

oracle - Num 23.7 “7 And he took up his oracle and said: “Balak the king of Moab has brought me from Aram, From the mountains of the east. ‘Come, curse Jacob for me, And come, denounce Israel!’”

byword - Ps 44.14 “14 You make us a byword among the nations, A shaking of the head among the peoples.”

parable - Ps 27.1 “1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?”

discourse - Job 27.1 “1 Moreover Job continued his discourse, and said:”

Heb. mashal -

Holman Treasury of Key Bible Words: 200 Greek and 200 Hebrew Words Defined and Explained (Proverb)

A proverb is often described as a short pithy saying, usually given in concrete terms, that captures and summarizes some aspect of life in a memorable way.

Eerdmans Bible Dictionary (PROVERB)

PROVERB (Heb. māšal, māšāl).† Basically a saying concerned with making an instructive comparison

The New Bible Dictionary, 3rd Edition (Proverb)

māšāl (probably related to mšl, ‘to be like’, ‘to be compared with’, although some relate it to mšl, ‘to rule’; hence a word spoken by a ruler). In addition to denoting ‘a pithy saying, especially one condensing the wisdom of experience’

The Purpose of the Book

the book was created with noble intentions for its readers -

To know wisdom and instruction

Proverbs 1:2 NKJV

2 To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding,

Wisdom - Heb. chokmah

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 1

In the OT chokhmah most commonly describes wise judgment or decision making, which leads to success and can bring strength and favor

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 1

Chokhmah is also used to describe the skill or ability of craftsmen and artists

the purpose of the Book is to provide wisdom for success in life

Instruction

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 1

musar, is another key term in Proverbs. It can refer to instruction or discipline dispensed by either people or God

Lexham Theological Wordbook מוּסָר

מוּסָר (mûsār). n. masc. discipline, correction, reproof. Refers to corrective discipline or instruction

another purpose of this Book is to teach discipline, by providing proper instructions

To perceive the words of understanding

Understanding

Lexham Theological Wordbook בִּינָה

בִּינָה (bînâ). n. fem. insight, discernment, understanding. Describes one’s ability to wisely cogitate data that has been received; it moves beyond simply gathering information into the activity of discerning and judging its importance.

another purpose of this Book is to help the reader develop discernment

To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment and equity

Proverbs 1:3 NKJV

3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity;

another purpose of this Book is to give advice or counsel on wisdom, righteous acts, justice and fairness

To give prudence to the simple, as well as knowledge and discretion

Proverbs 1:4 NKJV

4 To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion—

another purpose of this Book is to teach how to

behave with skill/craft,

know things by reason

develop wise judgment

To understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles

Proverbs 1:6 NKJV

6 To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles.

another purpose of this Book is to help the reader understand how wise (men) teach through -

proverbs - sayings in concise words

enigma - parables that are satirical and sometimes hard to understand

words (in general)

riddles - words in the form of puzzles

The Objectives of the Book

The simple / the young man

Proverbs 1:4 NKJV

4 To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion—

Simple

The Abridged Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew-English Lexicon of the Old Testament פֶּתִי

adj. simple, poss. as open-minded — simple, as subst. concr.: open to the instruction of wisdom or folly

Proverbs 14:15 NKJV

15 The simple believes every word, But the prudent considers well his steps.

Proverbs 14:18 NKJV

18 The simple inherit folly, But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

Proverbs 27:12 NKJV

12 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; The simple pass on and are punished.

Proverbs 1:22 NKJV

22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge.

Proverbs 8:5 NKJV

5 O you simple ones, understand prudence, And you fools, be of an understanding heart.

To teach the wise

Proverbs 1:5 NKJV

5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,

Proverbs 9:8 NKJV

8 Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

Proverbs 9:9 NKJV

9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

Proverbs 14:16 NKJV

16 A wise man fears and departs from evil, But a fool rages and is self-confident.

Proverbs 21:20 NKJV

20 There is desirable treasure, And oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man squanders it.

Proverbs 29:11 NKJV

11 A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back.

The theme of the Book

Proverbs 1:7 NKJV

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 3:7 NKJV

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.

Proverbs 8:13 NKJV

13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.

Proverbs 9:10 NKJV

10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Proverbs 14:26–27 NKJV

26 In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, And His children will have a place of refuge. 27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death.

The Source of Wisdom

Proverbs 1:8–9 NKJV

8 My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother; 9 For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, And chains about your neck.

Advise to the Simple

Stay away form sinners

Proverbs 1:10 NKJV

10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.

Proverbs 1:15–16 NKJV

15 My son, do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path; 16 For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood.

Listen to the call of wisdom

Proverbs 1:20–23 NKJV

20 Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares. 21 She cries out in the chief concourses, At the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words: 22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge. 23 Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.

Warnings to those who do listen to wisdom’s call

Proverbs 1:24–33 NKJV

24 Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, 25 Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, 27 When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. 28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the Lord, 30 They would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke. 31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies. 32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.”

Conclusion