PROVERBS Introduction Proverbs Prologue to Wise Living The
PROVERBS Introduction
Proverbs Prologue to Wise Living “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. ” (1: 7) Chapters 1 -9 Wisdom especially for youth Emphasi s Framework Subjects & statements Principles for Wise Living Personification of Wise Living “The fear of the Lord is the Charm is deceitful, and beauty instruction for wisdom, and is vain; but a woman who fears before honor comes humility” the Lord, she shall be praised. ” (31: 30) (15: 33) Chapters 10: 1 -31: 9 Chapters 31: 10 -31 Wisdom for all People & problems Counseling & correction A book filled with short statements that declare a profound truth providing Style wisdom for life Christ in Wisdom is incarnate in Christ “in whom are hidden all the treasures of Proverbs wisdom and knowledge. ” (1 Cor. 1: 24, 30; Col. 2: 3) From God's Masterwork - Swindoll
� “Knowledge is important in our society. And concerns for a good education are natural and justified. But does one have “real knowledge” for living life in the fullest if all he has is secular knowledge? Our nation has the highest percentage of educated citizens of any prior generation, yet violence, dishonesty, sexual immorality, financial chaos, and broken homes often seem to be the norm. If secular knowledge and material prosperity do not guarantee meaningful inner peace and contentment, what will? The book of Proverbs provides the answer…Proverbs teaches one to fear the Lord and this is the foundation for real knowledge ? --- Robert Harkrider on Proverbs
Who Wrote the Book? � Solomon is its author and as we think back we can recall that God granted Solomon wisdom and that he “spoke 3000 proverbs, and his songs were 1005” (1: 1; 1 Ki 4: 2932). � Other authors were Agur (Chapter 30) and King Lemuel (Chapter 31). In Ecclesiastes, Solomon tells us that he “sought out, and set in order many proverbs” (12: 9). The “words of the wise” almost surely came from Solomon (22: 17). � Later (about 300 years later), King Hezekiah is said to have added some of Solomon’s maxims to the collection of wisdom
How do you handle your problems? �Four ways of dealing with problems are: � Scenario 1: Go around them or avoid them. � Scenario 2: Deflect the problem to someone else (blame others). � Scenario 3: See things as hopeless and give up. � Scenario 4: Work through the problem to a healthy resolution.
How do you handle your problems? Go around problem - avoid Deal with the problem Problem Deflect to someone else Problem Fix it! Problem It’s hopeless - give up Problem
Example: How is our temper? � When we lose our temper do we go around the issue? Avoid it? � Do we deflect the issue? It’s my Dad’s fault? � Do we give up? It’s just the way I am? � Or do we meet the problem head on and deal with it? Are we willing to do the work to change?
Where does wisdom come from? �Trial and error �Counsel from others (12: 1) �Proverb is a “short sentence based on long experience” (Cervante in Don Quixote)
Purpose � To know wisdom, perceive words of understanding (1: 2) � To receive the instruction if wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity (1: 3) � To give prudence to the simple , to the young man knowledge and discretion (1: 4) � To increase the learning for a wise man, to give counsel to a man of understanding (1: 5) � To understand proverbs and enigmas, the words of the wise and their riddles (1: 6) Note: From Mark Copeland ‘s Executable Outlines
What is a proverb? � Proverbs is a practical earthy book that tells us how to get along with our fellow man. It is a book full of maxims that will help to equip us with wisdom, discernment, discipline and discretion. � The Hebrew word mashal means to “represent, be like, similar, a likeness” conveying the idea of comparing the familiar to the unfamiliar. The Latin word proverbia means “in place of words” or “for words. ” � They are short statements filled with profound truths that will give wisdom for life. � Short sentences drawn from long experiences.
What is theme? (1: 7) �“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. ” (1: 7; cf. Col. 2: 3) �“Fear” comes from the term yara and is the common word used in OT for fear. Three-fold usage: Dread, terror (Deut. 1: 29) 2. To stand in awe (1 Kings 3: 28) 3. To revere, to respect – in regard to parents (Lev. 19: 3) 1.
I. Listen to your parents (1: 8 -9; 15: 5) �Their knowledge �Their experience �Their wisdom �“Hear my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. ” (Prov. 1: 8 -9)
II. The Beauty of listening to your parents �Their wisdom is like graceful jewelry �Children made attractive by their parents wisdom �Compare the ugliness of parental disrespect � “My sin, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. Let not mercy and truth forsake you: bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man. ” (Prov. 3: 1 -4 )
Beware of evil companions (1: 10 -19) �Do not consent to their counsel �Do not walk with them (keep away) The “friends” persuade through enticement 1. 1. 2. 3. -Such as wealth without work -Such as pleasure without commitment -Such as companionship without cost They (“friends”) ignore the cost of sin The solutions to these evil companions : 2. 3. 1. 2. -Don’t listen to them – “Do not consent” (1: 10) -Stay away from them – “Do not walk with them…” (1: 15)
Heed the call of Sophia � Made publically (1: 20 -21) � To those who need her (1: 22) � Be filled with her wisdom (1: 23) Her warning: § To those who refuse her (1: 24 -25) § There will be no help when calamity comes (1: 26 -30) § They will suffer the fate of their folly (1: 31) Her summary” � Destruction will come upon the simple and the fools (1: 26 -30) � Security comes to those who listen (1: 33)
PROVERBS 1: 20 -33
Heed the call of Wisdom 1. Made publically (1: 20 -21) She calls aloud outside – open square and streets � Wisdom is not hidden- it is available (8: 1 -5) � 2. To those who need her (1: 22) Simple ones – morally naïve or easily influenced � Scorners – who delight in their scorning – cynical and defiant � Fools – who hate knowledge – hate that which is good � 3. Be filled with her wisdom (1: 23) Do not refuse her counsel and wisdom (1: 25) � She will pour out her wisdom to those who will listen �
Basic facts about wisdom Wisdom is available – every time we open the Book; as we observe life and listen. 2. Wisdom can be ignored and spurned (1: 22, 24) 3. Wisdom spurned bears serious consequences whirlwind (1: 26 -31; 1 Ki. 11: 9 -28, 40; Nah. 1: 2 -3; Hos 8: 7; Psa. 58: 9) 1.
There will be no help when calamity comes 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. She will laugh and mock Despite the cries for help, it will be too late Why? Because they hated knowledge when they had opportunity They did not choose the fear of the Lord (the beginning of wisdom) They had rejected her counsel and despised her rebuke (see Isa. 55: 6 -7)
Connection between wisdom and reproof (1: 23) �“A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent…Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die. ” (15: 5, 10) �“The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame” (29: 15) �“And we have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. ” (Eph. 5: 11)
Reproof � Is the vehicle by which God connects to mankind. When we read God speaks to us; He reproves us. � It Is not always physical (rod)- but verbal (20: 1). � Will we let God chasten us? (Heb. 13: 5) Ø Will we be bull headed or neglectful? Ø Do we simply shrug our shoulders and ignore reproof? Ø Do we say, “I’ll fix it later” or dowe have a “I don’t care attitude. ” “He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding. ” (15: 32)
Maturity proceeds through four stages: Ø Help me! Ø Tell me! Ø Show me! Ø Follow me! “Maturity is moving form soft skin-tough heart to tough skin-soft heart” – Charles Swindoll
How do you handle your problems? Go around problem - avoid Deal with the problem Problem Deflect to someone else Problem Fix it! Problem It’s hopeless - give up Problem
PROVERBS For Miners Only (Proverbs 2: 1 -9)
Are you a miner (2: 1 -9) � The conditions that lead to the treasure (2: 1 -4) � The results or rewards of mining for the treasure (2: 5) � The promises or benefits assure the miner (2: 6 -9)
I. The conditions : Four disciplines of the miner (2: 1 -4) Discipline of the written word (2: 1) ii. Discipline of inner desire (2: 2) iii. Discipline of prevailing prayer (2: 3) iv. Discipline of daily consistency (2: 4) i.
Four disciplines (tools) of a miner: 1. Discipline of the written word � “My son, if thou wilt receive (treasure up – ESV) my words and hide my commandments with thee. ” � Has to do with attitude and passion for finding the truth.
Four disciplines (tools) of a miner: 2. Discipline of inner desire (twofold) Ø Ø We must have an attentive ear We must cultivate an open heart § “So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom and apply thine heart to understanding. ” (2: 2) § ESV says, “making your ear attentive to wisdom…”
Four disciplines (tools) of a miner: 3. Discipline of prevailing prayer § “Yea, if thou criest after knowledge (discretion, NKJV or insight, ESV), and liftest up thy voice for understanding. ” (2: 3) Ø “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. ” (Ja. 5: 6) Ø “Surely there is a vein for silver, and a place for gold where they can refine it. But where is wisdom found? … And where is the place for understanding? Man knoweth not the price whereof… (Job 28: 1, 12 -15)
Four disciplines (tools) of a miner: 4. Discipline of daily consistency � “If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures. ” (2: 4) Ø Ø ü “Seek means to seek for the purpose of finding. ” “Search means dig for the purpose of searching out. To search, probe, and discover to get the value. ” We cannot be up and down, hot and cold…need consistency.
The result – rewards � Notice the “if” and the “then” to the reading: 1. 2. 3. “If you receive my words… (2: 1) “If you call out for wisdom (insight, ESV)… (2: 3) “If you seek it like silver… (2: 4) Ø “Then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. ” (2: 5) Ø “Then shalt thou understand righteousness and judgment, and equity, yea every good path. ” (2: 9)
The promise - (a guarantee to find the treasure) � God gives wisdom, knowledge and understanding � “He layeth (stores it up, ESV) up sound wisdom for the righteous: He is a buckler (shield, ESV) to them that walketh uprightly. ” (2: 7) � Three benefits: From within – our hearts will be filled with wisdom, knowledge and understanding. (2: 6 -7) 2. From without – God will guars or shield us – preserve us. (2: 7 -8) 3. From above – God will direct you and you will be satisfied by the work you have done; you will find righteousness, justice, equity (balance), and every good (right) course. (2: 9) 1.
Conclusion � The miner understands the importance of preparing himself for the job ahead. Put your hard hat on and properly equip yourself for the search; bring your good attitude. � Do we saturate our minds with the word of God? � Do we have an attentive ear and an open heart? � Do we proclaim the need for discernment? � Do we request (pray for) understanding? � Do we diligently seek wisdom? � Do we seek with patience? � Do we persevere?
Are you a miner (2: 1 -9) � The conditions that lead to the treasure (2: 1 -4) � The results or rewards of mining for the treasure (2: 5) � The promises or benefits assure the miner (2: 6 -9)
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