PROVERBS The Wit of One becomes the Wisdom

PROVERBS The Wit of One becomes the Wisdom of Many 1

The uniqueness of “wisdom” literature God Man “Thus saith the Lord” 2 “A wise child usually brings joy to her parents”

Structure 1: 1 -7, introduction & purpose A, 1: 8 -33 Two Appeals to Youth B, 2 -4 Commendation of Wisdom + B, 5 -8 Warnings against Folly - t x e t n o C A, 9: 1 -18 Two Appeals to Youth 10 -22, Anthology of Solomon’s Proverbs 23 -30, Various collections 31, the final example of wisdom 3

For whom & why is the book written? 1: 4 To make the simple wise & 1: 5 To make the wise even wiser Note the frequent address: 4

1: 8 Listen, MY SON, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching. 1: 10 MY SON, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them. 1: 15 MY SON, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; 2: 1 MY SON, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 3: 1 MY SON, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 5

3: 11 MY SON, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, 3: 21 MY SON, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; 4: 10 Listen, MY SON, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. 4: 20 MY SON, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. 5: 1 MY SON, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight, 6

5: 20 Why be captivated, MY SON, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another man's wife? 6: 1 MY SON, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge for another, 6: 3 then do this, MY SON, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands: Go and humble yourself; press your plea with your neighbor! 6: 20 MY SON, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching. 7

7: 1 MY SON, keep my words and store up my commands within you. 19: 27 Stop listening to instruction, MY SON, and you will stray from the words of knowledge. 23: 15 MY SON, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad; 23: 19 Listen, MY SON, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path. 23: 26 MY SON, give me your heart and let your eyes keep to my ways, 8

24: 13 Eat honey, MY SON, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste. 24: 21 Fear the LORD and the king, MY SON, and do not join with the rebellious, 27: 11 Be wise, MY SON, and bring joy to my heart; then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt. 9

Survey Notice the CONTRASTS & COUNTERFEITS !!! What is the counterfeit in chapter 1? getting money through ______ instead of ______ stealing versus work taking versus giving (providing service) no effort versus effort. Can you list specific ways that our society gives in to this? Can you list specific ways that we as students give in? Papers, exams, guessing on exams? 10

Notice the CONTRASTS & COUNTERFEITS !!! Is this topic really that big a deal to us? Is it important to God? Work is at the center of who God is, and is at the core of our identity. Genesis 1 -2 We are made in the image of a creative worker and given a mandate to work! Still valid even with the difference between work and toil It continues in Wisdom lit – Sluggard, Ant et al Jesus’ words, John 17: 4! It never ends based on Revelation 21 -22 in the new heavens & earth (“reigning”) 11

On “work” in the future “We should not think of ourselves as destined to be celestial bureaucrats, involved eternally in celestial “administrivia. ” That would be slightly better than being caught in an everlasting church service. No, we should think of our destiny as being absorbed in a tremendously creative team effort, with unimaginably splendid leadership, on an inconceivably vast plane of activity, with ever more comprehensive cycles of productivity and enjoyment. THIS is the “eye hath not seen, neither ear heard” that lies before us in the prophetic vision (Isa 64: 4). --Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy, 12399.

Notice the CONTRASTS & COUNTERFEITS !!! In chapter 1 the counterfeit of taking vs. working In 2 -9 the counterfeit of Illegal sexual pleasure vs. that of marriage. Summary: Satan will tempt you to attain, in a wrong way, all of the good things God has designed you for. Don’t be stupid and go for the bait. 13

Notice the contrasting “women” in chapters 1 -9 Proverbs 9: 1 -9 1 Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars. 2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. 3 She has sent out her maids, and she calls from the highest point of the city. 4 Let all who are simple come in here! she says to those who lack judgment. 5 Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. 6 Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding. 14

Notice the contrasting “women” in chapters 1 -9 Proverbs 9: 13 -18 13 The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge. 14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, 15 calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way. 16 Let all who are simple come in here! she says to those who lack judgment. 17 Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious! 18 But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave. 15

Notice the contrasting “women” in chapters 1 -9 Both are concepts (metaphysical). . . But only one also has a physical counterpart Or does the other too? Metaphysical Physical “Lady Wisdom” “Lady Folly” ? ? ? Adultress 16

Proverbs 31 The Cedarville guy’s checklist? Count the verses dedicated to her Acrostic 17

Psalm 119: 1 -13. hw: hya tr'wto. B] : ykil]hoh' Jr, d; Aymeymit] yrev]a 1'. Wh. Wvr]d]y. I ble. Alk; B] wyt; do[e yrex]nÉ yrev]a 2. Wkl; h; wyk; r; d]Bi hl; wa[' Wl[}p; Aal) oa 3. daom] rmov]li byd, Qupi ht; y. WIxi h. T; a 4. by. Q, ju rmov]li yk; r; d] Wn. Koy. I yl'j}a 5. byt, /x]mi. Al. K; Ala, yfiy. Bih'B] vwboae. Aal) za 6. bq, d]xi yfe. P]v]mi ydim]l; B] bb; le rv, yÉB] bd]wa 7. daom]Ad[' yn. Ibeza['T'Ala' rmov]a, by. Q, ju. Ata 8. br, b; d]Ki rmov]li wjor]a; Ata, r['N"Ah. K, z: ya h. M, B 9. byt, /x]Mimi yn. IG*v]T'Ala' by. Tiv]r'd] y. Bili. Alk; B] 10 18

Proverbs 31 The Cedarville guy’s checklist? Count the verses dedicated to her Acrostic “As we’ve exhausted the alphabet, so we’ve exhausted the subject” or “This person is the complete embodiment of wisdom” 19

Proverbs 31 So what is the good (wise) life? Simple faithful, fear of God and love of people. Jesus, before the first miracle. . . Wisdom encourages us to focus on the depth of our walk with God and let Him determine the breadth of our influence. 20

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