proverbs, pt. 3 10:1-22:16; 25-29. ane parallels “instructions of ptah-hotep” –egyptian vizier...

Proverbs, Pt. 3

10:1-22:16; 25-29

ANE Parallels • “Instructions of Ptah-hotep”

– Egyptian vizier in the 5th dynasty, 25th c BC. – Notable themes/teachings:

• “The strength of justice is that it lasts” (95).• Listen to the petitioner (265-275). • Table propriety (120). • Do not be greedy or covetous (315).• Hear father’s instruction (565+).

ANE Parallels • “Counsels of Wisdom”

– Akkadian--from the Kassite period (1500-1200).

– Note the themes:• Moderation in speech (26-27, 127-129, 131-135). • Do not loiter, i.e. be lazy (31ff). • Treat your enemy well (41-44). • Avoid the prostitute (72).

ANE Parallels • Words of Ahiqar

– Assyrian official in the early 7th c BC. – Note these themes:

• Do not withhold the rod from a son (6:80ff). • Warnings about restraint in speech (7:96).

1. Man’s Life Under God • God’s Oversight (& Omniscience)

– 16:4 “The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil.”

1. Man’s Life Under God • Man’s plans & God’s purposes

– 16:3 Commit your works to the LORD, And your plans will be established.

– 16:9 The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.

– 19:21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, But the counsel of the LORD, it will stand.

– 21:30-31 There is no wisdom and no under-standing, And no counsel against the LORD. The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the LORD.

1. Man’s Life Under God • Immanent or transcendent? • Limits of Wisdom

1. Man’s Life Under God • Limits of Wisdom

– “It’s [Prov. 21:30-31] aim is . . . to put a stop to the erroneous concept that a guarantee of success was to be found simply in practising (sic) human wisdom and in making preparations. Man must always keep himself open to the activity of God, an activity which completely escapes all calculation, for between the putting into practice of the most reliable wisdom and that which then actually takes place, there always lies a great unknown” (von Rad, Wisdom in Israel, 101).

1. Man’s Life Under God • Limits of Wisdom

– “Every period [of wisdom teaching] has its own conflicts with reality or, better, with the concepts which it has formed of reality. But there is always something which cannot be accommodated. The search for knowledge in every age has only the confidence which it has been given and is forced to a halt at specific limits” (von Rad, Wisdom in Israel, 110).

1. Man’s Life Under God • Faith

– 14:26 In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And his children will have refuge.

– 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.

• Trust in the Lord for:– Defense– Protection– Safety

1. Man’s Life Under God • Morality (& rewards & retribution)

– 28:13 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.

– 29:26 Many seek the ruler's favor, But justice for man comes from the LORD.

• Where is our justice?• Where will we find compassion?

1. Man’s Life Under God • Rewards & Punishment

– 10:3 The LORD will not allow the righteous to hunger, But He will thrust aside the craving of the wicked.

– 13:25 The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, But the stomach of the wicked is in want.

– 14:11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed, But the tent of the upright will flourish.

– 26:27 He who digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.

– 28:18 He who walks blamelessly will be delivered, But he who is crooked will fall all at once.

– 28:25 An arrogant man stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.

• What is the basic theology?

1. Man’s Life Under God • Punishment

– 20:17 Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.

– 21:7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away, Because they refuse to act with justice.

– 22:8 He who sows iniquity will reap vanity, And the rod of his fury will perish.

1. Man’s Life Under God • Here is a common OT principle:

– Sin carries its own punishment.

2. The Human Condition • Life & Plans

– 11:7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, And the hope of strong men perishes.

– 25:25 Like cold water to a weary soul, So is good news from a distant land.

– 14:12, 16:25 There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

– 20:29 The glory of young men is their strength, And the honor of old men is their gray hair.

2. The Human Condition• Wealth and Poverty

– 10:4 Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.

– 19:1 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool.

– 19:22b And it is better to be a poor man than a liar.– 21:6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue Is a

fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death.– 22:1 A good name is to be more desired than great

riches, Favor is better than silver and gold.– 28:6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity,

Than he who is crooked though he be rich.

2. The Human Condition• Does wisdom, diligence, and

integrity bring riches?

2. The Human Condition• Wealth and Poverty

– 10:15 The rich man's wealth is his fortress, The ruin of the poor is their poverty.

– 18:11 A rich man's wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own imagination.

– 27:7 A sated man loathes honey, But to a famished man any bitter thing is sweet. • “Hunger makes bitterness sweet” (Ahiqar

12:188).

2. The Human Condition• Lessons

–Trust God.–Learn contentment.–Be honest & diligent.

3. Proverbs on Wisdom • 14:1 “The wise woman builds her house,

But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.”

3. Proverbs on Wisdom • Advice, Wisdom, & Folly

– 12:1 “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, he who hates reproof is stupid.”

– 12:15 “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.”

– 14:15 “The naive believes everything, But the prudent man considers his steps.”

– 14:16 “A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, But a fool is arrogant and careless.”

– 17:10 “A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.”

– 26:11 “Like a dog that returns to its vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.”

3. Proverbs on Wisdom Discipline & Instruction• Ignoring Counsel

– 13:13 The one who despises the word will be in debt to it, but the one who fears the commandment will be rewarded.

– 15:32 He who neglects discipline despises himself, But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.

– 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.

• “Mouth of the Wicked”–10:6 Blessings are on the head of the

righteous, But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

–10:11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

4. Proverbs on Character

• Character & Company (13:20) – “He who walks with wise men will be wise,

But the companion of fools will suffer harm”


• Compassion toward the poor– 14:31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches his

Maker, But he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.

– 17:5 He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; He who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.

– 19:17 He who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, And He will repay him for his good deed.


• Honesty & Dishonesty – 11:1 A false balance is an abomination to the LORD,

But a just weight is His delight.– 16:11 A just balance and scales belong to the LORD;

All the weights of the bag are His concern.– 20:10 Differing weights and differing measures, Both

of them are abominable to the LORD.– 20:23 Differing weights are an abomination to the

LORD, And a false scale is not good.


• Honesty & Dishonesty – DT 25:13-16 Do not have two differing weights in your bag--

one heavy, one light. Do not have two differing measures in your house--one large, one small. You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. For the LORD your God detests anyone who does these things, anyone who deals dishonestly.

– MIC 6:10-11 Am I still to forget, O wicked house, your ill-gotten treasures and the short ephah, which is accursed? Shall I acquit a man with dishonest scales, with a bag of false weights?


• Hypocrisy– Like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross are

burning lips and a wicked heart. (26:23)– MT 23:25-28 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees,

you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.


5. Proverbs on Behavior • The sluggard

– 15:19 The way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.

– 22:13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside; I shall be slain in the streets!“

– 26:13 The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! A lion is in the open square!"

• Speech—Restraint– 10:19 When there are many words, transgression

is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.

– 13:3 The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; the one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

– 18:2 A fool does not delight in understanding, But only in revealing his own mind.

– 21:23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from troubles.

5. Proverbs on Behavior

• Counsels of Wisdom—“Let your mouth be restrained, guarded your speech. Like a man’s wealth, let your lips be precious” (1:20).

• Ahiqar—“Chatter not too much so that you speak out every word that comes to your mind. … More than all watchfulness watch your mouth. For a word is a bird: once released no man can recapture it” (7:96ff).


• Gossip & Slander (11:13, 20:19)– 11:13 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals

secrets, but he who is trustworthy conceals a matter– 20:19 He who goes about as a slanderer reveals

secrets, Therefore do not associate with a gossip.


• Boasting & Pride– 27:1 Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not

know what a day may bring forth.– 27:2 Let another praise you, and not your own

mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.– 20:25 It is a snare for a man to say rashly, "It is

holy!" And after the vows to make inquiry.


• Quarrels (17:14) – “The beginning of strife is like letting out water,

So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.”


• Enemies – 24:17-18 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And

do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; Lest the LORD see it & be displeased, And He turn away His anger from him.

– 25:21-22 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For you will heap burning coals on his head, And the LORD will reward you.

– “Unto your opponent do no evil; your evildoer recompense with good; unto your enemy let justice [be done]. … Let him rejoice over you. … let not your heart be induced to do evil” (Counsels of Wisdom 1:35-40).


• Enemies—Matthew 5:38-48 – "You have heard that it was said, `Eye for eye, and tooth for

tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. ... "You have heard that it was said, `Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.


• Enemies—Romans 12:17-21 – Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do

what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” (Dt. 32:35) says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.


Family• “The rod”

– 13:24 He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.

– 22:15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.

– 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.


Family• Children & parents

– 17:25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her who bore him.

– 20:20 He who curses his father or his mother, His lamp will go out in time of darkness.


• Women & Discretion – 11:22 As a ring of gold in a swine's snout,

So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.


• Contentious Wife– 21:9 It is better to live in a corner of a roof, Than

in a house shared with a contentious woman.– 21:19 It is better to live in a desert land, Than with

a contentious and vexing woman.– 25:24 It is better to live in a corner of the roof

Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

– 27:15-16 A constant dripping on a day of steady rain And a contentious woman are alike; He who would restrain her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand.


• Civil Government– 14:34 “Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin

is a disgrace to any people.”• If a nation does not see the disgrace of

sin, what does that say of the nation? • Wisdom vs. covenant traditions?


• Leadership & Counsel – 11:14 Where there is no guidance, the

people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory.

– 29 18 Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.


• Leadership & Righteousness– 16:12-13 It is an abomination for kings to

commit wickedness, for a throne is established on righteousness (=tsedeqah

דXק Righteous (tsedeq .(צVדSקSה K Lצ ) lips are the delight of kings, And he who speaks right is loved.

– 20:28 Loyalty (דXס K Lח chesed) and truth (תXמ KLא ‘emet) preserve the king, And he upholds his throne by righteousness.


• Leadership & Wisdom – 25:2-3 “It is the glory of God to conceal

a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter. As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable” (NIV).


• Justice (17:15, 17:26, 18:5)– 17:15 He who justifies the wicked, and he

who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.

– 17:26 It is also not good to fine the righteous, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

– 18:5 To show partiality to the wicked is not good, Nor to thrust aside the righteous in judgment.


• Hatred & Anger– 10:12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all

transgressions.– 14:17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and a

man of evil devices is hated.– 14:29 He who is slow to anger has great

understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.

– 19:11 A man's discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression.


• Pride – 11:2 When pride comes, then comes dishonor,

But with the humble is wisdom.– 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, And a

haughty spirit before stumbling.– 29:23 A man's pride will bring him low, But a

humble spirit will obtain honor.


• Contentment– 27:20 “Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied,

Nor are the eyes of man ever satisfied.”


proverbs, pt. 3 10:1-22:16; 25-29. ane parallels “instructions of ptah-hotep” –egyptian vizier...

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god mans

mans life

activity of god

god faith14

god immanent

god limits of wisdomits

god rewards punishment10

human wisdom