session 6c proverbs. 1. title to be likecompared with a)the hebrew word for proverb (masal –...

SESSION 6C

PROVERBSPROVERBS

1. TITLEA) The Hebrew word for proverb (masal – singular;

mesalim – plural), from which the book is named, “is derived from a root meaning “to be to be likelike” or “compared withcompared with.”

I) Thus, a proverb originally may have been a comparison of a type found in the Old Testament.” Example:

(1) “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” (Prov. 16:24)

(2) “Better is a dinner of vegetables where love is than a fatted ox and hatred with it.” (Prov. 15:17)

B) The English word ‘Proverb’ comes from the Latin proverbium meaning “put forth wordsput forth words”.

C) The title simply tells us that the book is a collection of proverbs or wise sayings.

3. DATE

A) Solomon reigned from 971 to 931 B.C. so we may assign the proverbs written by him to the 10th century.

B) The proverbs in 25:1-29:27 were also written by Solomon but were collected by Hezekiah’s men (25:1). Since Hezekiah reigned from 729 to 686 B.C., those proverbs must have been collected and transcribed during that time period.

C) So, the earliest date for the book would be around 700700 B.C.

D) If Agur or Lemuel wrote subsequent to Hezekiah’s reign, the date of the compilation and recording of the book must be put later.

4. PURPOSE OF THE BOOK

A) The introduction to the book describes a fivefoldfivefold purpose to the book (Prov. 1:2-4, 6):

I) for attainingattaining wisdom and disciplineII) for understandingunderstanding words of insightIII) for acquiringacquiring a disciplined and prudent lifeIV) for givinggiving prudence to the simpleV) for understandingunderstanding proverbs and parables, the

sayings and riddles of the wiseB) The purpose may be summarized as: to instill

in others, especially the youngyoung, the knowledge and skill necessary for right right livingliving, which begins with a right relationshipright relationship with the Lord.

5. THE STRUCTURE OF THE BOOK

A) Proverbs contains 8 separate collections.

B) 1:1-7 General introductionintroduction to the book of Proverbs

C) 1:8–9:18 ProloguePrologue: A father’s exhortation to acquire wisdom

D) 10:1–22:16 The firstfirst collection of the proverbs of Solomon

E) 22:17–24:34 The sayings of the wise wise menmen

5. THE STRUCTURE OF THE BOOK

F) 25:1–29:27 The secondsecond collection of the proverbs of Solomon as compiled by Hezekiah’s men

G) 30:1-33 The words of AgurAgur

H) 31:1-9 The words of King LemuelKing Lemuel

I) 31:10-31 EpilogueEpilogue: The wife of noble character acrostic poem

6.OUTLINE: THE WISE MAN ACCORDING TO PROVERBS

• His Character– He Is Teachable, Not Intractable

• He receives and loves instruction (18:15; 19:20)

• He grows in wisdom (1:5; 9:9; 10:14)

– He Is Righteous, Not Wicked• He fears the Lord (1:7; 14:16; see below under

relationship to the Lord)

• He hates what is false (13:5)

• He shuns evil (3:7; 14:16; 16:6)

• He does what is righteous (2:20)

• He speaks the truth (22:21)


– He Is Humble, Not Proud (15:33)

– He Is Self-controlled, Not Rash• His temperament

– He is self-controlled (29:11)– He has a calm spirit (17:27)– He is slow to become angry (29:8,11)

• His actions– He is cautious, not hasty (19:2)– He thinks before he acts (13:16; 14:8)– He thinks before he speaks (12:23; 15:2)


– He Is Forgiving, Not Vindictive• He is patient (19:11)• He is concerned about goodwill/peace (14:9)• He forgives those who wrong him (10:12; 17:9)• He is not vindictive (20:22; 24:29)


• His Relationships– To the Lord

• He fears the Lord (9:10; 14:16; 15:33)• He trusts in the Lord (3:5; 16:3,20)• He is ever mindful of the Lord (3:6)• He chooses the Lord’s way/wisdom (8:10-

11; 17:24)• He submits to the Lord’s discipline (1:2-3; 3:11)• He confesses his sin (28:13)


– To His Family• To his parents

– Respects them (17:6; contrast 30:17)– Listens to them (23:22; cf. 1:8; 4:1)– Seeks to bring them honor and joy

» By being wise (10:1; 15:20; 29:3)» By being righteous (23:24)» By being diligent (10:5)


• To his wife– He appreciates her

» As a gift from the Lord (18:22; 19:14)» As his crowning glory (12:4; 31:10-31)

– He praises her (31:28)– He trusts her (31:11)– He is faithful to her (5:15-20)


• To his children– He loves them (3:12; 13:24)– He is concerned about them (1:8-9:18)– He trains them (22:6)– He provides for their

» Physical needs (21:20; cf. 27:23-27)» Spiritual heritage (14:26; 20:7)


– To His Friends and Neighbors• To his friends

– He values them (27:10)

– He is constant to them (17:17; 18:24)

– He gives them counsel (27:9,17; cf. 27:6; 28:23)

• To his neighbors– He fulfills his obligations (3:27-28)

– He strives for peace (3:29-30)

– He does not outstay his welcome (25:17)

– He does not deceive or mislead them (16:29; 26:18-19)


• His Words– The Power of His Words

• Their power– The power of life and death (12:6; 13:14; 15:4; 18:21)– The power to heal or to

wound (11:9,11; 12:18; 15:4,30; 16:24)

• Their limitation– No substitute for deeds (14:23)– Cannot alter the facts (26:23-26)– Cannot compel response (29:19)


– The Character of His Words• They are honest, not false (12:22; 16:13)• They are few, not many (10:19)

– Not boastful (27:2)– Not argumentative (17:14)– Not contentious (29:9)– Not a gossip

» Revealing secrets (11:13; 20:19)» Spreading slander (10:18; 26:20-22)


• They are calm, not emotional– Rational (15:28; 17:27)– Gentle and peaceable (15:1,18)– Yet persuasive (25:15)

• They are apt, not untimely (15:23; 25:11)


– The Source of His Words• His heart/character (compare 4:23 with Mt 12:33-

35)– Positively, he is righteous (cf. 10:11; 13:14)– Negatively, he is not

» Proud (13:10; cf. 6:16-19)» Hateful (26:24,28)

• His companions (13:20; 27:17)• Reflections (15:28)

UNDERSTANDING WISDOM

Proverbs 1:7

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…..”

UNDERSTANDING WISDOM

“THE FEAR OF THE LORD”

Wisdom requires a healthy fear of the Lord. We must learn to

prefer God’s opinion above our own. We cannot gain wisdom

without humility.

“THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE”

(1) Knowledge in Proverbs refers to relationalrelational knowledge not propositional or intellectual.

(2) In other words, there is much more to knowing truth than learning its propositions, its proven assertions.

session 6c proverbs. 1. title to be likecompared with a)the hebrew word for proverb (masal –...

Documents

bthe proverbs

collection of proverbs

book of proverbs prologue

c proverbs

book aproverbs

wise sayings

wise man

words of insight