Old Testament Survey: The Book of Proverbs

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Old Testament Survey The Book of Proverbs

• The fear of the LORD is the beginning of
  knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and
  instruction. Proverbs 17

2
Background

• Collection of wise sayings by several
  menSolomon major contributor
• Scribes put the collection together (251)
• Only part of the 3,000 proverbs Solomon
  authored
• Moral instruction to the young
• The book covers a wide range of subjects
• Book read like a dictionary
  subject changes frequently

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Studying the Book

• Written in the style of Hebrew poetry
• Emphasis on parallelism
• Largely antithetical
• Verses with opposite thought in each line

• An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
  But she who causes shame is like rottenness in
  his bones. (124)
• A wise son makes a glad father, But a foolish
  son is the grief of his mother. (101)

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Studying the Book

• Sometimes the parallelism is synonymous
• Verses with thought is repeated in both lines

• The evil will bow before the good, And the
  wicked at the gates of the righteous. (1419)
• Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go
  Keep her, for she is your life. (413)

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Studying the Book

• Sometimes the parallelism is synthetic
• Verses in which line B supplements or completes
  the thought of line A

• Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of
  it spring the issues of life. (423)
• My son, pay attention to my wisdom Lend your
  ear to my understanding. (51)

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WISDOM

• Wisdom begins, not in good, secular education,
  but in the fear of the Lord.

• Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean
  not on your own understanding In all your
  ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your
  paths. (35,6)

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WISDOM

• Wisdom begins, not in good, secular education,
  but in the fear of the Lord.
• Occurs 14 times in the book

• Wisdom is the principal thing Therefore get
  wisdom. And in all your getting, get
  understanding. (47)
• The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
  And the knowledge of the Holy One is
  understanding. (910)

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Choice Selection Concerning Wisdom

• Call of Wisdom
• Wisdom calls aloud outside She raises her voice
  in the open squares. She cries out in the chief
  concourses, At the openings of the gates in the
  city she speaks her words. (120,21)

• Source of wisdom
• For the LORD gives wisdom From His mouth come
  knowledge and understanding He stores up sound
  wisdom for the upright He is a shield to those
  who walk uprightly. 26,7

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Choice Selection Concerning Wisdom

• Preciousness of wisdom
• She is more precious than rubies, And all the
  things you may desire cannot compare with her.
  Length of days is in her right hand, In her left
  hand riches and honor. (315,16)

• Wisdom is the principal thing
• Wisdom is the principal thing Therefore get
  wisdom. And in all your getting, get
  understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote
  you She will bring you honor, when you embrace
  her. 47,8

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Choice Selection Concerning Wisdom

• The personification of wisdom
• I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out
  knowledge and discretion. The fear of the LORD is
  to hate evil pride and arrogance and the evil
  way and the perverse mouth I hate. (812,13)

• The feast of wisdom
• Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her
  seven pillars She has slaughtered her meat, She
  has mixed her wine, She has also furnished her
  table. 91,2

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Main Divisions of the Book

• Introduction
• The practical purpose of Proverbs (11-6)
• Part I
• Proverbs of Solomon concerning the value and
  attainment of wisdom (17918)
• Part II
• Proverbs of Solomon on practical morality
  (1012216)

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Main Divisions of the Book

• Part III
• Proverbs of the wise, admonitions to get wisdom
  and follow it. (22172434)
• Part IV
• Proverbs of Solomon selected by men of Hezekiah.
  The practice of wisdom, contrast between the
  righteous and the wicked (2529)
• Part V
• Words of Agur and King Lemuel. Lessons concerning
  God, men, nature and praises of a virtuous woman
  (3031)

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Personal Duties

• We have the same duties taught in the New
  Testament as parts of our Christian manner of
  life.
• Duty to God

• The fear of the LORD is the beginning of
  knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and
  instruction. (17)
• Fear of the Lord is respect and reverence that
  leads to trust and obedience.

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Personal Duties

• We have the same duties taught in the New
  Testament as parts of our Christian manner of
  life.
• Duty to Self

• The fear of the LORD is the instruction of
  wisdom, and before honor is humility. (1533)
• One must avoid pride and develop humility. Must
  resist things deprive one of salvation.

15
Personal Duties

• We have the same duties taught in the New
  Testament as parts of our Christian manner of
  life.
• Duty to our neighbors

• He who despises his neighbor sins But he who
  has mercy on the poor, happy is he. (1421)
• Ones duty to his neighbor includes expressing
  sympathy and cheer. Helping in time of need.

16
Personal Duties

• We have the same duties taught in the New
  Testament as parts of our Christian manner of
  life.
• Family duties

• Train up a child in the way he should go, And
  when he is old he will not depart from it.
  (226)
• Ones duty to his familyparents, spouse and
  children.

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Great Lessons From Proverbs

• One of the main subjects in Proverbs is the
  contrast between the wise and foolish. Righteous
  and unrighteousobedient and disobedient

• For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains
  favor from the LORD But he who sins against me
  wrongs his own soul All those who hate me love
  death. (835,36)

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The Contrast in Proverbs

• In Proverbs we see both sides of an issue. One
  is positive and the other is negative. Men must
  choose

• The fear of the LORD is the beginning of
  knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and
  instruction. (17)
• The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But
  he who heeds counsel is wise. (1215)

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The Contrast in Proverbs

• In Proverbs we see both sides of an issue. One
  is positive and the other is negative. Men must
  choose

• He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But
  whoever walks wisely will be delivered. (2826)
• Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean
  not on your own understanding. (35)

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The Contrast in Proverbs

• In Proverbs we see both sides of an issue. One
  is positive and the other is negative. Men must
  choose

• A fool's wrath is known at once, But a prudent
  man covers shame. (1216)
• He who is slow to anger is better than the
  mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who
  takes a city. (1632)

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The Way of Righteousness

• Righteousness can be best defined as obeying
  Gods commands.

• I traverse the way of righteousness, in the
  midst of the paths of justice. (820)
• In the way of righteousness is life, And in its
  pathway there is no death. (1228)

22
The Wicked and Righteous

• The upright and the wicked are contrasted
  throughout Proverbs

• Then you will understand righteousness and
  justice, Equity and every good path. When wisdom
  enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to
  your soul. (29,10)
• The righteousness of the blameless will direct
  his way aright, but the wicked will fall by his
  own wickedness. (115)

23
Reward of Righteousness

• Many rewards are made by God for the ones who
  choose righteousness

• The wicked are overthrown and are no more, But
  the house of the righteous will stand. (127)
• The way of the wicked is an abomination to the
  LORD, but He loves him who follows
  righteousness. (159)

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Attitudes Are Important

• God is supremely interested in out thoughts and
  attitudes. Disposition of the heart a chief
  requirement

• For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Eat
  and drink! he says to you, but his heart is not
  with you. (237)
• Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is
  more hope for a fool than for him. (2612)

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Fear of the Lord

• The importance of fearing God is the central
  message and most valuable lesson of the Proverbs.

• In the fear of the LORD there is strong
  confidence, And His children will have a place of
  refuge. (1426)
• Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be
  zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day.
  (2317)

26
SpeechUse of the Tongue

• The use of the tongue is a prominent theme of
  Proverbs.

• A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In
  settings of silver. (2511)
• A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word
  stirs up anger. (151)
• Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness
  to the soul and health to the bones. (1624)

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SpeechSpeech of Wise and Fools

• In Proverbs the speech between the wise and fools
  are contrasted. Again men must choose...

• Wise people store up knowledge, but the mouth of
  the foolish is near destruction. (1014)
• The words of a man's mouth are deep waters the
  wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook. (184)
• A fool's lips enter into contention, and his
  mouth calls for blows. A fool's mouth is his
  destruction, And his lips are the snare of his
  soul. (186,7)