Proverbs Study

In the introduction to Proverbs, (See www.ibcpastor.blogspot.com), we looked at verse one of chapter one and discovered that the title of the book is Proverbs, from the Hebrew [Mashal], which refers to short rhythmic statements that are catchy and full of meaning. And they had wide spread acceptance as teaching tools.

We also learned that most of the book of Proverbs was written by Solomon. It is possible that chapters 30 and 31 were not, but the names used there may be alternate names for Solomon. It really doesn’t matter. It doesn’t damage the book in any way if there were other contributors because it was all given under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and eventually canonized as scripture. So it is still the Word of God even if there were other authors.

So verse one gives us the author and the explanation of what Proverbs are. Verses 2-6 gives us the purpose for the book of Proverbs. We alluded to some of this last week.

Remember we said that Proverbs deal with choices people make. They speak of family relationships, business ethics, moral choices, and inner motivation, and again universal in their application.

Proverbs adapt themselves to our situation, and provide instruction in handling “life”. The issues and apprehensions of life that bog us down. The questions we ask about how to raise our kids and handle our money, and make the most of our marriage, and get along with our neighbors and our employers. These are the things that Proverbs teach us.

But I guess that’s really more about what they are. But in Proverbs 1:2-6 God tells us what His purpose is for this book. Why did he inspire it? Why was it written? Why did he make sure that it is available to us 3000 years later to read and study? Well in these verses he makes that very clear.

1:2 “for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight;”

God is very clear. This book was given first of all for attaining:

“Wisdom”. If we had to sum up the theme of the book of Proverbs in one word it would be “Wisdom”. We saw last week that this book along with Job, some of the Psalms and Ecclesiastes are known as “Wisdom Literature”

The word, “wisdom” comes from the Hebrew word “chokma”, and has different meanings depending on the context. For instance,

II Chronicles 2:7 “Send me, therefore, a man skilled to work in gold and silver, bronze and iron, and in purple, crimson and blue yarn, and experienced in the art of engraving, to work in Judah and Jerusalem with my skilled craftsmen, whom my father David provided.”

Here is means and is translated “skilled”. The KJV says, “cunning”.

II Samuel 13:3 “Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab son of Shimeah, David's brother. Jonadab was a very shrewd man.”

In this verse it is translated “shrewd”. The KJV here renders it “Subtle”.

But in our text in Proverbs, it probably has to do with knowledge of the moral law of God – that is what God requires. And it refers to the ability to use that knowledge to live life rightly. There is a difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is simply the possession of facts. Wisdom is the ability to use those facts. It’s kind of like the difference between classroom instruction and practical experience. In the classroom, you learn facts. Then you go out and apply those facts to life, AND in the process you learn a whole lot more.

Brenda and I were talking about that the other night. She was saying that there were all these facts that she was being introduced to in her nursing classes. Some of them are clear and some of them are not. But when she has clinicals and sees those things put into practice, or she gets to practice them, they make more sense and the big picture begins to come together.

Proverbs was written toward the end of Solomon’s life because he had attained a great deal of wisdom through his life experience. That’s why Proverbs speaks highly of the gray hair of the righteous.

Proverbs 20:29 “The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.” That is young men delight to show strength and agility of body; whereas in old age physical strength is often replaced by wisdom and experience.

But not only is this book for the purpose of attaining wisdom, but also:

“Discipline”. If you have a King James, it says “instruction”. Now the basic meaning of both these words is “Chastisement”. You know what chastisement is? That’s when your daddy used to take you to the woodshed. “Discipline”, “Correction”. That’s the kind of instruction Solomon is talking about here.

Sometimes we learn instruction from experience, and other times it requires, “instruction”. I used to get a lot of “instruction” from my parents. And sometimes I get “instruction” from my heavenly Father. Does God ever take you to the woodshed? Now why does God do that? Because He loves us.

Hebrews 12:6 “For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” The New American Standard Version say, “FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES,”

So sometimes God is going to use the book of Proverbs to discipline us. Are you ready for that? We are going to see things that we are doing right. But sometimes we are going to be confronted with areas that we need to change. And it’s very important that we accept that. Why? Let me give you two reasons.

First, look at Hebrews 12:8 “If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.” You see when God disciplines us, its evidence of sonship. What does that mean?

We all sin. As believers we try not to but we do. John says, I Jn. 1:8 “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” And when we do sin, God disciplines us, that’s what we just saw in Hebrews 12:6. But if God never spanks you. If God never chastises you. If God never disciplines you, then Heb. 12:8 says, you’re not a child of God.

Sometimes people come to me with questions about assurance of their salvation. They think they are saved but something has made them question it. So one of the questions I usually ask is simply this. Can you sin and get away with it. If you can sin and God doesn’t convict you about it and discipline you, if you’re not grieved by it, then you’re probably not saved. That’s what the Bible says.

Now the second reason discipline is important is because it’s worth it. Notice Heb. 12:11. “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

God’s “instruction”, His loving discipline, administered to his sons and daughters is not without cause and it’s not without fruit. God’s discipline, while not pleasant at the time, ultimately produces righteousness in our lives. And that’s the point – and the purpose of Proverbs.

The third purpose for the book of Proverbs that we find here is also in verse 2. It is:

“For understanding words of insight”, (KJV- “to perceive the words of understanding”). This is the characteristic that we all pray our children will acquire. It is the attribute that we have tried to drum into the heads of our children since they were small. It is the trait we want our youth to learn – But – it is a quality that we all need no matter our age.

The words “understanding” and “insight” are similar words. The writer used them for emphasis to demonstrate just how extremely important this point is. Both words have the same root as the Hebrew preposition “between”. It refers to one who can “see between the lines”. Someone has said that it takes rare insight to read between the lines, and that is true. But the author of Proverbs is telling us that one who studies this book can, to a degree, achieve that ability.

It is the ability to decide upon a right course of action. It is the ability to make right choices. The ability to make accurate life decisions. To be able to discern the will of God for one’s life.