Book of Proverbs
Chapter 1
Proverbs is a collection of guidelines for godly living. Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord, a healthy reverence for God and His will. This book gives us “skill for living,” by contrasting the difference between the wise person and the fool.
1. The Purpose of Wisdom (vs. 1-7)
Proverbs are brief statements that contain much truth. Most of the proverbs in this book were either written or collected by Solomon.
A. To give skill for living and discipline (vs. 2) – A person needs to know how to live wisely and the personal discipline to do so.
A. To give discernment (vs. 2) – A person needs to know whether he is on course with his life and if not, how to make corrections.
B. To give good judgment with high moral standards (vs. 3)
C. To instruct the inexperienced and the young (vs. 4)
D. To provide continuing education for life (vs. 5-6)
E. To instill the fear of God (vs. 7) – This is the first and most important truth. This phrase is found 14 times in Proverbs. To fear God is to have respect and reverence for Him and to give Him first place. To fear God is to understand who He is and live accordingly. In Proverbs the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (1:7), the beginning of wisdom (9:10), a fountain of life (14:27), to hate evil (8:13), prolongs life (10:27), gives strong confidence (14:26), keeps a person from sin (16:6), is the way to life (19:23), and leads to riches, honor, and life (22:4). If a person doesn’t start at the right place, he won’t end up at the right place. This is the first contrast to the fool who despises (belittles, ridicules) wisdom. There is a choice: fear God and be wise or despise wisdom and be a fool. Three Hebrew words are translated “fool” in Proverbs: kesil is someone who is stubborn, bull-headed, with a closed mind (the most common word used for fool in Proverbs); nabal is a person who lacks spiritual understanding (used only three times in Proverbs, same word used for Abigail’s husband in 1 Sam. 25); and ewil is a person who is arrogant and hardened in his ways. This word is used in 1:7 and a total of 19 times in Proverbs.
2. The Importance of Wisdom (vs. 8-9)
This is the first of many times Solomon speaks as a father to his son (“my son,” 1:8, 10, 15).
A. Listen carefully to your parents (vs. 8) – The home is God’s school of wisdom. That’s why parents need to have it, so they can share it. Parental wisdom is helpful only if we pay attention to it. Proverbs reminds us to heed what our parents say (4:1, 10, 20; 5:1, 7, etc.).
B. Reap the benefits (vs. 9) – Their wisdom will be like a garland for your head or a necklace. Both of these make a person more attractive and prosperous. Listening to wise parents will make you a person who commands the respect of others.
3. The Warning of Wisdom (vs. 10-19)
An old saying goes, “birds of a feather flock together.” This is the first of several passages in which a story is told to make a point or reveal a truth. This story describes the activity of a criminal gang and the danger of being involved with a group of thugs.
A. The plan of action (vs. 10-12) – Come join us as we lay in wait and ambush our victim.
B. The promise of success (vs. 13-14) – We’ll get our hands on some easy money and we will split what we get.
C. The protection of wisdom (vs. 15-19) – Understand the consequences of evil and avoid them. Even a bird has enough sense to avoid a trap if it sees one. These evil people are setting an ambush, but they are the ones who will be killed.
4. The Invitation of Wisdom (vs. 20-23)
Solomon describes wisdom as a gracious woman, “Lady Wisdom” (3:16-18; 4:3-9; 8:1-36). Wisdom is personified as a woman inviting everyone to listen and receive from her. It is a matter of life and death.
A. The public call of wisdom (vs. 20-21) – She takes the initiative to offer herself. She is available to everyone.
B. The desperate need for wisdom (vs. 22-23) – She calls out to the “simple ones” (naïve and gullible) and also to the “scorners” (mockers who reject truth) and “fools” (stubborn, close-minded). These people are going down the wrong path, so Lady Wisdom rebukes them. Proverbs shows us how important it is to welcome a rebuke (reproof) and not reject it (1:23, 25, 30). A wise person accepts correction (9:8). Scripture is designed to correct us (2 Tim. 3:16).
5. The Rejection of Wisdom (vs. 24-33)
A. The choice to ignore wisdom (vs. 24-25) – Every person is responsible for what he does with wisdom. He can heed it or ignore it. He can receive it or reject it.
B. The consequences of ignoring wisdom (vs. 26-33) – Wisdom will turn the tables and mock those who reject her. This may seem cruel, but it describes the cause-and-effect consequences of rejecting wisdom. Once a person rejects wisdom he cannot escape the consequences. We reap what we sow (Gal. 6:7). Wisdom is a great help in avoiding trouble, but it can’t keep us from the pain and punishment once we’ve gotten into trouble.
C. The moral of the story: listen to wisdom or live to regret it
Book of Proverbs
Chapter 1
Proverbs is a collection of guidelines for godly living. Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord, a healthy reverence for God and His will. This book gives us “skill for living,” by contrasting the difference between the wise person and the fool.
1. The__________________________________________________ of Wisdom (vs. 1-7)
A. To give_______________________________________________________ (vs. 2)
B. To give_______________________________________________________ (vs. 2)
C. To give_______________________________________________________ (vs. 3)
D. To instruct____________________________________________________ (vs. 4)
E. To provide___________________________________________________ (vs. 5-6)
F. To instill______________________________________________________ (vs. 7)
2. The__________________________________________________ of Wisdom (vs. 8-9)
A. _____________________________________________________________ (vs. 8)
B. _____________________________________________________________ (vs. 9)
3. The________________________________________________ of Wisdom (vs. 10-19)
A. The______________________________________________________ (vs. 10-12)
B. The______________________________________________________ (vs. 13-14)
C. The______________________________________________________ (vs. 15-19)
4. The________________________________________________ of Wisdom (vs. 20-23)
A. The______________________________________________________ (vs. 20-21)
B. The______________________________________________________ (vs. 22-23)
5. The________________________________________________ of Wisdom (vs. 24-33)
A. The______________________________________________________ (vs. 24-25)
B. The______________________________________________________ (vs. 26-33)
C. The moral of the story:________________________________________________