OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY
LECTURE 33
PROVERBS II
Prov 1:1-4 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
{The book of Proverbs is not like neat rows of corn growing in straight, tall, lines for one to walk through and pick its fruit. No, it is more like walking through a treasured "gift shop," where every item one picks up is different . . . a priceless, beautiful treasure! There is a surprise waiting anyone as each item is inspected and every time one turns around, there is something new and different to examine.
The book of Proverbs deals with practical wisdom, however, it is more "heart" wisdom, than it is "head" knowledge. The principles for living contained in the book of Proverbs are something which is more "caught," than "taught."
Never put the book of Proverbs on the same level with other so called proverbs of brief striking expressions of man's wit and wisdom. The book of Proverbs is not just a book of pithy sayings, or a collections of short sentences that gives wise advice, but, rather, it is a book of God's wisdom to man!
A missionary, going into a new country, soon finds out that much which he learned from books was merely academic, and that the first few years of his new life is "soaking" up the culture and mannerism of a different life. He must learn to think like these whom he now lives among until his reactions become a natural instinct.
This almost unconscious, reflex and reaction, is what the book of Proverbs is all about!
The Hebrew word, translated as "wisdom," throughout the book of Proverbs, means "to make one strong," or, "to make one firm." The "wisdom" spoken of means that through obtaining this wisdom one is made strong and sound in character.
The purpose of the book of Proverbs is to brace, to fortify, to strengthen the believer's character. This book will vitalize, energize and rejuvenate the believer's walk with God. The believer will find as he reads, studies and applies the principles from the book of Proverbs that it will, as the Hebrew word indicates, tone up, stiffen, and make firm his character.
The principles found in the book of Proverbs enables one to discern between good and evil by the discerning of the spirit, and not by experiences. Learning "good and evil" by experience was never the learning method God intended for man. God original intention for man was never to know evil "by experience," but, rather, he was to learn of good and evil only by the discerning of his "spirit." This was the test God put man too in the very beginning. Learning "good and evil" by means of one's spirit [wisdom] in order to make proper judgments is what the book of Proverbs is all about!
The book of Proverbs is not a book of "theory," but, rather, it shares principles for living! It is not just a collection of wise sayings, but, rather, it is divine rules from heaven to govern the believer's conduct.
As the book of Psalms instructs the believer how to have a harmonious fellowship with God, the book of Proverbs tells him how to have a harmonious relationship with his fellowman. The book of Proverbs is God's wisdom on a horizontal plane!}
(www.netbiblestudy.com)
The Proverbial Favorites
Prov 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
God has a way of humbling people. Those that are prideful will, in this life, have humiliating things happen to them… all designed by God. Also, it may very well be that because of their pride, they are delusional and will thus make poor choices and then suddenly have destruction.
Prov 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
A true friend isn’t going to be flakey…they aren’t going to be nice to you one day, and a rascal the next. Those that are this way are something other than a ‘friend’… maybe an acquaintance. Being someone’s friend is quite the commitment. Be ready for ‘thick and thin’, the good and the bad; your relationship isn’t based on situations…it is a commitment.
Prov 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Emotions definitely affect one’s physical health. A generally depressed person typically develops a myriad of health problems. A generally happy person doesn’t usually have any significant health problems. Well, maybe there is something to ‘the power of positive thinking’…
Prov 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.
Is a wife a ‘thing’?... Well, this is referring to the ‘idea’ or ‘institution’ of what a ‘wife’ is. God has designed a woman that becomes a man’s wife to be a great blessing for that man. In general, it is best for men to marry…unless they want to devote their full time energies to ‘the ministry for the Lord Jesus Christ’. But, what happens if a man marries a woman that, as one proverb says, is ‘rottenness in his bones’?... All of the wisdom of Proverbs needs to be applied when finding a wife…for, not just any wife will do.
Prov 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
When people drink alcohol, they often are trying to ‘enjoy a good drink’; but, in the end, the ‘good drink’ becomes as the sting of an adder. In the beginning you are theoretically in ‘control’ of the alcohol; but, later on, the alcohol controls you! Have you ever seen someone who has ‘had a little too much’?... They get loud, obnoxious, and often get into fights, and can end up being thrown in jail. Never think that you can control your drinking…that is just like saying the Meth addict can control his meth use! Don’t be a Christian who says “I just have a beer or two before going to bed…nothing to worry about.”
Prov 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
Does God control every king and president’s heart? Is every decision of President Obama designed by the Lord? Well, for sure, the Lord can turn the king’s heart any way He wants to. But, I think, in general, the Lord leaves us to our free will…except when He needs to act upon the nation’s prayers or sins, or to fulfill prophecy… then He intervenes and guides the ‘leader’ to do as He wills.
Prov 22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
Do you have a ‘good name’? Who has a ‘good name’? Hitler? Billy Graham? Michael Jackson? How does one obtain a ‘good name’? Which would you rather have: lots and lots of money and no friends, or not much money and lots of people that like and love you?...
Prov 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
I firmly believe that if a parent consistently, lovingly, biblically, trains up their child in the way of the Bible, that when they are older (at least 25 years old, and maybe even 30 or 40) they will follow it. This is typical for many God-fearing Christian parents: there 18 year old son leaves for college and gets involved with sin and liberal views; but, once he gets married and settles down, maybe 10 years later, he is done with the sin and the foolish views and is back where he was prior to going off to college.
Prov 22:7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
Is it ok to go into debt? Realize this: you become a ‘servant’ to the Credit Card company when you use your ‘card’. When you buy a home…you become the lender’s servant. You put yourself in a very awkward situation; and, I believe it is at least unwise to do such, if not an out and out sin. So many American Christians are working 50 + hours every week in order to keep up with their monthly mortgage payments and their 2 new car payments! If God told them to pack their bags and go to India as a Missionary, they wouldn’t be able to go…they are a servant to the god of credit!...
Prov 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
If you can learn to carefully and wisely choose the words that you say, you can make them into a beautiful framed picture for someone… it can be so pleasant and helpful for them. When your 8 year old son just lost a race at the track meet, go to him and say “you had the best form and were the most athletic appearing of them all…the others looked like uncoordinated penguins out there running”…. “let’s go get your favorite ice cream at ‘Sugarville Candy Factory’!”
Prov 25:24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
Is it really? Those that have been married to a loud-mouthed, controlling woman know this all to well. Oh, just to have a quiet, safe little space where they can go to and stay away from ‘the monster’!... Some live in a mansion, but always seem to be ‘working out in the garage or the shop’…. I wonder why?!!....
Prov 26:11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
Picture this. This is how God views it when you go back to your sin time and time again! “Ohhhh, I just love this ‘vomit’ soooo much! I’ve just got to keep going back to it and nibble on it!”….
Prov 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
Your sin will find you out…you’re going to reap what you so…cheaters never prosper… If you just figure that God will forget about all these sins that you’ve done and haven’t repented of…you are sadly mistaken. God keeps very good records and will make it so that you just can’t seem to ‘prosper’ in life. What you need is ‘mercy’… beg for mercy and watch some prosperity start coming back…
Prov 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Most preachers teach that this means that when the people (or their leaders) don’t have ‘goals’ set out for the people, it will end very negatively… poverty, ruin, sadness. I firmly believe that the context of this verse is ‘the law’ (Bible); thus, the ‘vision’ here is referring to the ‘open vision’ that the prophets would often have in the O.T. as God spoke to them. And, if God is not speaking through the prophets, the people are indeed under a curse and will perish. The people will be very happy, though, if there are prophets speaking the words of the Lord, and the people obey it.
Prov 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
Are there a lot of virtuous woman out there today? No! Even among so-called ‘good churches’ there aren’t hardly any. You definitely aren’t going to run into them at the mall, at the grocery store, or at the bars! Single men, if you happen to find a virtuous woman out there somewhere, ‘ask her to marry you’ ‘on the spot’!... Men, if you are married to one, make sure you give her lots and lots of money!....
Prov 31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
Beauty is only skin deep; these Hollywood marriages never seem to work out very well. The most attractive woman (to me, at least) is one that is very virtuous, godly, humble, sweet, and kind. We need to not be always talking about the “Hellywood” actresses, but, rather, about the godly women in the good churches out there! We should have magazines devoted to godly women; we should have reality tv shows based on godly women; we should have cosmetic and clothing lines put together by godly women!!!!
Promises vs. Principles
Are the proverbs always true as stated, or are they simply general principles that ‘usually’ work?...
‘Because proverbs are wise observations based on experience, they must not be understood as unconditional promises but as pragmatic principles (or procedures) to follow. Neither are the proverbs "legal guarantees from God" but rather "poetic guidelines for good behavior." Thus the proverbs tell what generally takes place without making an irreversible rule that fits all circumstances.
We cannot use proverbs like subway tokens, guaranteed to open the turnstile every time. They are guidelines, not mechanical formulas.’
(Dallas Theological Seminary)
Are these proverbs always true? Does what each one teaches always turn out to be true? Explain each.
Prov 10:27 The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
Prov 12:21 There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.
Prov 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Prov 19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
Prov 21:17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
Difficulties
Here are the 2 main ‘difficult passages’ in Proverbs. Can you explain these?
Prov 31:6-7 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
Prov 26:4-5 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
31:6,7 The point of this section of Proverbs is dealing with having sound judgment as a king; alcohol clearly impairs judgment. Alcohol is known to cause people to forget things…including their problems. The alcohol recommended here would actually not have the drinker remember his misery no more…it would just postpone it until the next day when they finally sober up! It actually, logically, would compound the misery…making it much worse! This proverb is not trying to teach that it is ok to drink alcohol if you are in misery, but, rather, that alcohol impairs judgment and is very dangerous. Also, some have said that this isn’t necessarily a truth from God since it was coming from a woman, the king’s mother.