you may remember that when we were doing the introduction to the book, we said that organizing the study is a bit challenging-instead going through it in a strict chapter by chapter format, we will group similar themes together. I realize you might say, what happened to the intervening 6 chapters? Proverbs reminds us that God concerns Himself not just with the big, cataclysmic events of life but even those mundane, “invisible” moments in our lives as well.Īre you following God, even in those seemingly “small” circumstances? Allow Proverbs to refocus your attention on all the hidden moments of your life.- this morning we’re going to move into chapter 8 of the book of Proverbs. Number of everyday situations we encounter-from getting out of bed in the morning to building a strong foundation in our relationships with others. This approach allows us to see very clearly how any particular proverb might be applied to any
Most of the proverbs are pithy statements brimming over with imagery from the real world. Read it! Then live it! Proverbs contains some of the most applicable nuggets of truth in all of the Bible. If instead, we decide to speak rashly rather than listen attentively. Wisdom then involves appropriating a measure of humility, first before God and then before others. Much of the book emphasizes listening to others so that we might learn from them and apply the combined knowledge of those who have gone before us-such as parents and elders-to the unique circumstances of our own lives (1:5, 8). He specifically explained the book’s purpose in 1:2–6, focusing on imparting understanding that would impact every facet of our lives.
In writing the Proverbs, Solomon hoped that his readers would attain practical righteousness in all things and that we would do this by living our lives under the authority and direction of God. Then, Proverbs teaches, will we discover knowledge and wisdom (see also 9:10). It means living our lives in light of what we know of Him, holding Him in the highest estimation, and depending on Him with humble trust. The fear of the Lord refers to our viewing Him with the respect He deserves. Proverbs states its theme explicitly very early in the book: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7).
The writers of the book recognized the varied circumstances of a person’s life and provided principles to apply in a variety of situations rather than instructions to follow in only a few specific instances. While other books articulate profound theological truths, lengthy narratives of triumph and failure, or prophetic preaching to a disobedient people, Proverbs concerns itself completely with instructing people in Proverbs accomplishes something no other biblical book does: it simply compiles numerous short instructions for living an effective life on earth. This indicates that theīook was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. Clearly the book stayed in the southern kingdom of Judah, as Hezekiah’s men compiled more of Solomon’s proverbs in Proverbs 25–29. Its strong association with Solomon means most of its contents were completed prior to his death in 931 BC. The composition of Proverbs remains one of the most difficult questions about the book. The final two chapters identify Agur (30:1) and Lemuel (31:1) as their authors, though the identities of these men remain mysterious in history. Also,ĭue to the book’s similarities with Mesopotamian and Egyptian collections of proverbs such as “The Instruction of Amenemope,” it’s possible that God inspired Solomon to record this section based on wise sayings he had been exposed to throughout his life. Evidence that Solomon drew on multiple sources appears in Proverbs 24:23, where Solomon used the plural noun for “wise” (also translated sages) to describe the authors of this section. His name appears at the beginning of three distinct sections-Proverbs 1:1, 10:1, and 25:1-covering almost all of the first twenty-nine chapters of the book.Ī short section consisting of Proverbs 22:17–24:34 expresses “the words of the wise” (Proverbs 22:17), which Solomon may have compiled from various sources. In fact, Solomon identified himselfĪs the source of most of the book. First Kings 3:5–9 recounts Solomon asking God for wisdom in his reign over Israel, a request God eventually granted (1 Kings 4:29–31). Solomon was uniquely qualified to serve as the principal author for this book of wise sayings. Proverbs, like Psalms, names multiple individuals as the authors of its various sections.
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