Saturday, August 7, 2021

WEEKLY WISDOM #1

 THE  PROVERBS  ARE  FULL OF  GENERAL  STATEMENTS….. THE  BIBLE  IS  FULL  AT  TIMES  OF  GENERAL  STATEMENTS….. WE  USE  GENERAL  STATEMENTS  IN  OUR  LIVES—— “IT  WAS  MY  BEST  DAY  EVER”  THE  CHANCES  ARE  YOU’VE  HAD  MANY  BEST  DAYS.  “HE’S  SUCH  A  GOOD  SHOT  HE  NEVER  MISSES.”  CHANCES  ARE  THEY  HAVE  MISSED.  PROVERBS  ARE  FULL  OF  GENERAL  STATEMENTS - Keith Hunt


PROVERBS…. of  Wisdom


IN  THE  FIRST  NUMBER  OF  CHAPTERS  IT  IS  PRETTY  WELL  EASY  TO  UNDERSTAND,  NOTHING  TOO  HARD  OR  COMPLICATED  -  Keith Hunt


The Book of


PROVERBS

From  the  New  King  James  Study  Bible


The Book of Proverbs is a collection of short, pithy instructions on how to live in God's world. It is, in fact, a collection of collections of proverbs and wisdom literature. The outline divides the book into eight sections, each containing proverbs from various authors and dates.


Author. 


The first verse ties the entire book to Solomon, the most famous wise man in ancient Israel. Also, the first section (1:8—9:18) is closely connected with Solomon, although he is generally understood as the one who inspired the proverbs or the one to whom they were ascribed, rather than the author of them. The sections in 10:1—22:16

and 25:1—29:27 are titled "proverbs of Solomon." These titles are likely conventional names for pithy wisdom traditions preserved in Israel, although Solomon was probably the author of much of the material.

First Kings 1—11 narrates the renowned wisdom traditions about Solomon, and 1 Kings 4:30 records that "Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt." He delivered 3,000 proverbs, 1,005 songs, and spoke over a broad range of topics. People from many nations came to listen and to learn of his wisdom (1 Kin. 4:33, 34). Proverbs 25:1 indicates that some of Solomon's sayings were preserved for future generations by writing. They were later copied by others.

Wise men in addition to Solomon have contributed material in Proverbs. The section 22:17—24:34 identifies a block titled "words of the wise." The similarity of the proverbs in this section to those found in the Egyptian "Wisdom of Amen-em-ope" has long been noted. Wise sayings from other non-Israelites are clearly identified in the book, such as those attributed to Agur son of Jakeh (30:1) and to King Lemuel (31:1-9).

Solomon is probably the original composer of much of the material in Proverbs, although there were also contributions by other wise men who spoke in the wisdom tradition that Solomon had consolidated and crystalized.


Date. 


Some material in Proverbs is very early, having been partly recorded in Solomon's reign (10:1; 25:1). Other material cannot be dated with any certainty (such as chs. 1—9; 22:17—24:34; 30—31).

The date of the completion of the book is unknown. Proverbs 25:1 indicates that the material in 25:1—29:27 was put in place after Hezekiah's reign (715-686 B.C.). Thus, the final form of the book was not complete until at least two hundred years after Solomon. 

A reasonable date is sometime in the fifth century B.C.


Background. 


The backdrop of Israel's wisdom literature (Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes) was international, encompassing the entire ancient Near East. Each nation claimed its own group of wise men and wise women (see 1 Kin. 4:29-34), and each tended to reflect its particular nationalistic wisdom.

Religion permeated the social life and structure of Israel. Thus wisdom was directly tied to monotheism and other emphases of her unique faith in God. The fear of the Lord (1:7) and a vision of justice making everyone responsible to Him motivated His people to live lives of righteousness.


In Israel the most important socializing group was the family. The father was charged with inculcating and demonstrating wisdom (4:3-6). The wife/mother also played a vital part (31:10-31).


Purpose


The purpose of Proverbs is stated in the introduction to the book (1:2-7). The goal is to emphasize acceptable moral and religious behavior based on Israel's religious faith. Wisdom is described as the most desirable possession of humankind. He who gets wisdom pleases both God and people, lives successfully in this life, and "obtains favor from the Lord" (8:35, 36). Ultimately the NT equates "the wisdom which comes down from above" with holiness (James.3:13-18). To learn the ways of the Creator and follow them by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit is to fulfill the commandments.


The nature of Israelite wisdom in Proverbs lies in both its form and content. The basic form is the sentence or saying. A proverb is a short statement based on experience gathered over a significant period of time.


The subject matter of Proverbs is broad, dealing with all of life under the sun. It is concerned that God's people should know "how to live life before God and man in a way that results in success before both God and man."


The proverbs are written in condensed language; therefore, special attention is sometimes needed to gain their full impact. This may be done by reading them aloud, reading them often, and meditating on them.



Outline of Proverbs



I. Introduction 1:1-7


A. Solomon's relationship to

Proverbs 1:1

B. Purposes: to teach wisdom 1:2-6

C. The fear of the Lord and the

disposition of fools 1:7


II. The value and appeal of

wisdom 1:8—9:18


A. Parental instructions: a

path to moral success        1:8-19

B. Wisdom's plea and

promise of life 1:20—4:27

C. Shun immoral women; be

faithful in marriage 5:1-23

D. Flee faults; pursue

wisdom 6:1-35

E. Pursue wisdom; shun

adultery 7:1-27

F. Wisdom personified; the

way to life 8:1-36

G. Wisdom's invitation 9:1-18


III. The value and practice

of wisdom 10:1—22:16


A. The righteous and

the wicked 10:1—15:33

B. The life and conduct

of the wise 16:1—22:16


IV. The words of the wise 22:17—24:34


A. Wise men's instruction

for their pupils        22:17—24:22

B. Instructions for moral

living 24:23-34


V. The wise words copied

by Hezekiah's men 25:1—29:27


VI. The wise words of Agur 30:1-33 


VII. The wise words of Lemuel 31:1-9 


VIII. The wise ways of a virtuous wife 31:10-31

……….



CHAPTER 1


The Beginning of Wisdom


The  proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:


2 To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding,

3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity;

4 To give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion—

5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.

6 To understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

……


WE  ARE  GIVEN  THE  KEY  IMMEDIATELY….. TO  FEAR  GOD  IS  THE  BEGINNING  OF  KNOWLEDGE  AND  WISDOM  AND  INSTRUCTION.  TRUE  WISDOM  AND  KNOWLEDGE  AND  INSTRUCTION  ON  HOW  TO  USE  THAT  WISDOM  AND  KNOWLEDGE,  DOES  NOT  COME  FROM  THE  UNIVERSITIES  OF  THIS  WORLD.  THAT  DOES  NOT  MEAN  YOU  CAN  NOT  SEEK  A  SKILL  AND  BE  EXCEEDINGLY  GOOD  WITH  IT,  FROM  UNIVERSITIES  AND  COLLEGES.  THE  WORLD  NEEDS  ALL  KINDS  OF  SKILLS,  EVEN  THOSE  WITH  PhD.  GOD  IS  HEAR  TALKING  ABOUT  THE  TRUE  KNOWLEDGE,  WISDOM,  UNDERSTANDING,  THAT  MAKES  FOR  THE  RIGHT  WAY  TO  LIVE  TOWARDS  GOD  AND  YOUR  FELLOW  MAN.  IT  IS  THE  WISDOM  AND  KNOWLEDGE  AND  UNDERSTANDING  THAT  WILL  LEAD  TO  LIFE  ETERNAL.  NOTICE  THE  LORD  SAYS  IT  IS  FOOLS  THAT  DESPISE  WISDOM  AND  INSTRUCTION.  SO  THE  CHILD  OF  GOD  WILL  ALWAYS  BE  READY  TO  BE  INSTRUCTED  -  THEY  WILL  ALWAYS  BE  HUNGERING  AND  THIRSTING  AFTER  RIGHTEOUSNESS [PS. 119:172  -  DEFINITION  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS].  THE  CHILD  OF  GOD  WILL  WANT  TO  BE  GUIDED  AND  INSTRUCTED  BY  THE  SPIRIT  OF  GOD.  IT  WILL  TRULY  ONLY  FOOLS  THAT  WILL  NOT  BE  INSTRUCTED  IN  SALVATION  AND  THE  WAY  TO  LIFE  ETERNAL.  THESE  VERSES  HERE  ARE  ALSO  SAYING  WHAT  THE  NEW  TESTAMENT  SAYS;  WE  ARE  TO  GROW  IN  GRACE  AND  KNOWLEDGE  OF  OUR  LORD  AND  SAVIOR.  WE  ARE  EVER  TO  BE  LEARNING;  WILLING  TO  BE  TAUGHT  AND  CORRECTED.  IT  ALSO  TEACHES  HERE  THAT  OTHERS  CAN  HAVE  WISE  COUNSEL  TO  GIVE,  THEY  CAN  BE  EXPERTS  IN  A  CERTAIN  FIELD  THAT  YOU  ARE  NOT;  YOU  TAKE  YOUR  CAR  TO  THE  EXPERT  MECHANIC  TO  FIX  A  PROBLEM;  YOU  SEEK  COUNSEL  FOR  THE  INVESTMENT  MONIES;  YOU  SEEK  COUNSEL  WHEN  BUYING  A  NEW  HOME  AND  ETC.  SOME  THINGS  YOU  ARE  “SIMPLE”  IN  -  YOU  DO  NOT  HAVE  THE  EXPERTISE  SO  PRUDENCE  YOU  MUST  ATTAIN  FROM  OUTSIDE  YOURSELF.  THE  YOUNG  ARE  STILL  YOUNG  IN  LIFE  AND  SO  MUST  STILL  OBTAIN  KNOWLEDGE  AND  DISCRETION.  THE  BEST  WAY  TO  ATTAIN  ALL  THIS  IS  TO  FIRST  FEAR  [DEEPLY  RESPECT]  THE  LORD.

Keith Hunt  

...... 


A Path to Success


8 My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother;

9 For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck.

10 My son, if sinners entice you, "Do not consent. 

11 If they say, "Come with us, Let us lie in wait to shed blood; let us lurk secretly for the

12 innocent without cause; Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who             go down to the Pit; 

13 We shall find all kinds of possessions, We shall fill our houses with spoil;

14 Cast in your lot among us, Let us all have one purse"— 

15 My son, do not walk in the way | with them, keep your foot from their path;

16 For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood

17 Surely, in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird; 

18 But they lie in wait for their own blood, they lurk secretly for their own lives. 

19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its owners.

……


The  following  is  from  the  commentary  in  this  New  King  James  Study  Bible:


1:1-7.These verses form an introduction to the entire Book of Proverbs. The rest of the book is designed to fulfill the purposes set but here. It is offered to provide its readers with wisdom and instruction (v. 2). Similar words emphasize this purpose: judgment and equity (v. 3), prudence, knowledge, and discretion (v. 4), learning and wise counsel (v. 5). All these are related to knowing how to live well and deciding to live that way. proverbs of Solomon: See Introduction: Author. The great wisdom of this king made a deep impression on the visiting queen of Sheba (see 2 Chr. 9:1-12).

1:6 The proverb was a short statement of truth concerning some aspect of human life. The enigma, as well as riddles, presented a principle of truth through a puzzle or problem to be solved.

1:7 Fear of the Lord is reverence and obedience to Him (see Ps. 111:10; see also "The Fear of the Lord" at Gen. 20:11). Knowledge in the moral and religious sense of Proverbs is possible only if one has a proper regard for God (see Job 28:28 and note). Fools are contrasted to the wise man throughout the book.

1:8—9:18 A picture of the value of wisdom. Wisdom is personified as a woman pleading with men and women to pursue her. A strong contrast is developed between the fruits of pursuing wisdom and the corruption of following folly.

1:8-19 These verses encourage the son to obey his parents' instructions, and warn of the dangers of rejecting their guidance.

1:9 chains: Probably golden, a sign of honor and splendor (see Dan. 5:7).

1:12 In the OT Sheol is the realm of the dead. Pit indicates the same idea. See "Sheol" at 2 Sam. 22:6.

1:14 Fallen human nature makes it impractical and unwise for all humans to share one purse.

1:17 Even a bird is smart enough to avoid an obvious snare. Sinners are not as smart in the face of temptation.

1:18,19 The wicked actually destroy themselves because of their greed. They do not realize that the trap they set for others is a trap that will actually ensnare them. See 28:10 1:20—4:19 Wisdom's plea is important. The one who rejects that call perishes (1:32), but he who responds finds life and security (1:33).

1:20, 21 Wisdom is pictured as a woman who calls to everyone passing by the gates—major public gathering spots in ancient Near Eastern cities. This is in contrast to the prostitutes who frequented those spots, luring people to destruction. Wisdom is further personified in 3:16-18; 4:5-9; 8:1-21, 32-36; 9:1-6.

1:22 The simple ones lack discernment and are easily led astray. Moreover, they are often obstinate in their lack of discernment (v. 25). Fools are those who consciously desert God's way (Ps. 14:1).

1:23 my spirit: The spirit of wisdom given to impart understanding (see Ex. 31:2, 3 and note).

1:24-27 you refused: Evil consequences (vv. 26, 27) follow wrong decisions of those who reject wisdom's invitation (w. 24;25).

1:24-26 stretched out my hand: As the Lord reaches out to a rebellious people, so wisdom does to these fools (see Is. 65:2 and note). Similarly, both the Lord and wisdom laugh at the foolishness of those who imagine that their way is better than the divine option offered to them (see note on Ps.2:4-6).

1:28 God's call must be heeded when given, not merely at one's convenience (see Heb. 3:12-15).

1:30-32 See vv. 24-28 and note. The complacency (v. 32) of the fools blinds them to the reality that they will eventually face the consequences of their own way and fancies (v. 31). See vv. 18, 19 and note.

……



HERE  WE  START  TO  SEE  THE  MANY  “GENERAL  STATEMENTS”  IN  THIS  BOOK  OF  PROVERBS.  IN  FACT  GENERAL  STATEMENTS  ARE  USED  THROUGHOUT  MANY  PARTS  OF  THE  BIBLE.  IT  IS  ONE  OF  THE  KEYS  TO  CORRECT  BIBLE  READING.  WE  SEE  A  GENERAL  STATEMENT  AS  USED  IN  VERSES  8  AND  9.  IT  HAS  TO  BE  UNDERSTOOD  IN  THE  CONTEXT  OF  A  FATHER  AND  MOTHER  FOLLOWING  THE  LORD  -  IT  IS  SILLY  TO  THINK  EVERY  FATHER  AND  MOTHER  MUST  BE  OBEYED,  THAT  THEY  ALL  HAVE  GOOD  INSTRUCTION  AND  THE  RIGHT  LAW.  LIFE  FOR  THOUSANDS  OF  YEARS  HAS  SHOWN  US  THAT  IS  NOT  TRUE  OF  EVERY  FATHER  AND  MOTHER.  THIS  IS  A  GENERAL  STATEMENT  -  THOSE  PARENTS  WHO  HAVE  TRUE  INSTRUCTIONS  AND  LAWS,  SHOULD  BE  LISTENED  TO  -  BE  WISE  AND  TAKE  THE  GOOD  THEY  HAVE,  IT  WILL  BE  LIKE  A  FINE  PIECE  OF  JEWELRY  FOR  YOU  

Keith Hunt

......



Wisdom's Call


20 Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares. 

21 She cries out in the chief concourses, at the openings of the gates in the city. 

22 She speaks her words; How long, you simple ones, will you love Simplicity? 

For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge. 

23 Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words  known to you. 

24 Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, 

25 Because you disdained all my counsel, and would have none of my rebuke, 

26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes,

27 When your terror comes like a storm, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind,  when distress and anguish come upon you.

28 Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. 

29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, 

30 They would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke. 

31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies. 

32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; 

33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.

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