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PROVERBS AND GODLY WISDOM
Lesson One
An Introduction
More is questionable than is known about the Old Testament book Christians call Proverbs. Usually Christians from Western cultures approach a Bible book by analyzing the book—author, date of writing, objective of the book, and outline of the book, etc. Most American Christians enjoy studying a biblical book that readily lends its information to an approach that heavily utilizes Western-style logic (as compared to Eastern thinking).
Proverbs is not written in the styles of New Testament books. It was a part of Jewish scriptures hundreds of years before New Testament books were written. Its influence on the thought and the writing of New Testament books can be seen by comparing Proverbs 3:7 and Romans 12:16; Proverbs 3:11, 12 and Hebrews 12:5, 6; Proverbs 3:34 and James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5; Proverbs 4:26 and Hebrews 12:13; Proverbs 10:12 and James 5:20 and 1 Peter 4:8; Proverbs 25:21, 22 and Romans 12:20; and Proverbs 26:11 and 2 Peter 2:22.
Proverbs forces American Christians to understand several things:
Understanding the teachings of the Bible needs to include the awareness that the Bible is not an American book written to an American readership.
(1) The Bible was not written by Americans by the dictates of American thought and Western logic. Without that understanding, a study of Proverbs with its invaluable insights will be often focused on “how” and “why” something was said instead of “what was the writer’s point?”
Since the Bible was not written primarily to Americans by Americans, serious study of the Bible does not force American literary styles on the Bible’s message or its means of revelation. The objective is to make plain its message, not to hide or obscure its message.
(2) Proverbs is a decidedly Jewish book written for Jewish thought and a Jewish worldview. In its presentation of material, some things must be understood.
Proverbs was a part of scripture hundreds of years before Jesus was born.
a. It uses Jewish literary styles. Remember, any English translation a person uses is a translation. A student of the Bible likely will benefit from utilizing several English translations in any in-depth study of these sayings.
Understand that what the English Bibles call Proverbs is an English translation of Hebrew statements and insights. No translation of any language is able to capture the complete thoughts and emotions of the original language. The challenge of all translation is found in the question, “How literal should the translation be?” It is possible to be so literal in translation that meaning is hidden. Translation is not a word-for-word substitution. The problems of conveying meaning in translation is easily illustrated with idioms—should the meaning or the words be translated?
The problems are helped by three things: (a) Realize the culture was primarily influenced by agricultural pursuits (thus you should expect many illustrations to be agriculturally based). (b) Realize that referring to more than one translation will likely increase your insight into difficult ideas. (c) Realize that their system of government began with a king. Most Americans are not familiar with the rule of a king in his kingdom.
b. This writing assumes three things: (1) It assumes that those who read or hear these sayings place their confidence in God. (2) It assumes that faith in God forms the way the reader looks at life. (3) It assumes the reader understands the value of human experience.
This writing focuses on “how you should live” and “how you should behave” more than on divine procedures.
c. This writing uses personification, comparison, and the common experiences of life to declare its points. Often the declaration of a proverb’s point could be declared (by us) by saying, “Look around you and be honest about what you see.” Or, “Can you not see this truth in the experiences of others? Must you make their same mistake?”
The focus of the book is on how a godly Jewish person should live life. The forms of expression may not be “my forms of expression.” The objective is to understand, not to evaluate literary forms.
d. The focus of Proverbs is on relationships, not on procedures. For example, though the sacrificial system is extremely important in Israel, this book is not about the sacrificial system.
More than one thing is important to being God’s people. More is involved than doing one thing correctly. Being people who belong to God in their actions is important to God—not just offering the correct sacrifices in the correct way on the proper altar in the right place.
The objective of the book or the sayings is NOT to comment on every godly attitude. The book has no intention of commenting on every godly attitude or everything involved in godly existence.
The sayings have much to say about subjects such as wisdom, foolishness, wealth, poverty, work, laziness, marriage, rearing children, slaves, friendship, governing, being a responsible person, etc.
e. In Proverbs, God reveals truth through human experience. God can and does reveal truth in a variety of ways. Revelation was not confined to some unusual form and experience that involved a divine declaration that stated something not known previously.
Most of the lessons are based on experiences that should be obvious—people can “see” the truth of many of the proverbs by honestly observing the blessings and consequences of people’s actions.
f. The person who belongs to God looks at life and physical existence in ways that the person who does not belong to God does not look at life and physical existence. Wisdom in physical life involves seeing physical existence as God sees it. The person who belongs to God “sees” physical existence through “God’s eyes and values.” While physical existence surely involves the “here and now,” it involves much more than the “here and now.” How the person lives “here and now” is a commentary on his/her faith in and reliance on God.
“Seeing” physical life through God’s eyes changes a person’s behavior in all of life’s contexts.
Some suggestions as you study some of Proverbs in this series.
(a) Approach these sayings as a person who does not “know it all.” Too much confidence in what we know is as barrier to learning. Contribute insights, but also listen to the insights of others.
Know there is much for you to learn to benefit your life. Learn for yourself, not for others—then you have something to share.
(b) Think. These proverbs were given to make you think. Make personal application.
The wisdom to use your life well never occurs if you do not think.
(c) Grow in personal understanding. A part of being wise is the ability to expand your thoughts through understanding the realities of life.
The purpose of thinking is to increase understanding. A growing understanding is an open invitation to wisdom to enter your life.
(d) Realize there is an important difference between knowing something as a fact and knowing something as an insight into life.
Facts should increase insights. Knowledge for the sake of just having knowledge is empty.
(e) See that living wisely in this world involves more than living for physical existence.
Make your existence about more than the” here and now.”
(f) Look for the distinction between being wise and being foolish. Do not regard yourself as “the exception to the reality.”
Pay attention to and devote yourself to understanding the contrast as fully as possible. Understand to make personal application.
(g) Grasp the fact that learning is an important avenue to wisdom, but understand that wisdom is much more than knowing.
Do not mistake a way to wisdom for wisdom itself.
(h) Realize the connection between what you say (or do not say) and being wise.
There is a rightful connection between behavior and wisdom.
(i) Understand that while poverty in itself is not a virtue, being poor can powerfully affect the production of godly attitudes.
Experiencing poverty can provide a person the “eyes” to see the emptiness of materialism. Being poor does not automatically give a person those “eyes.”
(j) Understand the importance of people-to-people relationships in godliness.
No one can have godly behavior without learning how to treat people correctly. Poor treatment of people is poor treatment of God.
For Thought and Discussion
1. How do American Christians usually approach the study of a book in the Bible?
Usually American Christians begin by analyzing the Bible book—author, date of writing, objective of the book, outline of the book, etc. There is little agreement on the authorship of Proverbs, or the date of Proverbs, and the material is difficult to outline.
2. Proverbs forces us to do what two things?
1) To realize the Bible was not written by Americans.
2) Proverbs is a Jewish book written for Jewish thought and world view.
3. Can you suggest another?
This is to encourage people in the class to think.
4. What three things are assumed by Proverbs?
1) Those who read or listen place their confidence in God.
2) The reader or listener forms the way he/she looks at the world by faith in God.
3) The reader or listener understands the value of human experience.
5. What are some of the things that Proverbs uses to teach its lessons?
It uses personification (speaking of wisdom as a person), comparison, and common experience.
6. What is the focus of Proverbs? Give an example.
The focus is on relationships, not procedures. Example: it often discusses how people behave toward people but does not write about the sacrificial system.
7. How does God reveal truth in the message of Proverbs?
God reveals truth through human experience.
8. Discuss the comparison produced by the way a godly person looks at life.
The discussion should include the fact that that the person “sees” life through God’s eyes.
9. Give 10 suggestions in this lesson about how you study Proverbs.
1) Approach the sayings to learn, not as a “know it all.”
2) Think.
3) Grow in personal understanding.
4) Know the difference between knowing a fact and having an insight.
5) Live for more than physical existence.
6) Look for the distinction between being wise and foolish.
7) Understand that wisdom is more than knowledge.
8) There is a connection between what you say and being wise.
9) Understand that poverty of itself is not a virtue, but it can powerfully reveal godly attitudes.
10) There is an important connection between people-to-people relationships and godliness.
10. Can you give more?
11. To think about: What do you think will be your greatest challenge in studying Proverbs?
Link to Student Guide Lesson 1
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David Chadwell & West-Ark Church of Christ