Proverbs and Godly Wisdom
Intro
AN IMPORTANT NOTE TO TEACHERS AND STUDENTS
To the Jews of the Bible, Proverbs was a part of the “Writings” or the Kethubhim. The “Writings” also included Psalms, Job, Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, and 1 and 2 Chronicles. Immediately evident is the fact that the Jewish divisions of the Old Testament writings are NOT like the English divisions. Whereas the ancient Jews divided what Christians call the Old Testament into three divisions (The Law or Torah, The Prophets or Nebhiim, and The Writings or Kethubhim), Christians divide those books into five divisions (The Pentateuch [Genesis-Deuteronomy], The Historical Books [Joshua through Ester], The Books of Poetry and Ethics [Job-Song of Solomon], The Books of the Major Prophets [Isaiah-Daniel], and The Books of the Minor Prophets [Hosea through Malachi], or The Prophets [Isaiah-Malachi]. The Writings of the Prophets are major and minor only in regard to length of the book, not in regard to the message of the writing. The ancient Jews would never have referred to the Old Testament books as the “Old Testament,” but as “The Scripture.”
The single point you are asked to note is that the Old Testament writings were written to the Jewish people, not to Christians. Much of Proverbs is Hebrew poetry. It was not written with the twenty-first century Christian in mind, but with the ancient Jew who aspired to righteousness in mind. Certainly, the points and messages are relevant to Christians. However, to understand the messages, we should not say, “I would not say anything that way.” We need to enter their world to properly approach the messages.
Please note it has not been simple to be a righteous person in any age. It always has been easy to be deceived. It always has been simple to make reckless decisions as a person pursued indulgence and pleasure. Righteousness always has been an intentional decision, not an accidental happening.
Wisdom called to young men to choose good choices made on a foundation of godly wisdom rather than bad choices based on evil influences or personal indulgence. A father asks his adult son to be careful in the choices/decisions he makes. Following godly wisdom was superior in every way to following wickedness or people who were owned by evil ambitions.
This study will focus on the call of godly wisdom as presented in Proverbs. Proverbs does not claim to focus on every challenge in life. It may have focused on the major challenges the young ancient Jew faced as he made choices in his world. Godly wisdom is obvious. So is thoughtlessness. So are the values of thinking, knowledge, learning, and understanding.
Ultimately, our choices determine the direction of our lives. Study, but not as a critic. Study as a person who pursues understanding. Note the contrasts in godly wisdom and wicked choices.
