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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 forces American Christians to understand several things:
(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?”
(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.
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.
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.
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?”
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.
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.
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.
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.
(b) Think. These proverbs were given to make you think. Make personal application.
(c) Grow in personal understanding. A part of being wise is the ability to expand your thoughts through understanding the realities of life.
(d) Realize there is an important difference between knowing something as a fact and knowing something as an insight into life.
(e) See that living wisely in this world involves more than living for physical existence.
(f) Look for the distinction between being wise and being foolish. Do not regard yourself as “the exception to the reality.”
(g) Grasp the fact that learning is an important avenue to wisdom, but understand that wisdom is much more than knowing.
(h) Realize the connection between what you say (or do not say) and being wise.
(i) Understand that while poverty in itself is not a virtue, being poor can powerfully affect the production of godly attitudes.
(j) Understand the importance of people-to-people relationships in godliness.
For Thought and Discussion
1. How do American Christians usually approach the study of a book in the Bible?
2. Proverbs forces us to do what two things?
3. Can you suggest another?
4. What three things are assumed by Proverbs?
5. What are some of the things that Proverbs uses to teach its lessons?
6. What is the focus of Proverbs? Give an example.
7. How does God reveal truth in the message of Proverbs?
8. Discuss the comparison produced by the way a godly person looks at life.
9. Give 10 suggestions in this lesson about how you study Proverbs.
10. Can you give more?
11. To think about: What do you think will be your greatest challenge in studying Proverbs?
Link to Teacher's Guide Lesson 1
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David Chadwell & West-Ark Church of Christ