Week 1

9/13/09

An Introduction to Proverbs & Biblical Wisdom

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Matt. 7:24-27

Christ Our Wisdom – Luke 24:44[1]

  1. Jesus lived Wisdom (Luke 2:40, 51; Matt. 12:42).
  2. Jesus is Wisdom (1 Cor. 1:20; Col. 2:3; John 1:1, Col. 1:15-19; cf. Proverbs 8:27-31; Matt. 11:18-19).
  3. Jesus is the Way of Wisdom (Matt. 7:24-7).
  4. Jesus supplies Wisdom (Luke 21:15; Eph.1:17).
  5. The book of Proverbs is the Word of God, a written revelation of the wisdom inherent in God who is the only source of true wisdom. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Word of God, a perfect expression of God’s wisdom in divine/human form (Col. 1:15).

What is Biblical Wisdom?

  1. Wisdom is a gift of God. He gives wisdom to those who seek it
  2. Wisdom is one of God’s ways of guiding and preserving the life of his people.
  3. Wisdom is a path, a way of life.
  4. Wisdom is the God given ability to live skillfully and in harmony with the revelation of God in the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a fallen world—this present evil age. Pilgrim wisdom.
  5. “Biblical wisdom unites the process of becoming mature persons with the larger scheme of God’s purposes for all creation. It guides the way we live in our bodies and our communities by encouraging the development of virtues.”[2]
  6. Biblical wisdom is found in all Scripture.
  7. Wisdom is seeing clearly. Understanding the nature of reality.

What is a Proverb?

  1. A proverb is a saying that stimulates thought and provides insight. Individual proverbs are meant to provoke a response in those who hear them and relate them to life.
  2. The book of Proverbs contains sayings that contrast wisdom and folly in particular life situations and relationships.
  3. A proverb is a rhetorical device that uses juxtaposition and metaphor to train us in wisdom.

Proverbs 1:1-7 – A Training Manual in Wisdom

  1. Solomon, son of David. A of collection proverbs (25:1; 22:17; 24:23; cf. Matt.12:42)
  2. The way we learn wisdom – by submitting to instruction or discipline in order to gain wisdom (19:20).
  3. To receive or acquire the wisdom that produces character, virtue, holy living and faithfulness.
  4. Wisdom produces maturity – good judgment (“prudence”) and the ability to discern the path of wisdom in any situation (“discretion”). The simple and the young are those who are immature and in need of instruction in wisdom. The simple are presented with a choice, two paths – the path of wisdom and the path of folly. Proverbs is a call to maturity. “When Proverbs speaks of wisdom, it answers the question, What does a person need to come of age, to become mature and take on the responsibilities of adult life? Wisdom was and is often associated with age in the cultures of the world (cf. Job 12:12). In the Bible, one needs wisdom to function as an adult in relation to God and society”[3] (see Eph. 4:11-16).
  5. The wise continue to grow in wisdom and understanding. The wise are humble and teachable. Wisdom is passed on by wise. We learn wisdom from the wise.
  6. The ability to understand the ancient wisdom forms that are found in the Bible – proverbs, parables, sayings and riddles. Wisdom is often hidden in order to reveal.
  7. The fear of the LORD is the beginning knowledge. This is the most important saying of the wise. A relationship with the living God is essential; one cannot learn or grow in wisdom apart from the knowledge of the God of the Bible. Fools cannot gain wisdom because they reject God (Ps. 14:1). “Fear of the Lord requires that we remove ourselves as the center of authority in our self-made universe” (Prov. 3:15).

[1] Selavaggio, Anthony, A Proverbs Driven Life, pp.20-23

[2] Koptak, Paul E., Proverbs, The NIV Application Commentary, p.25

[3] Koptak, p.39