7/30/2019 16 Proverbs

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Proverbs

Purpose

Proverbspurposestatementisfoundin1:1-7.ThesewisesayingswerecollectedandcompiledtoprovideinstructiontotheIsraelitesingodlyliving.Theyfocusonthenittygrittydetailsofeverydaylife,providingguidelinesforGod-honoringchoices.

Authorship&GenreSolomonreceivescreditformuchofProverbs(see1:1),butthebookcontainswisesayings

fromthroughoutIsraelshistory.OthercontributorsmentionedincludeAgur(30:1)andLemuel(31:1),whomayhavebeenGod-fearingsagesfromtheGentilenations.The

proverbsareshort,poignantsayingswritteninpoeticstyle.

KeyVerseProverbs1:7: ThefearoftheLORDisthebeginningofknowledge;

Foolsdespisewisdomandinstruction.(NASB)

Structure1:1-7 1:8 9 10 22:16 22:17 24 25 29 30 31:9 31:10-31

Int

roduction:

The

Purposeof

Proverbs AFathers

Instruction:

Essayson

Wisdom

Proverbsof

Solomon

Sayingsof

theWise

Proverbsof

Solomon

Agurand

Lemuel:

FearoftheLordamong

Gentiles Conclusion:

Th

eResultof

Proverbs

TheologicalThemes HumanSpeech:Thetonguehastheabilitybothtodestroyandtoedify.Apersons

speechisthebestindicatorofwisdomorfolly.

FearoftheLord:Biblicalwisdomdoesnotcomefromhumancunningorshrewdness,butratherfromanattitudeofreverentialaweandtrustinGod.AwisepersonisonewhounderstandstheirpositioninlightofGodspowerandmight.

Finances:Proverbshighlightshonestyinbusinessdealingsandcautioninloaningmoneyaskeystofinancialwell-being.

Folly:Whatthepriestswouldcalluncleannessandtheprophetssin,thesagesofProverbscharacterizeasfolly.ItistheoppositeofwisdomortheFearofthe

Lord.Thefoolisthemostprominentcharacterinthebook,providingastark

contrastagainstthewisewomanofchapter31.Chapters1-9areespecially

centeredonthethemeofwisdomvs.folly.