2011 midwest preachers' retreat - dave bland's powerpoint notes on proverbs and character...

Midwest Preachers’ Midwest Preachers’ RetreatRetreat

The Book of Proverbs The Book of Proverbs and the Formation and the Formation

of Characterof CharacterSeptember 26-28 September 26-28

20112011

Section 1Foundations of

Character Formation

Introduction to Wisdom Literature

Wisdom Literature Books

Wisdom Literature Books

Job = pursuit of God

Ecclesiastes = pursuit of meaning

Proverbs = pursuit of order

Represented as different types of houses:

Proverbs = seven-pillared house, well stocked (ch. 9, 31)

Job =the wrecked, destroyed house (tornado) in ch. 1

Ecclesiastes = the run down house (ch. 12)

What is Wisdom?

Expertise

Expertise in Negotiating the Complexities of Life

Wisdom highlights social/moral skills over technical skills

Characteristics of the Wise

• Most fundamentally, the truly wise person takes a God-centered focus on life (1:7). 

• The wise person is a person of character (Prv 1:3).

• Wisdom as a direction not a destination

• The wise learn from the best of culture

• Wisdom is relational

Characteristics of the Wise

• The wise learn from their mistakes and the mistakes of others (Prv. 10:17; 12:1;15:5)

• The wise know their hard work has limits (21:31)

• Wisdom is expressed in action (James 3:13)

• The wise know what is appropriate (15:23; 25:11)

• They pay careful attention to the routine affairs of life. Wisdom learns from experiences.

Acquisition of Wisdom

• Must Acquire a Taste for Wisdom (Chaps. 1-9)

• Must Diligently Seek It (Prov. 2:1-5)

• It is a Gift That Only God Can Give (Prov. 2:6-8; James 1:5)

ProverbsProverbs

Proverbs 1:1-7

Purpose

Audience

Tools

Proverbs 1:7a

Fear of the Lord

is the Beginning of Wisdom

Session 2Temptations in the Process of

Character Formation(Proverbs Chapters 1-9)

Proverbs 1-9Instruction Literature

Proverbs 1-9Opening chapters contain:

• Ten instruction poems (lectures to the son)

• All ten begin with some form of the parental admonition, e.g. “my son listen to my instruction . . . .”

• Four are concerned only with getting the undivided attention of youth: 1:8-19; 2:1-22; 4:1-9; 4:10-19.

•Five poems on Woman Wisdom: 1:20-33; 8:1-36; 9:1-18; 3:13-20; 6:1-19

Proverbs 1-9A preamble for chapters 10-29

Getting undivided attention of youth:•Must acquire a taste for wisdom.•Wisdom is not just intellectual but attitudinal

The conclusion of 1-9 is left open-ended: •Does the son enter wisdom’s house or folly’s house? Don’t know. •It’s a decision the son has to make. Now the responsibility shifts from the father to the son/readers.

The Gang and Anti-Character

Proverbs 1:8-19

Defining Wisdom by its Counterpart: Folly

(Prv. 1:7b, 8-19)

Contemporary Understanding of Folly

Contemporary Understanding of Folly

We associate a fool with the following: stupidity, one who is a buffoon, a “dumb blond,” or air head.

We associate a fool with the following: stupidity, one who is a buffoon, a “dumb blond,” or air head.

Example of Foolishness: Water and Electricity!

Biblical Understanding of Folly

Biblical Understanding of Folly

Wisdom’s understanding of fool: one who is morally deficient.

Wisdom is a quality of character. One who has developed expertise in living life. One who is able to manage and navigate through the messes of life.

Wisdom’s understanding of fool: one who is morally deficient.

Wisdom is a quality of character. One who has developed expertise in living life. One who is able to manage and navigate through the messes of life.

Meaning of FoolMeaning of Fool

Over half a dozen terms for fool. All indicate some kind of moral breach. Characteristics of the fool:1. Fools do not learn from their own mistakes or the mistakes of others but often repeat them (26:11). 2. Fools “lack judgment” (sometimes the phrase is translated “lacks sense” [NRSV] or “stupid” [CEV, TEV] but ultimately it implies one who lacks character; (“empty-headed!”) see Prov.: 6:32; 7:7; 9:4; 9:16; 10:13, 20, 21; 11:12; 12:11; 15:21; 17:18; 24:30; 28:16.

Meaning of Fool (continued)

Meaning of Fool (continued)

3. Fools are unwilling to learn by means of discipline (Prov. 3:11-12; 17:10) or through formal instruction (Prov. 17:16) or a word of advice (12:15) or personal experience (26:11).

4. Fools lack self-control. Both the speech (15:2) and the behavior (14:16) of fools demonstrate a lack of restraint. They take the path of least resistance to easy money (Prov. 1:8-19) and easy sex (7:6-27).

5. Fools reject the fear of the Lord (Prov. 1:7).

Sexual Temptations Proverbs 5-7

Sexual Temptations Proverbs 5-7

Section 3:The Simplicities of Character

Formation(Proverbs 10-15)

Section 3:The Simplicities of Character

Formation(Proverbs 10-15)

Larger ContextProverbs 10-29

Sentence Literature

Larger ContextProverbs 10-29

Sentence Literature

Overall Structure of ProverbsOverall Structure of Proverbs

Chs. 1-9—instruction literatureChs. 10-29—sentence literature (collections based on proverb form):• Chs. 10-15—antithetic proverbs (the ABC’s of wisdom, the fundamentals)• Chs. 16-22—synonymous proverbs (a heavy grouping of the “better than” sayings: 16:8, 16, 19, 32; 17:1, 12; 19:1, 22; 21:9, 19; 22:1)• Chs. 22-24—instruction literature• Chs. 25-27—analogic proverbs• Chs. 28-29— mixture of proverbs Chs. 30-31—instruction literature

The Proverb as a Tool for Instruction

and Moral Formation

The Proverb as a Tool for Instruction

and Moral Formation

How the Proverb Functions Rhetorically

How the Proverb Functions Rhetorically

1. The proverb is packaged in a memorable form, characterized by “parallelism” (Prv. 10-22, 25-29)

Rhetorical Function Continued

Rhetorical Function Continued

2. The proverb is situational in quality.

a. proverbs are not absolutes

b. proverbs are not generalizations

c. proverbs are partial generalizations

3. The proverb accomplishes its work partially through its brevity and wit. The two work in tandem.

Brevity of the Proverb

Brevity of the Proverb

hDo…wvV;tAh hÎwhyAl◊w hDmDjVlIm MwøyVl NDk…wm s…ws Prov. 21:31

bwøf NEj bDhÎΩzIm…w PRsR;kIm b∂r rRvOoEm MEv rDjVbˆn Prov. 22:1

hÎwh◊y MD;lUk hEcOo …wvÎ…gVpˆn v∂rÎw ryIvDo Prov. 22:2

The Simplicities of Character Formation: Proverbs 10-15

Contrasting/Antithetic Proverbs

The Simplicities of Character Formation: Proverbs 10-15

Contrasting/Antithetic Proverbs

Proverbs 10-11 contain a high concentration of righteous and wicked proverbs.

Fundamental theology: Righteous people prosper but wicked people will suffer.

Proverbs 10-22Sentence Literature

A few examples

Proverbs 10-22Sentence Literature

A few examples

Proverbs 11:24aProverbs 11:24a

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Proverbs 11:7When the Wicked

Die

Proverbs 11:7When the Wicked

Die

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Proverbs 10-22Sentence Literature

Proverbs 10-22Sentence Literature

One can preach and teach the proverb by unpacking the experiences and stories that went into creating it.

A proverb is “a short sentence based on a long experience.”

Proverbs 10:7a

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Proverbs 11:1Proverbs 11:1

Proverbs 11:1Sermon Focus and Function

Proverbs 11:1Sermon Focus and Function

Focus: God expects honesty in even the smallest areas of our lives.

Function: To move Christians to greater honesty in their daily lives.

Misinterpreted and Misunderstood Proverbs

Misinterpreted and Misunderstood Proverbs

Proverbs 13:24Proverbs 13:24

Corporal Punishment in the Old Testament

The Practice of Caning

Sirach 30:1-13Sirach 30:1-131 He who loves his son will whip him often,

so that he may rejoice at the way he turns out. 2 He who disciplines his son will profit by him,

and will boast of him among acquaintances.

3 He who teaches his son will make his enemies envious,

and will glory in him among his friends.

4 When the father dies he will not seem to be dead,

for he has left behind him one like himself,

5 whom in his life he looked upon with joy

and at death, without grief.

6 He has left behind him an avenger against his enemies,

and one to repay the kindness of his friends.

7 Whoever spoils his son will bind up his wounds,and will suffer heartache at every cry.

8 An unbroken horse turns out stubborn,and an unchecked son turns out headstrong.

9 Pamper a child, and he will terrorize you;play with him, and he will grieve you.

10 Do not laugh with him, or you will have sorrow with him,

and in the end you will gnash your teeth. 11 Give him no freedom in his youth,

and do not ignore his errors. 12 Bow down his neck in his youth,

and beat his sides while he is young,or else he will become stubborn and disobey you,

and you will have sorrow of soul from him. 13 Discipline your son and make his yoke heavy,

so that you may not be offended by his shamelessness.

The Problem of Child Abuse and Proverbs 13:24

The Problem of Child Abuse and Proverbs 13:24

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Proverbs 13:24Corporal Punishment

Proverbs 13:24Corporal Punishment

Can proverbs about the rod be taught in a time when child abuse is rampant?

Tom Long concludes that proverbs like 23:13-14 are unwise proverbs. (Tom Long, Preaching and the Literary Forms of the Bible, Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1989, 62.)

Corporal punishment is not synonymous with abuse.

Corporal punishment comes in context of other wisdom virtues: self-restraint (16:32; 25:28), patience (12:16; 14:29; 15:1), excessive anger (14:17), etc.

The sage in 13:24 says that those who do not practice corporal punishment practice child abuse.

Proverbs 22:6What does the phrase

“in the way he should go” mean?

Proverbs 22:6What does the phrase

“in the way he should go” mean?

It refers to the vocation or life work of the youth.

The phrase refers to the personal aptitude of the youth. That is, the youth's individual nature, likes and dislikes. Talents and abilities must be considered in the process of training.

Proverbs 22:6What does the phrase

“in the way he should go” mean?

Proverbs 22:6What does the phrase

“in the way he should go” mean?

It is an ironical statement. The emphasis is on his way in a satirical sense. Let a youth do what he wants and he will grow into a self-indulgent adult.

The phrase refers to the moral training that youth are to receive early in life.

Proverbs 22:6Proverbs 22:6

Parents are to train youth, in the right moral way. “And when they are old they will not depart.”

Is this an absolute? Is it a generalization?

Do exceptions govern how we interpret this proverb?

Proverbs 29:18Proverbs 29:18

Session 4: The Complexities of Character Formation

(Proverbs 16-29)

Session 4: The Complexities of Character Formation

(Proverbs 16-29)

An increase in complexity

Various types of Proverbs

Movement in 16:1-22:6 (A broadening circle of relationships occurs

Proverbs 25-27“Like Proverbs”

Analogical

Proverbs 25-27“Like Proverbs”

Analogical

Proverbs 25:11-20Proverbs 25:11-20

Proverbs 26Proverbs 26

The sage warns against several morally irresponsible or inept people:

The undisciplined: 25:28

The fool: 26:1-12

The lazy: 26:13-16

The verbal abuser: 26:17-26

Proverbs 26:3Set to Music

Special Categories of Proverbs:Contradictory, Thematic, Clustered

Special Categories of Proverbs:Contradictory, Thematic, Clustered

Contradictory Proverbs

Disputational Pairs or Dueling Proverbs

The Role of Conversation and Rigorous/Spirited Dialogue

Session 5: Character in its Maturity (Proverbs 31:10-

31)

Session 5: Character in its Maturity (Proverbs 31:10-

31)

The Woman of Noble Character

Proverbs 31:10-31The Woman of Noble

Character

Proverbs 31:10-31The Woman of Noble

Character

Misunderstandings

Proverbs 31:10-31The Woman of Noble

Character

Proverbs 31:10-31The Woman of Noble

Character

What is the meaning of

this poem?