PROVERBS

Ancient Wisdom for Modern Living

Solomon

• Author of the Proverbs• King of Israel• Son of King David• Built the temple• Wisest man in the world• Had his own sin problems

Themes in Proverbs

• The fear of the Lord

• Fools vs. Wise

Key People in Proverbs

• Solomon

• Hezekiah’s men

• Agur

• Lemuel

Key Words

• Wisdom: – "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the

Holy One is understanding.” (Pr 9:10, 1:7)

– It is not IQ (1Cor 1:20,25) “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” (Pr 26:12)

• Understanding:– The revelation of truth

• Occurs in the heart (Is 6:10)• We sometimes call it “accepting one word”

– It is not being like Nicodemus (Jn 3:10)

Applying the proverbs

• Taken literally, Proverbs offers practical direction on how to live day-to-day in a way that pleases God.

• Proverbs also has spiritual meaning.– For instance: “he who sleeps during harvest is a

disgraceful son” (10:5) • This brings to mind not just our physical jobs, but

also world mission (Mt 9:37-38)

Key Verse: 1:4

For giving prudence to the simple,

knowledge and discretion to the young

Proverbs in brief

• A Father counsels his son to seek wisdom (1-7)

• Wisdom’s call (8-9)

• Solomon’s proverbs (10-24)

• Solomon’s proverbs copied by King Hezekiah’s men (25-29)

• The words of Agur & King Lemuel (30-31)

Presentation Overview

I. Poor character traitsa. The simpleb. The foolc. The sluggard(also: the violent, the sexually immoral, the mocker, the divisive, the arrogant, and the drunkard)

• God can change us if we listen to his word

• The wisea. Fear of the LORD is beginning of wisdom

I. The noble woman

Are You Simple?

Simple people lack moral direction and are inclined to evil.

Proverbs 7:7

I saw among the simple, I noticed among theyoung men, a youth who lacked judgment.

Proverbs 14:15

A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.

Proverbs 14:18

The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

Proverbs 27:12

The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.

The simple versus the fool

For the waywardness of the simple willkill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; (Pr 1:32)

Generally in Proverbs, the simple refers to those who lack moral judgment, where as thefool refers to someone who is morally deficient.

Fools in Proverbs

• Proverbs has a lot to say about fools. None of it is good.

Proverbs 10:14

Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.

Proverbs 10:21

The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.

Proverbs 10:23

A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct, but a man of understanding delights in wisdom.

Proverbs 12:15

The way of a fool seems right to him,but a wise man listens to advice.

Proverbs 12:16

A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.

Proverbs 13:16

Every prudent man acts out of knowledge, but a fool exposes his folly.

Proverbs 13:19

A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,but fools detest turning from evil.

Proverbs 13:20

He who walks with the wise grows wise,but a companion of fools suffers harm.

Proverbs 14:16

A wise man fears the Lord and shuns evil,but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.

The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too

lazy to bring it back to his mouth. (Proverbs 26:5)

The sluggard

Proverbs 6:6

Go to the ant you sluggard;Consider its ways and be wise!

Proverbs 6:9-11

How long will you lie there you sluggard?When will you get up from your sleep?

A little sleep, a little slumber,A little folding of the hands to rest –

And poverty will come on you like a banditAnd scarcity like an armed man.

Proverbs 10:5

He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son,but he who sleeps during harvest is a

disgraceful son.

II. Were you in these verses?

God’s word can help us to change!

Recall the purpose of Proverbs:

For giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young (1:4)

Proverbs 8:5

You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding.

Proverbs 9:4,6

"Let all who are simple come in here!" she says to those who lack judgment …

Leave your simple ways and you will live;walk in the way of understanding.

Proverbs 21:11

When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;

when a wise man is instructed, he gets knowledge

III. The wise

• A catch-all phrase, representing the opposite of the various bad traits– Upright, diligent, loving, humble, studies the Bible

• Again, wisdom has nothing to do with IQ, being intellectual, or worldly knowledge

• The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom

What does it mean to fear the LORD?

• Mentioned 21 times in proverbs

• “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.” (Pr 3:7)

• To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. (8:13)

• He whose walk is upright fears the Lord, but he whose ways are devious despises him (14:2)

Proverbs 9:8

Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you;rebuke a wise man and he will love you.

Proverbs 10:19

When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.

Proverbs 11:30

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

Proverbs 12:18

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 14:1

The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears

hers down.

Proverbs 16:21

The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction.

Proverbs 25:12

Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine goldis a wise man's rebuke to a listening ear.

Proverbs 29:8

Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger.

IV. The noble woman

1. A wife of noble character is precious (31:10)

2. She is diligent (31:11-27)

3. She has a heart for the poor (31:20)

4. She speaks wisdom (26)

5. She deserves to be praised (31:28-31)Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

“Many women do noble things but you surpass them all”

Proverbs 31:30-31

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

ConclusionEvery proverb presents a choice:

• Will we be like the wise man or the fool?

• Will we follow God’s way or our way?

• Will we do what God says or what we rationalize?– There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

(14:12)

– All a man's ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart. (21:2)

– The way of a fool seems right to him,but a wise man listens to advice. (12:15)