In Today's Email:
Introduction to Hebrew Poetry
The books of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, and Lamentations are all written as Hebrew poetry. There are of course other portions of Scripture that contain poetry, but these are almost entirely that. In modern English, we use patterns of rhymes and accents to add artistic beauty to our poetry. In ancient Hebrew there is no rhyme or rhythm. The way I like to describe it is that it rhymes ideas. Each verse is either a couplet or triplet of ideas and imagery that enhances the meaning.
Welcome to the Book of Proverbs!
The Book of Proverbs is a collection of teachings and wise sayings by Solomon. Solomon was supernaturally blessed with great wisdom (I Kings 3:1-15). Scripture testifies of his wisdom in many places, such as I Kings 3:16-28, 4:29-34. This book is extremely practical. It exhorts the believer to be guided by Godly wisdom as they walk the path of righteousness.
A.T. Pierson defines a proverb as “a wise saying in which a few words are chosen instead of many, with a design to condense wisdom into a brief form both to aid memory and stimulate study.”
To understand the importance and breadth of the concept of wisdom in this book, I quote B.H. Caroll: “Then the Jewish idea of a perfectly wise man is, that the perfectly wise man is the one who, in his whole being, lives and thinks and acts in right relationship to the all-wise God. His wisdom commences emotionally in the fear of God; is manifested intellectually in his acquaintance with the manifestations of the divine nature in word and work; is active volitionally in obedience to the Will of God, as revealed in word and work.”
A few quick facts about Proverbs:
The author is Solomon. Two sections are attributed to other names: Chapter 30 to Agur and Chapter 31 to King Lemuel. I believe these are pseudonyms for Solomon, in part because they cannot be positively attributed to any other historical figure.
Solomon’s proverbs were recorded throughout his life (1035-975 B.C.). Much like the Book of Psalms being divided into five books that were compiled over time, there is evidence that Proverbs was a work in progress for centuries. Chapters 1-24 appear to have been collected in Solomon’s lifetime. Chapters 25-29 were compiled later during the reign of Hezekiah (726-698 B.C.).
The key verse is Proverbs 1:7 – “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
A brief outline:
Wisdom vs. Folly – Chapters 1-9
Miscellaneous Sayings – Chapters 10-24
Miscellaneous Sayings Collected by Hezekiah’s Scribes – Chapters 25-29
The Wisdom of Agur – Chapter 30
The Wisdom of Lemuel – Chapter 31
Proverbs 1 Notes
In this chapter Solomon introduces the subject of and importance of wisdom.
vs. 1-7 – This prologue states the purpose of the book. It is for the edification of the believer to increase in wisdom. True wisdom is found only through God and in His commands.
vs. 8-19 – In this section, Solomon addresses his son (Rehoboam) directly. It is a parental advice to not, as Psalm 1:1 so clearly put it, “walk not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful.” There is danger in having the wicked as close company. Sadly, the evidence is that Rehoboam did not follow this advice (I Kings 12:1-15).
vs. 20-33 – Wisdom is personified. She calls out for the wanderer to follow her and warns of the consequences of not doing so.
Proverbs 2 Notes
In this chapter Solomon continues his parental advice.
vs. 1-9 – The blessings of seeking and obtaining wisdom.
vs. 10-19 – Wisdom is a safeguard for the righteous against the wiles of the wicked. In vs. 16 we have the first appearance of the “strange woman”. She is described as a prostitute, but we may also see beyond that as a pagan woman who seducing the righteous, corrupting and ensnaring them. The concepts of prostitution and paganism were intertwined in practice in ancient Israel.
vs. 20-22 – The results of walking in wisdom. Compare to Psalm 1.
Proverbs 3 Notes
In this chapter Solomon continues his parental advice.
vs. 1-10 – The blessings of walking in wisdom are highlighted. To have wisdom is to follow God and His commandments. This brings the blessings of God.
vs. 11-20 – The blessings that follow a man who acquires wisdom. Even if it is acquired through “the school of hard knocks”, the value of wisdom far exceeds that price paid.
vs. 21-25 – The blessings of keeping and allowing it to guide our steps. Again, Godly wisdom is seen as the divide between the righteous and the wicked from Psalm 1.
Closing Thoughts
We live in what is called the “Information Age”. We have at our fingertips endless amounts of data and opinion. Has this made us any wiser? No. If anything, our world suffers from a drought of practical and moral wisdom. This is because the main ingredient has been left out: God. Without Him and His revelation there is no true wisdom.
Hymn for Today
Our hymn today is “In Streets, and Op’nings of the Gates” by John Logan. Logan led a committee to produce the “Translations and Paraphrases of the Church of Scotland” in 1775, of which this text was a part. It is a paraphrase of Proverbs 1:20-31.
In streets, and op’nings of the gates,
where pours the busy crowd,
Thus heav’nly Wisdom lifts her voice,
and cries to men aloud:
How long, ye scorners of the truth,
scornful will ye remain?
How long shall fools their folly love,
and hear my words in vain?
O turn, at last, at my reproof!
and, in that happy hour,
His bless’d effusions on your heart
my Spirit down shall pour.
But since so long, with earnest voice,
to you in vain I call
Since all my counsels and reproofs
thus ineffectual fall;
The time will come, when humbled low,
in Sorrow’s evil day,
Your voice by anguish shall be taught,
but taught too late, to pray.
When, like the whirlwind, o’er the deep
comes Desolation’s blast;
Pray’rs then extorted shall be vain,
the hour of mercy past.
The choice you made has fixed your doom;
for this is Heav’n’s decree,
That with the fruits of what he sowed
the sinner filled shall be.