Proverbs I. Introduction A. Proverbs: a treasure chest of wisdom 1. Truly wisdom literature 2. Collected sayings and advice B. A source of great benefit and encouragement for generations 1. A popular genre of literature in ancient Near East 2. Yet how many statements fit our world today? C. Let us consider the book II. Proverbs: The Details A. Authorship 1. Multiple authors 2. Majority from Solomon; some from "the wise," Agur, Lemuel 3. 1 Kings 4:29-34 B. Dating 1. Solomon lives around 950 BCE; Agur and Lemuel entirely unknown 3. Some of Solomon's proverbs written in days of Hezekiah (ca. 700 BCE; Proverbs 25:1) 4. Final compilation some time afterward C. Audience 1. Israel 2. We can gain much also D. Purpose 1. To provide instruction in wisdom 2. To direct someone on the paths of righteousness and wisdom III. Proverbs: The Story A. Main Sections 1. Themed Discussions of Wisdom, Wise Actions (Proverbs 1-9) 2. Collection of Solomon's Proverbs (Proverbs 10:1-22:16) 3. Words of the Wise (Proverbs 22:17-24:34) 3. Hezekiah's Collection of Solomon's Proverbs (Proverbs 25-29) 4. Agur and Lemuel (Proverbs 30-31) B. Seek, Maintain Wisdom (Proverbs 1-2) 1. Introduction, purpose of proverbs (Proverbs 1:1-6) 2. Fear of Lord beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom, instruction (Proverbs 1:7) 3. Heed words of father and mother; do not go out and collaborate with sinners (Proverbs 1:8-19) 4. Wisdom's cry: listen to her reproof lest she not be there for you in difficult times (Proverbs 1:20-33) 5. Great value in wise words; God as source of wisdom; wisdom leads to the good paths; delivers from the adulterous woman; make righteous (Proverbs 2) C. A Father's Instructions (Proverbs 3-4) 1. Remember teachings; trust in God; fear Him; not wise in own eyes; honor the Lord, accept His discipline (Proverbs 3:1-12) 2. Blessings of finding wisdom; great value of wisdom; do the right thing (Proverbs 3:13-35) 3. Father's instruction: get wisdom and insight, follow after it; stay in the path of righteousness, great value in it; value in father's instruction, keeping from evil (Proverbs 4) D. A Father's Warnings, Especially About Adultery (Proverbs 5-7) 1. Listen to father's instructions; nature of adulterous woman; need to avoid her (Proverbs 5:1-14) 2. Value of faithfulness to one's wife (Proverbs 5:15-20) 3. God sees way of all; way of the wicked is danger (Proverbs 5:21-23) 4. Get out of debt immediately (Proverbs 6:1-5) 5. Laziness leads to poverty; ant shows way of work (Proverbs 6:6-11) 6. Calamity upon the wicked; wicked things that the LORD hates (Proverbs 6:12-19) 7. Keep father's commandment, avoid the adulteress; its terrible consequences; Solomon tells story of foolish man ensnared by adulteress, the path leading to death (Proverbs 6:20-7:27) E. Wisdom (Proverbs 8-9) 1. Wisdom personified, calls to people to do right (Proverbs 8:1-11) 2. Nature of wisdom, how the world operates, was created through wisdom; great value and power in wisdom (Proverbs 8:12-36) 3. Wisdom as having house, calls to people to learn from her; contrast between attempt to correct a scoffer, correct a wise man (Proverbs 9:1-12) 4. Folly personified; seduces simple men to come, partake, leads to death (Proverbs 9:13-18) F. Proverbs 1-9 rather thematic; most of the rest of Proverbs not so thematic 1. On the whole, Proverbs 10-31 represent the compilation of Solomon's individual Proverbs, sayings of the wise, words of Agur and Lemuel 2. Most have an "a" line and a corresponding "b" line, but no necessary connection from one couplet to the next 3. Far too many to analyze in any detail during our time together! 4. Thus, let us consider the themes of the various proverbs, and look at some representative examples G. The Wise and the Foolish 1. Proverbs contrasting the wise and the foolish; description of wise or foolish; actions of wise or foolish; consequences of wisdom, foolishness 2. Proverbs 10:1, 10:8, 10:10, 10:13-14, 10:18, 10:23, 11:12, 12:8, 12:15-16, 12:23, 13:15-16, 13:20, 14:3, 14:6-9, 14:15-18, 14:24, 14:29, 14:33, 15:2, 15:7, 15:14, 15:20-21, 16:16, 16:21-23, 17:2, 17:12, 17:18, 17:21, 17:24-5, 17:28, 18:1-2, 18:6-7, 18:17, 19:2-3, 19:11, 20:3, 20:5, 20:15, 20:29, 21:16, 21:20, 21:22, 22:1, 22:3, 23:9, 24:3-7, 24:13-14, 26:1, 26:3-12, 27:3, 27:11-12, 27:22, 28:11, 28:26, 29:3, 29:9, 29:11, 30:24-28 3. Representative examples: Proverbs 12:15, 14:29, 24:3-7, 28:26 H. Righteousness and Goodness, Wickedness and Evil 1. Proverbs contrasting the righteous and the wicked; description of righteous, wicked; value of good, problems with evil; evil in anger, hostility, other reactions 2. Proverbs 10:2-3, 10:6-7, 10:9, 10:11, 10:12, 10:16, 10:20-21, 10:24-25, 10:27-32, 11:3-11, 11:16-21, 11:23, 11:27-31, 12:2-3, 12:5-7, 12:10, 12:12-13, 12:20-21, 12:26, 12:28, 13:5-6, 13:9, 13:17, 13:19, 13:21-22, 13:25, 14:2, 14:5, 14:11, 14:14, 14:19, 14:22, 14:32, 14:34-35, 15:6, 15:8-9, 15:15, 15:24, 15:26-29, 16:6-8, 16:12-13, 16:17, 16:27, 16:29-31, 17:11, 17:13, 17:15, 17:19-20, 17:23, 17:26, 18:3, 18:5, 18:10, 19:1, 19:19, 19:22, 20:6-7, 20:11, 20:17, 20:20-21, 20:30, 21:3, 21:6-8, 21:12, 21:18, 21:21, 21:27, 21:29, 22:5, 22:24-25, 23:6-8, 23:17-18, 24:1-2, 24:8, 24:15-16, 24:19-20, 25:19, 25:21-22, 25:26, 25:28, 27:19, 28:1-2, 28:4-6, 28:10, 28:12-13, 28:15-18, 28:20, 28:24, 28:28, 29:2, 29:6-7, 29:10, 29:16, 29:18, 29:24, 29:27, 30:12 3. Representative examples: Proverbs 13:5-6, 21:3, 28:1 I. Poverty/Laziness, Wealth/Effort 1. Proverbs contrasting the poor and the wealthy, lazy and those who work; description of those who are poor, rich, who are lazy, who work; pledges; preparation 2. Proverbs 10:4-5, 10:15, 10:26, 12:11, 12:24, 12:27, 13:4, 13:7-8, 13:11, 13:18, 13:22, 14:4, 14:20, 14:23, 15:6, 15:19, 16:26, 17:8, 18:9, 18:11, 18:23, 19:4, 19:7, 19:15, 19:24, 20:4, 20:13, 21:5, 21:17, 21:25-26, 22:7, 22:13, 22:26-27, 22:29, 23:4-5, 23:19-21, 24:27, 24:30-34, 26:13-16, 27:7, 27:13, 27:18, 27:20, 27:23-27, 28:8, 28:19, 28:20, 28:22, 28:25, 30:8-9, 30:15-16, 31:6-7 3. Representative examples: Proverbs 10:4-5, 24:30-34, 30:8-9 J. Accepting, Rejecting Instruction, Discipline 1. Proverbs regarding obtaining, heeding instruction; contrast of those who do not accept discipline, those who do; need for discipline; value of counsel 2. Proverbs 10:17, 11:14, 12:1, 13:1, 13:10, 13:13-14, 13:18, 13:24, 14:12, 15:5, 15:10, 15:12, 15:22, 15:31-33, 16:25, 16:32, 17:10, 18:15, 19:8, 19:16, 19:18, 19:20, 19:25, 19:27, 19:29; 20:18-19, 21:11, 22:6, 22:15, 22:17-21, 23:12-14, 23:22-25, 25:2, 25:12, 27:5, 28:7, 28:9, 28:23, 29:1, 29:15, 29:17, 29:19, 29:21 3. Representative examples: Proverbs 12:1, 13:24, 14:12, 16:25, 22:6, 22:15 K. The Mouth 1. Proverbs regarding speech: restraining or speaking, gossip, slander, false witness, hasty speech; benefits of good speech 2. Proverbs 10:19-21, 11:13, 12:14, 12:17-19, 12:22, 13:2-3, 14:5, 14:25, 15:1, 15:4, 15:18, 15:23, 15:28, 16:24, 16:28, 17:4, 17:7, 17:9, 17:27-28, 18:4, 18:8, 18:13, 18:20-21, 19:5, 19:9, 20:14, 20:25, 21:23, 21:28, 22:10-12, 24:26, 24:28-29, 25:7-11, 25:14-16, 25:18, 25:23, 26:2, 26:17-28, 27:14, 27:17, 29:5, 29:8-9, 29:11, 29:20, 29:22, 30:10-11, 30:14, 30:17, 30:32-33 3. Representative examples: Proverbs 14:25, 15:1, 17:28, 19:9, 29:11 L. The LORD 1. Proverbs invoking the LORD 2. Proverbs 10:22, 14:26-27, 15:3, 15:8-9, 15:11, 15:17, 15:25, 15:29, 15:33, 16:1-11, 16:20, 16:33, 17:3, 18:10, 18:22, 19:3, 19:17, 19:21, 19:23, 20:12, 20:22-24, 20:27, 21:1-3, 21:30-31, 22:2, 22:4, 22:12, 22:19, 22:23, 23:17, 25:2, 25:22, 28:14, 28:25, 29:13, 29:25, 30:1-9 3. Representative examples: Proverbs 15:33, 17:3, 19:23, 21:30-31 M. Justice, Giving 1. Proverbs regarding the promotion, defense of justice; benefits of giving; interaction of justice and giving 2. Proverbs 11:1, 11:24-26, 13:23, 14:21, 14:31, 16:11, 17:5, 18:5, 18:16, 18:18, 19:6, 19:17, 19:28, 20:10, 20:16, 20:23, 21:13-15, 21:26, 22:8, 22:16, 22:22-23; 22:28, 23:10-11, 24:10-12, 24:23-25, 28:3, 28:21, 28:27, 29:7, 31:8-9 3. Representative examples: Proverbs 11:1, 19:6, 24:23-25 N. Pride and Humility 1. Proverbs regarding the contrast between the proud and humble; fate of proud and humble 2. Proverbs 11:2, 12:9, 15:15, 16:5, 16:18-19, 18:12, 21:4, 21:24, 22:2, 22:4, 25:6-7, 25:27, 27:1-2, 27:21, 29:23, 30:13, 30:32-33 3. Representative examples: Proverbs 16:18-19, 29:23 O. Women 1. Proverbs on women: the good wife/woman, the not so good wife/woman; adultery 2. Proverbs 11:16, 11:22, 12:4, 14:1, 18:22, 19:13-14, 21:9, 21:19, 22:14, 23:26-28, 25:24, 27:8, 27:15-16, 30:18-23, 31:1-2, 31:10-31 3. Representative examples: Proverbs 18:22, 21:9, 22:14, 31:10-31 P. The Heart 1. Proverbs regarding the condition of the heart: what brings joy or sorrow, pain or happiness-- involves heart, mind, spirit 2. Proverbs 12:25, 13:12, 14:10, 14:13, 14:30, 15:13, 15:30, 17:22, 18:14, 20:9, 24:17-18, 25:13, 25:20, 25:25 3. Representative example: Proverbs 15:30 Q. Children 1. Proverbs regarding the benefits, detractions of children 2. Proverbs 17:6, 17:21, 17:25, 19:13, 19:26, 23:15-16 3. Representative examples: Proverbs 17:6, 19:13, 23:15-16 R. Kings 1. Proverbs regarding conduct of kings, conduct before a king 2. Proverbs 14:28, 16:10, 16:12-15, 19:10, 19:12, 20:2, 20:8, 20:26, 20:28, 21:1, 22:11, 22:29, 23:1-3, 24:21-22, 25:3-7, 28:15-16, 29:4, 29:12, 29:14, 29:26, 30:29-31, 31:1-5 3. Representative examples: Proverbs 20:2, 23:1-3 R. Other Proverbs 1. Indebtedness: Proverbs 11:15, 22:7 2. Quiet and strife: Proverbs 17:1, 17:14, 18:19 3. Friendship: Proverbs 17:17, 18:24, 27:6, 27:9-10 4. Wine: Proverbs 20:1, 23:29-35 5. A man and his neighbor: Proverbs 25:17 IV. Proverbs: Important Passages A. Proverbs 1:1-7 1. Presents purpose, big picture of Proverbs 2. Quite helpful B. Proverbs 3:5-8 C. Proverbs 3:11-12 (cf. Hebrews 12:5-6) D. Proverbs 5:15-19 E. Proverbs 6:27-28 F. Proverbs 25:21-22 (cf. Romans 12:20) G. Proverbs 26:11 (cf. 2 Peter 2:22) H. Consider the representative examples above I. Proverbs 31:10-31 V. Conclusion A. Proverbs 1. A wonderful source of wisdom! 2. Much always to ponder, digest 3. A treasury never emptied! B. They are well and good to learn, but far better to practice! 1. Wisdom is of little use in a book if it is not applied 2. All of Solomon's wise sayings go for naught if not used! C. Let us gain wisdom from Solomon, others, and lead more godly, righteous, and wise lives! D. Invitation/songbook