How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth: A Spiritual Skills Series
Week 5: Old Testament Wisdom; Proverbs 9; February 15, 2015
In the Scriptures wisdom is the ability to make godly choices in life.
Wisdom Literature: Job, Ecclesiastes, Proverbs and Various Psalms (36, 37, 49,
73, 78, 112, 127, 128 & 133)
Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes is a very pessimistic book. It really doesn’t encourage you to
live a faithful life to God. (Eccl 1:1-11)
The only advice he gives, which he gives 5 or 6 times is this, “A man can do
nothing better than to eat & drink& find satisfaction in your work.”
Why is it in the Bible? Its wisdom serves as a foil to the rest of the Bible.
See the last two verses of the book (Eccl 12:13-14)
The book is a brilliant argument about how we should live our lives if God does
not exist or if God does exist but there is no afterlife for us.
Job
In this book too we find a lot of wrong advice that is given as a contrast
to correct advice.
Job’s so-called friends held to the belief that if bad things happen to you it’s
because you must be a bad person.
General Principle: You must read the Bible in context.
Proverbs
Proverbs are short, memorable, pithy statements on how to live a godly life.
(ex. Proverbs 26:17)
Proverbs were primarily directed at youth to help them to grow up into
mature, responsible, functioning adults.
General Principles:
1. Proverbs are not promises from God. (ex. Proverbs 22:6)
2. When reading proverbs we must seek out the intent of the
proverb. (ex. Proverbs 21:22)
3. Part of figuring out the intent of a proverb involves translating
them into our day today. (ex. Proverbs 22:11)
4. If you are having trouble figuring out the intent of a specific proverb
read the other proverbs on that topic and compare them.
Who is wisdom for?
1. Those who are wise
2. The simple & the young
Unlike fools, they are teachable.
3. The foolish exclude themselves.
Wisdom begins by realizing we are all fools before God.
Suggested Readings for the Week:
Monday: Proverbs 1-3; General Call to Wisdom
Tuesday: Job 25, 27:1-6, 40:1-14, 42; Competing Advice
Wednesday: Ecclesiastes 1-3; Foil Wisdom
Thursday: Psalm 112, 127, 128, 133; Psalms of Wisdom
Friday: Proverbs 22-23; General proverbs