Proverbs 1 to 9
Study 1
The proverbs of
Solomon
Ancient scroll of the book of Proverbs
THE BOOK OF PROVERBS
Ch 1-9
The seeking of wisdom
Ch 10:1 to Ch 24:34
Proverbs of Solomon – includes wise men’s proverbs cf
22:17, 24:23
Ch 25:1 to 29:27
Hezekiah’s collection of Solomon’s proverbs
THE BOOK OF PROVERBS
Ch 30
Words of Agur
Ch 31:1-9
Words of King Lemuel
Ch 31:10-31
The virtuous woman
PROVERBS – THE TEACHING STYLES
SYNTHETIC PARALLELISM
Two parallel ideas then a third completes the sequence
26:3.. A whip for the horse a bridle for the ass and a rod for the back of
fools
ANTITHETIC PARALLELISM
Second phrase opposite to the first
15:1.. A soft answer turneth away wrath,but grievous words stir up
strife
SYNONYMOUS
Second phrase repeats the idea in varied form
15:12.. a scorner loveth not one that reproves him, neither will he go
into the wise
PROVERBS AND THE LAW
Prov 6:21,22…..cf Deut 6:7,8 “bind them
continually upon thy heart”
Prov 3:3…..cf Deut 10:12,16 11:18 30:6 “…the
tables of the heart..”
Prov 4:27 …cf Deut 5:32, 17:20 “turn not to the
right hand or the left”
JESUS AND THE PROVERBS
Prov 14:12, 28 ….the way of life and death
Matt 7:13,14….the broad way and the narrow way
Prov 25:7,8….taking the high seat
Luke 14:10….parable of the man taking the chief seats
Prov 11:28….warning not to trust in riches
Mark 10:24….warning to those who trust in riches
PROVERBS 1
V 1-9
the purpose of the book
V 10-19
warning regarding evil companions
V 20-23
the first appeal of Wisdom
V 24-33
the consequences of refusal
PROVERBS – The purpose of the book
•Wisdom
applied skill
•Instruction
reprove, warn
•Understanding
discrimination
•Wisdom
prudence
•Subtlety
discretion
•Knowledge
awareness
•Discretion
plan, sagacity
•Wise counsels
guide, steer
•Interpretations
figures of speech
•Dark sayings
riddles, puzzles
THE WORDS USED FOR WISDOM IN PROVERBS
• chokmah..used 42 times ..knowledge, understanding, applied skill 1:1
• sakel.. insight, prudence, intelligence 1:3, 12:8, 23:9
• orma.. shrewdness, discretion, subtlety 1:4, 8:5
• bina.. 12 times translated understanding, wisdom once 23:4
• leb.. heart 4 times 10:21, 11:12, 15:21, 19:8
• tushiyah .. ability 2:7, 2:21, 8:14
THE THEME OF EVIL COMPANIONS
•
no one will see v11
•
nothing will go wrong v12
•
all in it together v13
•
all share the spoil v14
THREE REJECTORS OF WISDOM
• the simple……. Heb peti.. naive, open mind
• scorners……Heb les…scoff, deride
• fools ……….Heb kesil…gross, stupid
THREE WORDS FOR FOOL
•
evyle….perverse, stubborn, stupid
•
kesil…. gross, silly
• nabal ….wicked, boorish, stupid
THE CHARACTER OF THE FOOL
• hates knowledge ..1:22
• destroyed by prosperity..1:32
• is always right 12:15
• no self control.. 12:16
• speaks stupidly.. 12:23
• prefers evil.. 13:19
• mocks at sin.. 14:9
THE CHARACTER OF THE FOOL
• despises parents..15:20
• feeds on foolishness..15:14
• loves arguments 18:6,7
• trusts his own heart.. 28:26
• will receive shame in the end.. 3:35
• will submit to the wise finally.. 11:29
CONSEQUENCES OF REFUSAL
Proverbs 1:25-29
• God will laugh at their calamity v26
• no response from God to their fear v27
• no answer from God to prayer v 28
• because they set at nought his counsel v 25
• because they hated knowledge v 29
• no fear of God v 29
Proverbs 1 to 9
Study 2
The gaining of
wisdom
Ancient scroll of the book of Proverbs
CHAPTER 2
V1-6
how wisdom is obtained
V 7-15
the moral application of wisdom
V 16-22
a warning to avoid the foreign woman ,folly
CHAPTER 2
•
teaching v1
•
listening v2
•
asking v3
•
seeking v4
•
understanding v5-9
•
discretion v11
•
walk v12,13
THE STEPS TO DECLINE
Proverbs 2:12-18
• speak perverse things .. v12, 16
• leave paths of righteousness .. v13
• walk in ways of darkness .. v13
• rejoice in evil .. v14
• delight in sin .. v14
• way of life is crooked .. v15
• leave the truth .. v17
• finish in death .. v18
THE FOREIGN WOMAN Ch 2:16-22
• v 16 strange woman (Heb zuwr) foreign, out of the
way,alien,harlot used Psa 69:8
stranger (Heb nokriy) foreign, outlandish, adulterous
used 1 Kings 11:1, Neh 13:26
• knows the truth but forsook it v17
• forsook guides (friends) of her youth, and the covenant of
her God v17
• her paths and house lead to death v18
• admonition to stay in way of life v 20-22
CHAPTER 3
V1-12
wisdom in the heart
V13-18
the benefits of wisdom
V19-26
the power of wisdom
V27-35
the application of wisdom
WISDOM IN THE HEART
• Ch 2 emphasizes searching, asking, learning wisdom
whilst Ch3 is remembering and practising it cf v1
forget not
• mercy and truth to be bound round the neck and
inscribed upon the heart Ex 34:6,7 1 Kings 3:6 used 11
times together in the Psalms
• law in the heart not on tables of stone Jer 31:33
2Cor 3:3
THE DISCIPLINE OF WISDOM
• v11,12 Despise not the chastening of the Lord.. Deut 8:5
• quoted from speech of Eliphaz in Job 5:17
• directed at Job in an inappropriate context
• Paul expounds the true application to those who are
“sons of God” Heb 12:5,6
THE REWARDS OF WISDOM
Prov 3:13-18
• happiness v13
• better than riches v14,15
• length of life v16
• peace v17
• ultimately eternal life v18
QUALITIES OF WISDOM
• greater in value than riches v 13-15
• reverses the effects of the transgression in Eden v16-18
• wisdom was the power behind creation v 18-20 Ch 8
• benefits and security which wisdom provides v21-26
THE APPLICATION OF WISDOM
• generosity of spirit v 27,28
• peaceful disposition toward others v 29-30
• don’t envy the wicked v31
• God will deal with the wicked v32-34
• God’s grace to the humble and glory for the wise v 34-35
Proverbs 1 to 9
Study 3
The rewards of
wisdom
Ancient scroll of the book of Proverbs
CHAPTER 4
v1-9
heeding the instruction of parents
v 10-19
virtues of the practice of wisdom
v 20-27
wisdom in practice
PROVERBS 4….The word, doctrine and commandments
in the life of the wise
• v 1-3… Solomon acknowledges his parents instruction
• v4…retain the word [Heb.hold fast]
• v 6 …forsake not the word
• v 8 …exalt and embrace the word
• v10…receive the word
• v20… attend to the word [Heb to prick up the ear]
THE VIRTUES OF WISDOM IN LIFE
• benefits in life now and in the future 4:10,13,18
• keeps us in right paths and away from evil 4:11,12,14-17
WISDOM IN PRACTICE
Proverbs 4:20-27
•
flesh..the person… v22
•
heart..the inner man…v23
•
lips, mouth..speeech …v24
•
eyes take in…v25
•
walk..way of life… v26
CHAPTER 5
V 1-6
the seductiveness of the strange woman
V 7-14
the consequences of evil
V 15-23
the wisdom of the sanctity of marriage
EFFECTS OF EVIL Proverbs 5:9-14
• loss of health..v9
• loss of dignity..v10
• loss of wealth..v10
• loss of good conscience..v11,13
• public humiliation and condemnation..v14
WISDOM AND THE SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE
• the wife is a fountain whose waters are not shared with
another v15-17
• faithfulness to the wife of your youth v18,19
• avoid the stranger v 20
• nothing hid from Yahweh v 21
• the victim will bear the consequences of his own iniquity
v 22,23
Proverbs 1 to 9
Study 4
The ways of life and
death
Ancient scroll of the book of Proverbs
CHAPTER 6
V1-5
The folly of being security for a friend
V 6-15
The example of the sluggard
V 16-19
Seven things Yahweh hates
V 20-23
Repeat of exhortation to keep the commandments
V 24-35
The folly of immorality
FOLLY OF GOING SECURITY FOR A FRIEND
• v1 you are now in debt to a stranger, a third party
• v2 you are now bound by your own words
• v3 free yourself from the obligation at all cost, better to
humble yourself than lose the friend
• v4,5 lose sleep over it but secure your friend
• Prov 3:28, James 2:16 tells us to discharge the debt for
your brother if you have the means in the first place
CHARACTER OF THE SLOTHFUL
• attached to his bed .. 26:14
• makes excuses .. 26:13
• does not initiate things .. 6:9,10
• never finishes tasks .. 12:27
• does not face difficulties .. 20:4
• restless .. 21:26
• helpless .. 15:19
• useless waster .. 18:9 10:26
SEVEN THINGS YAHWEH HATES Ch 6:16-19
• a proud look (eyes) v17
• a lying tongue v17
• hands that shed innocent blood v17
• heart that devises wicked imaginations v18
• feet swift to run to mischief v18
• a false witness speaking lies v19
• sowing discord among brethren v19
THE FOLLY OF IMMORALITY
• v20-23 remember the commandments
• v24-25 avoid the allurements of the evil woman
• v 26-35 The consequences are ruin, condemnation,
despised more than a thief, self destruction, no hope of
restoration, no appeasement of the offended party.
Proverbs 1 to 9
Study 5
Examples of folly
Ancient scroll of the book of Proverbs
CHAPTER 7
V 1-5
Repetition of exhort to keep the commandments
V 6-27
The seductive ways of folly
THE COMMANDMENTS Ch 7:1-3
• apple of the eye…what we see, how we
perceive
• fingers… control our actions
• heart … thoughts and emotions
THE WOMAN OF FOLLY Proverbs 7
• wayward, loose, foreign v5
• in darkness v9
• a harlot but conceals her intentions v10
• loud, hard faced v13
• feigns righteousness, false religion v14
• flattering v15, 21
• adulterous v19
• death or at least wounded v21,22
CHAPTER 8
V 1-21
the appeal of wisdom
V 22-31
the credentials of wisdom
V 32-36
the exhortation of wisdom
SEVEN EXCELLENT THINGS
• right things v6
• truth v7
• righteousness v8,9
• understanding v9
• instruction v10
• knowledge v10
• riches of wisdom v11
Proverbs 8:6-11
SEVEN PILLARS OF WISDOM v12-21
• instruction v 12,14
• prudence v12
• fear of Yahweh v13
• counsel v14
• strength v 14
• judgment v15,16
• reward v17-21
WISDOM’S CREDENTIALS
• wisdom always been with Yahweh v22,23
• associated with all the works of creation v24-31
Job 38:4,36
• not created or derived but always part of God and what
he is John 1:1-3
• works all ordered and controlled to teach moral lessons
• all designed for the benefit of man v31
• therefore it is prudent to be directed by wisdom and
great blessings and rewards will be the result v33-36
Proverbs 1 to 9
Study 6
Wisdom’s final
appeal
Ancient scroll of the book of Proverbs
CHAPTER 9
V 1-12
the final appeal of Wisdom…promise of life
V 13-18
the final appeal of Folly…the end is death
PROVERBS 9
WISDOM
FOLLY
calls to the simple v4
calls to the simple v4
sacrifices v2
stupidity v13
bread and wine v 5
stolen waters, bread of
secrecy v17
offers understanding v
knows nothing v 13
sends forth messengers v 3
sits at door v 14
offers life v 11
offers death v 15
THE FINAL APPEAL
• the familiar characters appear for the final time. The
two principals the women of wisdom and folly v1, 13
• wisdom v1 the simple v4,16, the foolish v6,13 the
scorner v8,12, the wise v9, the dead v18
• knowledge has now become wisdom cf 1:7, 9:10