The Book of Proverbs

The Christian's Handbook on Wisdom

Study Introduction

 

Focus Verse:  Proverbs 4:7

 

I.         Some Preliminary Information

 

A.      The Author. Solomon, the son of king David. He had a consuming passion for knowledge (1Kg 3:9-12). His intellectual accomplishments drew kings and queens from all over the world - including science, botany, zoology (1Kg 4:29-34)! But best of all, he was a preacher (Eccl 1:1).

B.       Its Meaning. A lesson in Truth; Something that expressing a truth. A wise saying. Something to ponder and learn from.

C.       Its Placement. It is part of the set of books called Wisdom Books - Books that create wisdom, and intelligence because they force you to THINK (i.e., Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon). Jesus refers to this entire section - which includes Proverbs, Job, Song of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes - as simply "the psalms" in Luke 24:44.

D.      Its Style.  The book of Proverbs is written in simple contrast and compare form, with a basic system of presenting a truth, and then contrasting it, and comparing it, and then showing what happens if you accept the truth, or reject it. It is expressed by someone who has tried and tested these truths and found them to work (Eccl 12:13).

E.       Date of Writing. 1000 BC during the reign of king Solomon. 600 years BEFORE Socrates and Plato! The wisdom of this world pales in comparison to the wisdom of God (EX: we are just NOW beginning to map the human gene DNA and all its miles of intricate coding - and that is just ONE creature - GOD is SMART)!

F.       Its Theme - "Becoming Wise" (Luke 2:52)

 

1.        The theme of the entire Bible is Jesus Christ. The Bible is like a Family Picture Album, full of pictures of God's Son!

2.        Proverbs is God the Father teaching each of HIS children, wisdom! Very practical stuff!

3.        Everything in the Bible points to Jesus Christ and his redemption of mankind at the cross. These are called "types" or "pictures." Solomon here instructs the Christian about:

 

a.       Wisdom - what is it - how to get it - how valuable it is

b.       Prudence

c.       Understanding

d.       The Word of God

e.       The consequences of sin

f.        The hope of the righteous

 

G.       Its Importance and Significance. Just another part of the Bible that makes it such a complete whole unit - perfect, and capable of making the obedient Christian perfect (2Tim 3:16,17).