Reading: Theme and Opening Lectures (Video Slides)
#21 Introduction to the Book of Proverbs, Part 1:
Theme and Opening Lectures on Wisdom and Folly
How do we enter Proverbs?
- We need to think in terms of the process of developing a moral lifestyle: education.
- The word “proverb” is from a Latin term which means “for a verb.” In other words, these are “words” which take the place of “more words,” or concise distillations of wisdom compacted into a few phrases.
- The worldview of Genesis and Exodus is assumed, though never explicitly stated.
- We must understand the power of Hebrew poetry, especially antithetic parallelism, to summarize key moral concepts.
- We must pay attention to the careful development of the collection in its final form.
Proverbs Overview
- Prologue: the purpose of Proverbs (1:1-7)
- Lectures on Wisdom & Folly (1:8-9:18)
- Collections of Proverbs: (10:1-31:9)
- “The Proverbs of Solomon” (10:1-22:16)
- “Sayings of the Wise” (22:17-24:22)
- “More Sayings of the Wise” (24:23-34)
- “More Proverbs of Solomon” (25:1-29:27)
- “The Sayings of Agur” (30:1-23)
- “The Sayings of King Lemuel” (31:1-9) - Epilogue: “The Wife of Noble Character” (31:10-31)
Prologue
Proverbs 1:1-7
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
For learning about wisdom and instruction,
for understanding words of insight,
for gaining instruction in wise dealing,
righteousness, justice, and equity;
to teach shrewdness to the simple,
knowledge and prudence to the young—
let the wise also hear and gain in learning,
and the discerning acquire skill,
to understand a proverb and a figure,
the words of the wise and their riddles.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
How do we enter Proverbs?
- Key Metaphor:
BOY MEETS GIRL!
- In fact, we might say:
BOY MEETS TWO GIRLS!
Lectures on Wisdom & Folly 1:8-9:18
- Both “Wisdom” & “Folly” are feminine nouns in the Hebrew language.
- Thus the use of the literary device, “My son, listen to my words,” is intentional. All readers/hearers are the “son” (masculine) who is courted by two women (feminine “Wisdom” & “Folly”). At the end of these lectures all must choose which woman to be with. Wisdom brings stability and well-being; Folly offers quick experiences and tragic ends.
- The “lectures” are carefully planned & written:
- Enticement to Perverse Ways (1:8-19)
- Wisdom’s Call (1:20-33)
- Benefits of Wisdom (2:1-22) [22 poetic lines]
- Benefits & Specific Instructions (3:1-20) [20]
- Benefits & Specific Instructions (3:21-35) [15]
- Benefits of Wisdom (4:1-27) [27] [total of 84]
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- Warning against Adultery (5:1-23) [23]
- Warning against Perverse Ways (6:1-19) [20]
- Warning against Adultery (6:20-35) [16]
- Warning against Adultery (7:1-27) [27] [total of 86]
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- Wisdom’s Call (8:1-36)
- Wisdom’s Invitation & Folly’s Enticement (9:1-18)
Seeing the Big Picture
- While much of the book of Proverbs exists as very brief (usually two-line antithetic parallelism) nuggets about living wisely, these only make sense after reading and understanding the “Lectures on Wisdom and Folly” (chapters 1-9) as a single unit.
- If, at the end of these lectures, we choose Folly as our life-companion, the rest of the book means nothing to us.
- If, however, at the end of these lectures, we choose Wisdom as our life-companion, the rest of the book is essentially the atmosphere in and furnishings of the house of Wisdom.
- In other words, the Proverbs themselves are the lifestyle of those who have committed to a life-time relationship with God, as manifested in the personification of Wisdom.