A.This is the first in a series of lessons intended to glean the wisdom of the Proverbs by topic.The approach of each lesson will be to examine ten proverbs that give wisdom pertaining to a particular topic.
1.A proverb is simply a wise saying. The Proverbs teach truth and useful practices.
2.Solomon, who was granted great wisdom by God (1Ki. 3:5-9; 4:29-31), spoke 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs (1Ki. 4:32).About 800 of his proverbs are recorded in the book of Proverbs.
B.The first topic – wisdom – will be presented in a slightly different manner than the others.
1.The book of Proverbs has so much to say about wisdom that it is difficult to limit this lesson to only ten proverbs.
2.Therefore, we will consider a combination of sections from the Proverbs along with a few individual proverbs concerning wisdom.
II.TOP TEN WISDOM PROVERBS
A.Consider these ten passages from the Proverbs concerning wisdom.
1.The purpose of Proverbs: to get wisdom (Prov. 1:1-7)
a.Verses 1-4 and 6 expound upon the purpose of these proverbs.
i."To know wisdom and instruction”
ii."To discern the sayings of understanding”
iii."To receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice, and equity”
iv."To give prudence to the naïve, to the youth knowledge and discretion”
v."To understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles”
b.Notice that verse 5 reveals that a wise man never stops learning nor seeking wise counsel.
c.Notice verse 7 – "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”This is the foundational truth for all of these proverbs, and it will be the basis for the next lesson in this series from Proverbs.
2.The value of wisdom (Prov. 2:1-3:26)
a.The first part of this reading (2:1-9) expresses the same message as James 1:5, which is that seekers of wisdom will be granted wisdom by God (see also Matt. 7:7-11).
b.The second part (2:10-22) describes how wisdom will guard those who possess it.
c.In the third part (3:1-12), Solomon admonishes his son to treasure wisdom and defer to God in all things.
i.This part is characterized by verses 5-6 – "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
ii.Verses 11-12 characterize God as a loving Father who disciplines His children whom He loves (see also Heb. 12:5-6).
d.The final part (3:13-26) describes the great blessings of wisdom.
i.This part is characterized by verse 13 – "How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding.”
ii.The value of wisdom is described in terms of wealth, health, life, and security.
3.The call of wisdom (Prov. 8:1-9:6)
a.This reading personifies wisdom as a woman who cries out to the naïve and the foolish.
b.In the first part of the reading (8:1-11), wisdom calls men to listen to her instruction.
c.In the second part, (8:12-21), wisdom describes her esteemed companions.
ii.Notice verse 17 and compare it to 2:1-9 – "I love those who love me; and those who diligently seek me will find me.”
d.In the third part (8:22-31), wisdom describes how she was with God when He created the world.
e.In the fourth part (8:32-36), wisdom declares the blessings of those who keep her ways.
f.The final part (9:1-6) portrays wisdom as extending an invitation to those who are naïve and lacking understanding to come to her house and partake of her feast.
4.The foolishness of rejecting wisdom (Prov. 1:20-33)
a.Again in this section, wisdom is personified, but this time she mocks those who suffer because they have rejected her counsel.
b.This passage is given as a warning to the naïve and foolish to influence them to seek wisdom.It shows that if they do not seek wisdom now, then they will suffer for their poor choices later and it will be too late.
5.A father’s plea to his son: get wisdom (Prov. 4:1-13)
a.This reading is characterized by verse 7 – "The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; and with all your acquiring, get understanding.”
b.From this passage, Solomon launches into a long series of wise instructions for his son (4:14-7:27).
6.The value of wise sayings (Prov. 22:17-21)
a.This passage encourages the reader to study the proverbs and commit them to memory so that they may be readily available for use.
b.This emphasis of this passage is in the phrases "that they may be ready on your lips” (v. 18) and "that you may correctly answer to him who sent you” (v. 21).
7."The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, to turn aside from the snares of death.” (Prov. 13:14)
a.To emphasize the seriousness of the issue, wisdom is shown to be a matter of life or death.
b.This message compares to other proverbs in the passages above, such as 3:2, 16, 18, 22; 4:10, 13 (regarding life) and 1:25-27, 31-33 (regarding death).
8."How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.” (Prov. 16:16)
a.Men often measure value in terms of silver and gold, and wisdom’s value exceeds that of silver and gold.
b.Compare this to other proverbs in the passages above, such as 2:4-5; 3:13-15.
9."He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will find good.” (Prov. 19:8)
a.The application of wisdom is good for the one who possesses it.Therefore, one who loves his soul does what is good for his soul by getting wisdom.
b.Compare this with 4:5-9.
10."By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” (Prov. 24:3-4)
a.Just as God created the world in His wisdom (2:19-20; 8:22-31), so also a man builds his house and fills it with riches.This is likely figurative, for the house, its rooms, and its riches represent the contents of a man’s life.
b.Compare this with the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 7:24-27 in which the wise man built his house upon the rock of Christ’s words.
