I have been thinking about a study of Proverbs for several years. But its enormity and probable tedium deterred; I just didn’t feel the Lord’s leadership in it. Well, I’ve looked at it again, and feel that it’s the Lord’s will that at least tonight we look at the first verses.
In beginning, consider verse 5 – “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning.” Don’t most people have different definitions of wisdom and the wise man than what this expresses? Many think of the wise man as someone who has attained – who has reached some predetermined level of knowledge, learning to apply it well. But doesn’t this verse suggest that the wise man is someone who recognizes he still has a long way to go? “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning.” Isn’t this idea corroborated by Paul in Philippians – “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”? As a general rule, beware of the man who claims to have attained the status of the wise and has so apprehended the truth that he doesn’t need to consider anything new.
In thinking about a study of Proverbs, there might be several avenues to follow. We could dig deeply into the Massoretic text, rooting out the nuances of the important Hebrew words. That could begin a study lasting well into the Millennium. It might be a blessing to some, but probably not for the majority. Or we could pick certain verses, here and there, which I think are important, studying only them. That might be a blessing to me, but perhaps not to you, depending on the verses which I emphasize. We could be technical or we could be devotional. I’ve decided on the latter, even though I might not always be consistent. My plan at this point is skim rather than scoop; I hope to be more like a butterfly than bulldozer. You might be unhappy I skip some words or thoughts, but I hope you’ll be blessed by other points. My Bible suggests that verses 1-6 are a paragraph – a complete thought.
“The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel.”
David we know. He was the poet king of Israel. He was known for his music. But he should also be known for the promises which God gave to him, which included his son Solomon. To David was promised the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, and Solomon was the first step toward the fulfilment of that promise. Solomon was also given the gift of music, but he was not blessed with Holy Spirit inspired music. Solomon was given the divine gift of wisdom, and these proverbs flow out of that gift. I Kings 4:29 – “And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men… And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.”
Why did the Lord give to Solomon this wisdom, and why did the Holy Spirit give him these 3,000 proverbs? This paragraph uses a number of verbs to tell us. These proverbs are tools by which the Spirit intends to bless US. Do we want to be blessed? Are we ready to grow? The wise man continues to learn and grow. The babe may not be ready to grow. The foolish man refuses to grow. Why does the Bible contain the Book of Proverbs? Solomon tells us. “To know”…. “to perceive”…..” to receive”…… and “to give.” Why has the Holy Spirit inspired these words? Solomon tells us. “Wisdom and instruction…. understanding.” Instruction in justice, judgment and equity. Subtilty, knowledge and discretion. For the ability to understand & interpret the words of the wise, including the deep & dark things.
“To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding.”
Some would say that “wisdom,” “instruction” and “words of understanding” are all the same thing – repetition. But such is not the case. On a whim I turned to my dictionary to look at word which I thought I knew – “instruction.” The dictionary said that it belongs to the boss or master, not so much to the simple teacher. It means directions or orders, detailed information on how to get something done or assembled. And the Hebrew word is most often translated “instruction” but then “correction” followed by “chasten.” These proverbs have been given to us by God not to inform us but to direct us.
The understanding of things, is another matter. We need to seek to learn about Jehovah, about Christ Jesus, whenever we open our Bibles. The Book of Proverbs contains several thousand “words of understanding” and those who are wise will “seek them and find them, when they search for them with all their hearts.”
And then there is the entirely different and unique subject of “wisdom.” One definition of the word English “wisdom” is – “soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of experience, knowledge, and good judgment.” Okay…. I suppose that has some application to the wisdom which we find in the Bible. But as we shall see as we continue, Solomon gives wisdom life, personality & extreme importance. I believe that wisdom in this book should be examined from the view point of I Corinthians 1:30-31 – You Christians are “in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”
As much as anything else, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, the proverbs of Solomon are designed to teach us about the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the living Wisdom of God.
“To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;”
These proverbs are designed by the Lord to order our lives in justice. This Hebrew word is translated “justice” 10 times but 77 times it is rendered “righteousness.” The highest form of human wisdom ends in justification – the application of the righteousness of God. The proper reception of the instruction of wisdom results in divine righteousness. And this is essential because “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” When we possess divine righteousness, we are enabled to properly judge ourselves and surroundings.
The Proverbs teach equity. This is a word with which I have always struggled to understand. What is the difference between justice and equity? As you might perceive, “equity” is found very close to “equality” in the dictionary, and with good reason. The Hebrew word speaks of “evenness,” “uprightness,” “straightness” – “equalness” if you like. The picture of justice as a blind woman holding a balance in her hand is a better picture of equity. It is sometimes quipped that some people “want justice, but just for us.” The proper application of these proverbs produces equity which forbids a lopsided application of justice.
“To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.”
In this case, “the simple” are those people who are inexperienced in life – perhaps naive or young. And when it comes to the things of the world, sometimes it is a compliment – inexperience in sin. I thank God for those who are simpletons in the realm of drugs and a hundred other sins and vices.
Subtilty is the quality or state of being subtle. According to the dictionary “subtlety is making use of cleaver or indirect methods to achieve something.” A subtle change might be very tiny. Usually, when I hear of subtlety, I don’t come up with a very pretty picture. Is that what Solomon says? His proverbs and the Holy Spirit give experience, wisdom and direction in handling the temptations of life.
And what is discretion? It is the ability to think and to make wise choices. With the Book of Proverbs under our belts, we should be able to make wise choices.
“A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.”
There are all kinds of adjectives which might be applied to good people in this world. There are the adjectives which describe what they do or how they live. “That man is helpful; that woman is hospitable; they are loving and generous. ” And then there are those words which might point to the kind of people they are. “That man is smart; he is honorable; that woman is joyful; she is pleasant.” What are the adjectives which might be used to describe you?
“Smart” or “learned” might be good words, but isn’t “wise” a better one? Usually, people think of wisdom as something which comes with age and experience. The more we have endured, the better we are able to deal with the next event in life – we are wise. Perhaps that is true to a point, but Solomon’s wise man is the one who is not yet wise enough. “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning.” It is a wise person who listens to wise counsel, and so age is not the primary feature of wisdom. A teenager can display Biblical wisdom. But many people, the older they become, the more they may refuse wise counsel. In this regard, there is a sense in which foolishness can come with age. These proverbs were inspired by the Spirit of God to be a blessing to people of all ages and degrees of knowledge and intelligence.
“To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.”
Am I mistaken in thinking Solomon says these proverbs are given to us so we might understand proverbs? That makes more sense than it first appears. 1+1 = 2, is the first step to understanding 1×2 = 2. We learn by applying line to line and precept to precept. And when we grasp the simple statements of the Word of God, like those of the Book of Proverbs, we are better equipped to interpret the more difficult. There are clear, bright and unmistakable statements throughout the pages of the Bible. And there are dark and confusing statements as well. We will be better able to grasp the difficult if we are familiar with the elementary.
And so we turn to the Book of Proverbs for some of the rudiments of our spiritual education.