There are a lot of “wise guys” in the world, right?! But God wants us to be “biblical wise guys” and “biblical wise gals.” It’s a new month so let’s read through the Book of Proverbs, a book of wisdom.
We learned in previous posts from James that wisdom is ours for the asking: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all men liberally, and without reproach, and it will be given to him (James 1:5).” So in the next few posts let’s see what God teaches about wisdom in the Book of Proverbs. We’ll do a short survey of the book, gleaning some of the bigger pictures painted throughout.
Proverbs in a month: Today is April 1 so I’m reading Proverbs Chapter 1. Guess what I’m reading tomorrow?!
I don’t know about you, but I like witty sayings, or witticisms, epigrams, and so forth. I like the short little one-liners you read in fortune cookies like, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step,” those kinds of things. And I’ve always enjoyed the sayings of the New York Yankees baseball legend Yogi Berra. Yogi said things like:
- “You can observe a lot by watching.”
- “If you come to a fork in the road, take it.”
- “It gets late early out there”
- “A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore.”
- “It’s deja vu all over again.”
- “Nobody goes to that restaurant anymore, it’s too crowded.”
It is very important that we interpret proverbs correctly. Proverbs are best understood as principles rather than promises. They are “general truths” about life from a divine perspective. They are not laws. They are general truths about life from a divine perspective.
But I have really come to enjoy the Book of Proverbs in God’s word. And that is exactly what makes the proverbs in the Bible different from any other proverbs—they are literally God’s Word. God gives them to us so that we will be wise.
Proverbs are best understood as principles rather than promises.
For example, Proverbs 22:6 is a principle, a general truth: “Train up a child in the way he shall go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” That is a principle that is generally true, but not always! Look in the Bible and see, for example, the wicked sons of Eli or the sons of some of the good kings of Judah. King Solomon’s own son—and we will identify Solomon as the chief writer of Proverbs—but his own son, Rehoboam, did not exactly follow in his father’s footsteps. The chronicler writes that Rehoboam “did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the LORD (2 Chronicles 12:14).”
And some of you have done the best you could, raising up children in the way they should go only to find them in rebellion. Sometimes we stress the “when he is old” part of that proverb because we know there is always hope that the child will return back to the things of God, as did the prodigal son, and that’s okay. But if you’ll remember that these proverbs are principles rather than promises, you will fare better spiritually, physically, and emotionally.
Here’s another example that illustrates that proverbs are best understood as principles, rather than promises. One of my favorites is Proverbs 26:4-5. Proverbs 26:4 says, “Do not answer a fool according to his folly or you will be like him.” If understood as an unconditional promise, then I should never respond to a fool’s charge or I will become a fool myself. But then in the very next verse, we read: “Answer a fool according to his folly or he will think himself wise in his own eyes (Proverbs 26:5).”
So which is it? Do I respond to a fool’s charge or not? Well, it depends on the fool. Some fools can be helped and some fools are helpless! Respond to some and walk away from the others. It depends on the fool. So again, proverbs are best understood as principles rather than promises. They are not laws. They are general truths.
King Solomon is the author of most of the proverbs. He is the chief contributor. You remember the story of Solomon in his early days. The book of 2 Chronicles records that fateful evening when Solomon was getting ready to retire. God appeared to Solomon and said, “Ask! What shall I give you?” By the way, how would you have answered that question? “God, pay off my home. Get me out of debt!” “God, make me healthy. Give me a lot of money.”
In 2 Chronicles 1:8-10, Solomon says:
You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me king in his place. Now, O LORD God, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?
And God replies in 2 Chronicles 1:11-12:
Then God said to Solomon; ‘Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked for long life—but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king—wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.
Solomon made a wise request and was blessed by God with unparalleled wisdom.
Predictably, the key word in the book of proverbs is the word “wisdom.” You see it some half dozen times in the first few verses, Proverbs 1:1-7:
1The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
2 To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding,
3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity;
4 To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion;
5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
6 To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
There are three points I want to identify from these verses as we begin our study. First:
1) Consider the Purpose of Proverbs (1:1-4)
Verses one through four introduce the many purposes of Proverbs. And the verses really don’t require any explanation or illustration. They are fairly straightforward. See again the purpose of the book of Proverbs:
1The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
2 To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding,
3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity;
4 To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion —
That last verse especially helps us in our short survey of this book as we’ll be making our way through select passages. Verse 4 says, “To give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.”
Think of the Book of Proverbs as a wise, older father sitting down with his young son, giving godly advice that helps that son grow into a godly man. It really helps to see Proverbs this way. You see the pattern again in the following chapter. Look at Proverbs 2:1-9:
“My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, 2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding;
3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding,
4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
8 He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints.
9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path.
Here’s a father passing on wisdom to his son. You see it again in Chapter 3, Proverbs 3:1-2:
1 “My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;
2 For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.”
And again in Proverbs 4:1-9:
1 Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding;
2 For I give you good doctrine: Do not forsake my law.
3 When I was my father’s son, Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother,
4 He also taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live.
5 Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.
8 Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.
9 She will place on your head an ornament of grace; A crown of glory she will deliver to you.”
Here’s a succinct paraphrase of these passages: “My son, do these things and you will be blessed with wisdom. You will grow to become a “biblical wise guy.” That’s the purpose of proverbs.
Here’s the second point in this introductory post:
2) Consider the Prosperity of Proverbs (1:5-6)
Anyone and everyone can prosper from the study of Proverbs. Note that truth in verses 5 and 6:
5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
6 To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles.
The idea here is that anyone can benefit from the study of Proverbs and will prosper in attaining true wisdom. Not just the young person of verse 4, but the wise man of verse 5, too. Even a man or woman who is already considered biblically wise will hear “and increase” learning. And a “man of understanding,” that is, a man who already has some measure of common sense will also, “attain wise counsel.” Solomon is saying, “There’s something here for everyone.” The wise will add to their wisdom and the man or woman of understanding will add to theirs.
The more you study the Word of God, the wiser you become. And when you become wise, you know something of true prosperity.
The point is that no one is too young or too old to learn and prosper from the study of God’s Word. God’s word is limitless in application. The more you study the Word of God, the wiser you become. And when you become wise, you know something of true prosperity.
That the study and love of God’s word brings prosperity is David’s point in Psalm 1:1-3 where he writes:
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. And He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall–(wait for it!)–prosper.
Returning to our introductory passage, chapter one, verses one through seven, we’ve identified the purpose of Proverbs: to become a biblical “wise guy,” and we’ve identified the prosperity of Proverbs: blessings that come when we study them, no matter our age. Finally:
3) Consider the Power of Proverbs (1:7)
What is the power of Proverbs?
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Note that carefully: the fear of “the LORD” is the beginning of knowledge. We noted earlier that the proverbs are general truths from a divine perspective. That’s what sets the proverbs in the Bible apart from the proverbs of the world. The proverbs of the Bible are couched in the context of “the fear of the LORD.”
That’s what gives these biblical proverbs the power in their punch. They come from God. And it is this concept that sets apart the wisdom of God from the wisdom of man.
You can have plenty of worldly wisdom and there’s nothing wrong with that. I think a person ought to get as much formal education as he or she can. God wants us to use our minds. But you can have earned degrees from the most prestigious universities, and post-graduate degrees, and doctoral degrees, and post-doctoral degrees, and still lack the wisdom of God.
I like what Warren Wiersbe said once: “Some men are dying by degrees.” You can have all the education offered from the finest universities and lack godly wisdom. And that’s because true wisdom begins with “the fear of the LORD.”
In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul describes Jesus Christ as the embodiment of wisdom. In Colossians 2:3 he says: “in [Him—Jesus] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge!
In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge! And in the same chapter he warns:
8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
10 and you are complete in Him, (Colossians 2:8-10)
You are “complete” in Him, in Christ Jesus. You may be reading this post as someone who feels “incomplete.” There’s something missing. Listen: You are complete in Him, in Jesus Christ. Trust in Him today.
What About You?
A wise man once challenged me to read a chapter of Proverbs as it coincides with the day of the month: Today is April 1 so I’m reading Proverbs 1. Guess what I’m reading tomorrow?! You got it: Proverbs 2. Perhaps this plan will bless you as much it has blessed me. Pray right now something like this:
“God I want to be wise. Help me this week to read a chapter of Proverbs a day so that I’ll read through the book this month of April. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
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