Proverbs in January

Wisdom Passed Down

Proverbs are short sentences drawn from long living.

​

- M. Cervantes

Proverbs

• Wisdom book (in with Wisdom and Poetry)
• 3 main sections: 1-9 advice from parents to their son; 10-22:16 - sayings of Solomon; 22:17-31: a mixture, mostly not from Solomon
• Education and preparing for life was responsibility of the family
• 3 purposes:
• 1. Importance of Wisdom,
• 2. Development of Character
• 3. Encouragement to obey God.

'At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. '

'Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” '

'The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. '

​

1 Kings 3:5-12

- Paul E. Koptak

Wisdom is as much about seeing clearly as it is about making decisions and acting. To do what is right, one must be able to discern what that good is in a variety of situations and wisdom promises to teach how that may be done. Wisdom is concerned with what one understands but what also what one does with that understanding. Wisdom is about developing both discernment and character.

'The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young— '

'let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance— for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. '

​

Proverbs 1:1-7

'My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. '

'For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. '

​

Proverbs 2:1-11

Wisdom

• Involves your mind, your emotions (heart), your discernment (spirit), action (body)
• Requires listening
• Requires seeking
• Requires humility and desire to learn
• Is a process