Proverbs chapter 1 - Exhortations to embrace Wisdom

Proverbs chapter 1.

Each saying is correct but not universally applicable. One must ask under what circumstances a given saying would be appropriate.Proverbs are found in practically every culture. Often one can find similar sayings in diverse areas of the world. This is because wisdom deals with life as it is lived.

One observes what happens in the affairs of people and draws short, memorable word pictures about the situations. Collections of proverbs sometimes were passed from one people to another. Pr 22:17-24:22 is an adaptation of the work of an Egyptian named Amenem-Opet, who several centuries before Solomon had made a collection of sayings.

To learn wisdom is to learn how to succeed in life. The book of Proverbs deals with the problem of success as it relates to the various aspects of life.

The three perennial questions with which wisdom worked were: How may one succeed in life (Proverbs)? What is the meaning of life (Ecclesiastes)? and Why does humanity suffer (Job)?

PURPOSE AND THEME.

1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

2 for gaining wisdom and instruction;
    for understanding words of insight;
3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
    doing what is right and just and fair;
4 for giving prudence to those who are simple,
    knowledge and discretion to the young—
5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,
    and let the discerning get guidance—
6 for understanding proverbs and parables,
    the sayings and riddles of the wise.  (NIV)

2 2 2 That men may know wisdom and instruction,
    understand words of insight,
3 3 receive instruction in wise dealing,
    righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 4 that prudence may be given to the simple,
    knowledge and discretion to the youth—
5 5 the wise man also may hear and increase in learning,
    and the man of understanding acquire skill,
6 6 to understand a proverb and a figure,
    the words of the wise and their riddles.  (RSV)

1 The 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, and judgment, and equity;

4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. (KJV)

Purpose of the Book of Proverbs:
1) To learn the wisdom and instruction.
2) To understand the words of insight (proverbs), which will give us understanding of many principles and aspects of life.
3) To understand instructions in wise ways, righteousness / prudent behavior, just and fairness.
4) To do what is right, just and fair.
5) To teach prudence to the simple minded people.
6) To teach knowledge and discretion to the young people.

Book of Proverbs contain many proverbs that are applicable for our secular life in this world.

5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.  (KJV)

With the Proverbs, the wise man will listen and increase his learning.
A man of understanding will attain skill and guidance.

Other Purpose of the book of Proverbs:
1) To understand the proverbs, and the parables/metaphors/figuratives, and interpretation.
2) To understand the words of the wise, and the riddles.
3) To understand the philosophy.

7 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
    but fools despise wisdom and instruction.  (NIV)

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
    fools despise wisdom and instruction.  (RSV)

Proverbs 1:8 sums up the importance of this book, and gives an overview conclusion of this book of Proverbs.

Wise people will honour and appreciate Wisdom and Instruction. But even more important than wisdom and instruction is the fear of the Lord (loving and honouring our God).

PROLOGUE: EXHORTATIONS TO EMBRACE WISDOM.
WARNING AGAINST THE INVITATION OF SINFUL MEN.

8 8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
9 9 They are a garland to grace your head
    and a chain to adorn your neck.  (NIV)

8 8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,
    and reject not your mother’s teaching;
9 9 for they are a fair garland for your head,
    and pendants for your neck.  (RSV)

We must listen to our father's instruction, and our mother's teaching. In other words, we must listen to what is taught by our parents.

10 10 My son, if sinful men entice you,
    do not give in to them.
11 11 If they say, “Come along with us;
    let’s lie in wait for innocent blood,
    let’s ambush some harmless soul;
12 12 let’s swallow them alive, like the grave,
    and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
13 13 we will get all sorts of valuable things
    and fill our houses with plunder;
14 14 cast lots with us;
    we will all share the loot”—  (NIV)

We must not followed the sinful men. We must not be entire or tempted by the sinful men. We must not attack and rob other people. We must not desire the assets of other people. We must scheme and plot to seize the assets of other people.

15 15 my son, do not go along with them,
    do not set foot on their paths;
16 16 for their feet rush into evil,
    they are swift to shed blood.  (NIV)

For second time, the Author instruct us:
We must not go along with the sinful men. We must not "set foot" on the path of these sinful men. We must not walk the ways of the sinful men.

17 17 How useless to spread a net
    where every bird can see it!
18 18 These men lie in wait for their own blood;
    they ambush only themselves!
19 19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
    it takes away the life of those who get it.  (NIV)

Whatever ill-gotten gains of the sinful men will be useless. The evil the sinful men inflict upon other people, they will suffer the same fate. Sinful men may gain wealth by stealing/robbing/etc but they will not have good life to enjoy it. Gain money/wealth but pay with their lives in one way or another.

Those who do good, will reap good. Those who do evil, evil will also befall them.
We must not do evil to avoid calamities and curse.

WISDOM'S REBUKE.

20 20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,
    she raises her voice in the public square;
21 21 on top of the wall she cries out,
    at the city gate she makes her speech:  (NIV)

20 20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street;
    in the markets she raises her voice;
21 21 on the top of the walls[a]she cries out;
    at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:  (RSV)

Do not follow the Fools / Sinful Men.  Do follow WISDOM.

22 22 “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?
    How long will mockers delight in mockery
    and fools hateknowledge?
23 23 Repent at my rebuke!
    Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
    I will make known to you my teachings.
24 24 But since you refuse to listen when I call
    and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,
25 25 since you disregard all my advice
    and do not accept my rebuke,
26 26 I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you;
    I will mock when calamity overtakes you—
27 27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
    when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
    when distress and trouble overwhelm you.  (NIV)

This is a call to sinful men to turn away from evil doing. A rebuke for the sinful men to repent, and follow the ways of Wisdom.

If the sinful men do not turn away from evil doing, they will be inflicted with disasters, calamities, troubles and distress.

28 28 “Then they will call to me but I will not answer;
    they will look for me but will not find me,
29 29 since they hated knowledge
    and did not choose to fear the Lord.  (NIV)

28 28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
    they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
29 29 Because they hated knowledge
    and did not choose the fear of the Lord,  (RSV)

When the sinful men (fools) suffer disaster, calamity, distress, trouble, they will pray to God, but God will not answer their prayer. Because the sinful men (fools) did not choose to love and honour God. Because they hated knowledge and wisdom, by not following the wise ways.

30 30 Since they would not accept my advice
    and spurned my rebuke,
31 31 they will eat the fruit of their ways
    and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.  (NIV)

The sinful men (fools) will suffer the result of their evil doing. Bad things/events will befall these sinful men. Because they did not accept wise advice. Because they did not repent despite being rebuked and reminded.

32 32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
    and the complacency of fools will destroy them;
33 33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety
    and be at ease, without fear of harm.”  (NIV)

32 32 For the simple are killed by their turning away,
    and the complacence of fools destroys them;
33 33 but he who listens to me will dwell secure
    and will be at ease, without dread of evil.”  (RSV)

32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.  (KJV)

Whoever follows the wise ways will live safely and at ease. Whoever follows the wise ways will live happily and peacefully.


Friday, Jan 3, 2014.
Michael Yeap.

NIV:  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%201&version=NIV 

RSV:  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%201&version=RSV 

KJV:  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%201&version=KJV 

Commentaries:
1) Introduction   http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/asbury-bible-commentary/Introduction-732 
2) A Father's Advice   http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/asbury-bible-commentary/Fathers-Advice