Sunday School Sunday School LessonLesson

The Book of Proverbs

AuthorshipThough Solomon’s name is traditionally attached to the entire book,

it is clear from 22:17; 4:23; 30:1; and 31:1 that unidentified wise men, as well as two who are identified (Agur and Lemuel),also shared in the composition of the book. There are three Solomonic collections in the book 1:1; 10:1; 25:1. Since Solomon authored most o the book, the attachment of his name to it is warranted.

Interpretation and PurposeThe purpose of the book is clearly to show the render how to live life

wisely or skillfully. As a matter of fact, the entire structure of the book is arranged to carry out this purpose. In the introduction (1:1-7), the title, the purpose and the motto of the book are clearly spelled out. Beginning in the 1:8 there are 10 consecutive exhortations or homilies, each beginning with the words “my son”. In this series of exhortations the father sets before the son what might well be called “ the theology of the two ways”: the way of wisdom and the way of folly… In 10:1- 22:16 there are 375 proverbs of Solomon, each of which represents in some way the choice to be made between wisdom and folly. The remaining 285 verses are divided among several authors, but they likewise carry on the same theme.

There is an ordered flow of thought in the first nine chapters of the book, but this is not true beginning at 10:1. The best way to study the latter section is by topics… These topics includes: the family, death, life, discretion, eating, enemies, the fear of the Lord, the fool, friendship, God, the heart (or mind), the home, the king, knowledge, labor, law, lazy people, love neighbors, peace, poverty, prayer, pride, riches, righteousness, sex, shame, sin, sleep, soul, spirit, the tongue, trust, the wicked, wine, wisdom, women and words. If one inculcates into his life the moral discipline commanded in chapters 1-9 and masters the practical application of wisdom expressed in chapters 10-31, he will truly have an abundant and successful life.

Chapter 1Chapter 11. A Proverb, its basic meaning in Hebrew, is “comparison”. In the

book of Proverbs, the word is used to refer to an aphorism, or concise statement of a principle (10:1 ff.) or to a discourse (1:8- 9:18) -v.1

2. Wisdom is the keyword of the book and basically means “skill in

living” Instruction refers to moral discipline of one’s life, not to

classroom instruction. Understanding means the capability to distinguish between

true and false, good and bad, what matters most and what does not matter at all –v. 2

3. Wisdom, a different Hebrew word from that is used in verse 2, means “wise behavior”, “wise dealing”, “good sense”

Justice is the same word as righteousness and refers to conformity to God’s law.

Judgment is a legal term used in the judge’s verdict and refers to the right behavior

Equity is fairness in one’s dealings with other. –v.3

4. The simple are naïve young people open to any influence among the chief addresses in the book.

Knowledge means the apprehension of reality, including experiential knowledge of God.

Discretion refers to the power of formulating and carrying out the right measures. –v.4

5. The wise as well as the untaught can learn from this book. -v.56. is the term for “riddles” or those thought provoking saying of

the wise. –v. 67. The fear of the Lord means submission to the Lord and His

revelation. When one is afraid of something, he either runs from it or submits to it. The latter idea is in view here. It is a healthy fear, like the fear of electricity or the fear of one’s parents, which causes one to act in an appropriate manner. The beginning does not mean that “ the fear of the Lord” is left behind in the course of acquiring wisdom, but that it is the controlling principle of wisdom.