STUDIES IN PROVERBS

WISE LIVING

MY SON

The first several chapters in Proverbs were specifically addressed to Solomon’s son. Was it Rehoboam?

What is a proverb?Share a modern day proverb that you like.

Honest is the best policy. Cleanliness is next to Godliness. Give an honest days work for an honest day’s pay

LIVE WISELY MY SON

1:8-19 – Primary point – Don’t give in to peer pressure. They will lead you to destruction. See Exodus 23:1-2 I Corinthians 15:33 Proverbs 13:20

2:1-12 – Seek for wisdom and understanding. Seek like silver or hidden treasure. James 1:5-8; 3:13-18

MY SON, REMEMBER MY WORDS3:1-10

Will bring long life and peace.Don’t let kindness and truth leave you.Trust in the Lord with all your heart and

don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make

your paths straight. Don’t be wise in your own eyes, fear the Lord Honor the Lord with your wealth and from the first of

all your produce. Bring overflow.

MY SON, DON’T REJECT DISCIPLINE

3:11-12, Don’t loathe his reproof. Whom he loves he reproves. Just as a fathers corrects his son in whom he delights. Hebrews 12:4-12 John 15:1-8

What are some ways that God disciplines us as his children? How well do we handle it?

DON’T LET WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE GET AWAY FROM YOU – 3:19-26

By wisdom God founded the earth. By knowledge the deeps were broken up.

My son, let them not vanish from your sight. Keep sound wisdom and discretion.

They will be life to your soul, adornment for your neck.

You will walk securely and not stumble.You will lie down and not be afraid and have

sleep.The Lord will be your confidence.

HEAR MY SON – 4:10-11

Hear my son, and accept my sayings and the years of your life will be many. Don’t enter the path of the wicked or proceed in the

way of evil men. Vs. 14 Avoid it, do not pass by it. The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn that

shines brighter and brighter until the full day. Vs. 18My son, give attention to my words. 4:20-27

Watch over your heart with all diligence, from it flows the springs of life.

Put away a deceitful mouth and devious speech.

MY SON, GIVE ATTENTION TO MY WISDOM5:1-23

Be careful not to follow an adulteress. 3-6Keep your way far from her. 8Drink water from your own cistern, fresh water

from your own well. 15 Should your springs be dispersed abroad? Let them be yours alone, not a strangers Rejoice with the wife of your youth. Let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be exhilarated

always with her love. Why should you, my son, be exhilarated with an

adulteress? The ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord.

MY SON, IF YOU BECOME SURETY FOR ANOTHER – 6:1-5; 11:15

If you have been convinced by words.Deliver yourselfYou have come into the hand of your

neighbor.Go humble yourself and plead with him.Don’t sleep until it is done.MY SON, OBSERVE THE COMMANDS – 6:20-

23 Bind them continually on your heart Let them guide you at all times. The commandment is a lamp and a teaching light.

MY SON, KEEP MY WORDS7:1-5

Bind my teaching on your fingers.Write them on the tablets of your heartMake wisdom your sister, understanding your

friend.That they may keep you from an adulteress,

from the foreigner who flatters with her word.

Then the rest of the chapter is about the danger of going with an adulteress.

Why do you think Solomon was so worried about his son getting involved with an adulteress?

MARKS OF WISDOM

Wisdom builds her house with firm foundation. 9:1; Matthew 7:24-27

Wisdom listens to instruction and rebuke. 9:7-11

A wise son brings joy to his father but a foolish son brings grief to his mother. 10:1 Ill gotten treasures have no lasting value, but

righteousness delivers from death. Vs. 2 The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry. Vs. 3 Lazy hands make for poverty, diligent hands bring

wealth. 4 Walk in integrity – secure; take crooked path – found

out. 9

WISE AND TONGUE

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. 10:11 Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers all wrongs. 12 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the

back of one who has no sense. 13 The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin. 14 From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom, but a

perverse tongue will be silenced. 10:31 With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through

knowledge the righteous escape. 11:9 A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a

secret. 11:13 An honest witness tells the truth. 12:17-22; A gentle answer turns away wrath. 15:1-2

The Tongue

Proverbs 21:23 – “Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.”

Vs. 28 – “A false witness will perish, but a careful listener will testify successfully.”

23:23 “Buy the truth and do not sell it – wisdom, instruction and insight as well.”

26:20 “Without wood a fire goes out; and without a gossip a quarrel dies down.”

21 “As Charcoal to embers and as wood to fire so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.”

22 “The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.”

GOD’S DIRECTIONS

Trust him and he will direct your paths. 3:5-721:30-31 “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can

succeed against the Lord. The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.”

29:18 “Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.”

22:12 “The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge, but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.”

20:24 “A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way?”

16:9 “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”

19:21; Psalms 139; Romans 8:26-30; Jeremiah 10:23; Psalms 37:23-26

TRAINING CHILDRENPROVERBS 22:1-9

Folly bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away – 22:15

Most well know verse 22:6 –”Train up a child in the way they should go and when they are old they won’t depart from it.” Compare other translations.

Context – Importance of a good name – 1Rich and poor have in common the Lord is their

maker. 2Be prudent – see danger and seek refuge – 3Humility is the fear of the Lord, its wages are

riches and honor and life. 4

Training children #2

In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls, but those who would preserve their life stay far away. 5

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they won’t turn from it. 6

“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is a slave to the lender.” 7

“The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.” 8

“Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die. Punish them with the rod and save them from death.” 23:13-14

DRINKING IN PROVERBS

23:29-35 – “WHO HAS WOE? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?

“Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake.”

“Your eyes see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on the top of the rigging. ‘They hit me,’ you will say, ‘but I’m not hurt. They beat me but I don’t feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?”

DRINKING

20:1 – “Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.”

31:4-7 – “It is not for kings, Lemuel – it is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights. Let beer be for those who are perishing, wine for those who are in anguish! Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.”

Ephesians 5:18; I Corinthians 6:9-11; Romans 14:17-23

GENEROSITY

“One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.” 11:24

“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” 25

“A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.” 13:22

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” 13:12

22:9 “The generous will be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.”

FRIENDSHIP

Proverbs 17:17 – “A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity.”

18:24 – “A man of too many friends comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

19:4 – “Wealth adds many friends, but a poor man is separated from his friend.”

19:6 – “Many will seek the favor of a generous man, and every man is a friend to him who gives gifts.”

27:17 – “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

27:6 – “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.”

THE HEART

PROVERBS 23:12 – “Apply your heart to discipline and your ears to words of knowledge.”

19:21-23 – “Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the counsel of the Lord will stand. What is desirable in a man is his kindness, and it is better to be a poor man than a liar. The fear of the Lord leads to life, so that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.”

20:5 – “A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of understanding draws it out.”

16:1 – “The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.”

HEART

14:30 – “A tranquil heart is life to the bones, but passion is rottenness to the bones.”

14:33 – “Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, but in the hearts of fools it is made known.”

15:13-15 – “A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken. The mind of the intelligent seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly. All the days of the afflicted are bad, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.”

YOUR HEART

15:30 – “Bright eyes gladden the heart; Good news puts fat on the bones.”

17:22 – “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”

18:12 – “Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, but humility goes before honor.”

18:14 – “The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, but as for a broken spirit who can bear it?”

21:2-3 – “Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts. To do righteousness and justice is desired by the Lord more than sacrifice.”