Journey through the Bible: the Book of Proverbs

Journey Through The Bible

The Book of Proverbs:The Way of WisdomBible Readings: Proverbs 4:1-27 (Page 451)Matthew 7:13-23 (Page 685)

1

Tuesday, 5 August 2014

Human wisdomWise sayings

•“If a man is righteous, people will follow him with out being told; but if he is not, then no amount of orders will make them follow.” Confucius

2


Human wisdomWise sayings

•“How can a swallow know the aspirations of a swan?”Chen Sheng 208 BC (Qin Dynasty)

3


Wise sayings in the Bible

•Proverbs are based on the ethical and moral teaching of God’s law.

•The book of proverbs doesn’t contain human wisdom but wisdom from God the creator of all things.

•They have an authority and application for all people for all times.

4


Wise sayings in the Bible

•The book of Proverbs is a compilation of 5 collections of proverbs.

•From King Solomon’s reign 950 BC until the restoration of the kingdom around 450 BC.

•Originally written in Hebrew poetry with verses of two lines.

5


Parallel Lines

•“A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.” 10:1

•The first line makes a statement and the second states an opposite the contrast adds meaning.

•“The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.” 15:286


Parallel Lines

•The pictures and words are very compact and hard hitting.

•The reader has to stop and think about the meaning and how to apply it.

•“Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.” 11:22(discretion = reason, taste,understanding)

7


Use different translations to help understanding

• Proverbs 16:28 (NIV84)A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.

8




• Proverbs 16:28 (NKJV)A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends.

8





• Proverbs 16:28 (NLT)A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.

8





• Proverbs 16:28 (NLT)A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.

• Proverbs 16:28 (NIrV)A twisted person stirs up fights. Anyone who talks about others comes between close friends. 8


Wisdom in Five Areas of Life

1. Wisdom

2. Work

3. Family

4. Friendship

5. Words

9


Wisdom and Folly

•God teaches us to understand what a wise man does by showing us how to recognize the opposite of wisdom, the fool.

•Psalm 14:1 “The fool has said in his heart “There is no God”.

•In the Bible a fool acts as though there is no God.

10


Seek Wisdom

•The first 9 chapters are a passionate plea urging people to seek wisdom with all their heart and mind and leave behind foolish i.e. ungodly ways of thinking.

•Wisdom is pictured as a beautiful woman crying out in the streets urging people to take the gifts that she offers.

11


Seek Wisdom

Proverbs 8:1–6 (NIV84)

1 Does not wisdom call out?

Does not understanding raise her voice?

On the heights along the way,

where the paths meet, she takes her stand; beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud:

“To you, O men, I call out;

I raise my voice to all mankind.

You who are simple, gain prudence;

you who are foolish, gain understanding.

Listen, for I have worthy things to say;

I open my lips to speak what is right.

12


What Wisdom Offers

Proverbs 8:18–21 (NIV84)With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.

My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,

bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.

13


Wisdom is worth more than gold

• Wisdom is worth more than anything else in the world.

• Proverbs 1:7 (NIV84)“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”

• A fool is recognised by the fact they don’t like discipline and lack self control and don’t seek God’s wisdom.14


The nobility of work• The Suggard.

• Proverbs 26:15 (NIV84The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

• The picture is of someone who starts something but never finishes.

• A sluggard always has excuses for why he or she can’t do something.

• Proverbs is not saying we should be workaholics.

• The deeper issue the attitude to work. 15


Why Work?

• Work is part of God’s character.

• God displayed His wisdom by His work in creation.

• God gave Adam and Eve work to do; they had to care for God’s creation in the garden.

16


Why Work?

• Proverbs 18:9 (NIV84)One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.

• Proverbs 22:29 (NIV84)Do you see a man skilled in his work.He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.

17


The Importance of Family

• Proverbs begins and ends with two portraits: the foolish woman and the wise wife.

• The woman who ignores God is a curse to her family and husband.

• Proverbs 7:27 (NIV84)Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.

18


The Importance of Family

• At the end of the book chapter 31:10-21 is poem which praises the wise wife and shows what a blessing she is to her whole household and community.

• Proverbs 31:31 (NIV84)Give her the reward she has earned,and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

19


Faithfulness in Marriage• Proverbs 5:18–23 (NIV84)

May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer— may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love.

Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another man’s wife?

For a man’s ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all his paths.

The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast. He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly.20


Faithfulness in Friendship• Proverbs teaches us that good

friendship is to be valued like wisdom itself. But good friendship is not always effortless and natural. We have to work at being good friends.

• Proverbs 17:17 (NIV84)A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

• Proverbs 27:6 (NIV84)Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.

21


Faithfulness in Friendship

• Proverbs 18:24 (NKJV)A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

• Proverbs 27:9 (NKJV)Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel.

22


Faithfulness in Friendship

• Good friendship requires sensitivity.

• Proverbs 27:14 (NKJV)He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It will be counted a curse to him.

23


The Power of Words

• Proverbs teaches us just how powerful words can be.

24


The Power of Words


• God used words to create all things.

24


The Power of Words



• Words have power to create or destroy lives, friendships, love, wealth, happiness, kingdoms and even our eternal destiny.

24


The Power of Words



• Words have power to create or destroy lives, friendships, love, wealth, happiness, kingdoms and even our eternal destiny.

• We need to possess wisdom before we open our mouths.

24


The Power of Words• Proverbs 10:19 (TNIV)

Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.

25




• Proverbs 15:23 (TNIV)A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word!

25




• Proverbs 15:23 (TNIV)A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word!

• Proverbs 16:23–24 (TNIV)The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote instruction.Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.25



Do you see someone who speaks in haste?There is more hope for a fool than for them.

26




• Proverbs 12:18 (TNIV)The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

26




• Proverbs 12:18 (TNIV)The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

• Proverbs 18:21 (NIrV)Your tongue has the power of life and death. Those who love to talk will eat the fruit of their words.26


The Power of Words

27


The Power of Words• Proverbs 4:5–7 (NIrV)

Get wisdom. Get understanding.

27




• Don’t forget my words. Don’t turn away from them.

27





• Stay close to wisdom, and she will keep you safe. Love her, and she will watch over you.

27





• Stay close to wisdom, and she will keep you safe. Love her, and she will watch over you.

• Wisdom is best. So get wisdom. No matter what it costs, get understanding.

27


Spiritual

Journey through the Bible: the Book of Proverbs