Grace Fellowship Church

Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship ChurchPastor/TeacherPastor/TeacherJim RickardJim Rickard

www.GraceDoctrine.orgwww.GraceDoctrine.org

Sunday,Sunday,August 5, 2012August 5, 2012

Introduction to Introduction to the Book of Proverbsthe Book of Proverbs

I. Name of the Book:I. Name of the Book: “Proverb” - the Hebrew noun “Proverb” - the Hebrew noun MASHAL, defined as - MASHAL, defined as - ָמ�ָׁש��לָמ�ָׁש��ל

“a saying, proverb, wisdom “a saying, proverb, wisdom saying or even a mocking saying or even a mocking

song”. song”.

22ndnd definition is, “to rule, definition is, “to rule, govern, have dominion, and govern, have dominion, and to make someone ruler over to make someone ruler over

something”. something”. (e.g., Psa 8:6; Dan 11:39)(e.g., Psa 8:6; Dan 11:39)

A proverb was to warn A proverb was to warn against hazardous behavior against hazardous behavior

and to promote wisdom and to promote wisdom resulting in social harmony resulting in social harmony among individuals and the among individuals and the

community.community.

Therefore, these proverbs are Therefore, these proverbs are intended by God for you to be intended by God for you to be able to take possession of and able to take possession of and

rule over your own soul.rule over your own soul.

II. Authorship:II. Authorship:The entire book of Proverbs is The entire book of Proverbs is the collection of Solomon but the collection of Solomon but

not necessarily his own not necessarily his own personal writings. personal writings. Cf. 1 Kings 4:32 Cf. 1 Kings 4:32

He wrote 1:1 - 9:18; 10:1 - He wrote 1:1 - 9:18; 10:1 - 22:16; 25:1 - 29:27. 22:16; 25:1 - 29:27.

Unnamed wise men (sages) Unnamed wise men (sages) wrote other parts 22:17 - wrote other parts 22:17 - 24:34. Verses 30-31 are 24:34. Verses 30-31 are

ascribed to an Agur ascribed to an Agur and and LemuelLemuel who we know who we know

nothing about. nothing about.

III. Characteristics:III. Characteristics:MASHAL, also means “a MASHAL, also means “a

comparison”, and is used for comparison”, and is used for any sage or moralistic any sage or moralistic

pronouncement. pronouncement. cf. Ezek 18:2; Psa 49:4cf. Ezek 18:2; Psa 49:4

It tells us how to live a godly It tells us how to live a godly life here on earth and how to life here on earth and how to be assured of reward in the be assured of reward in the

life to come. life to come.

They are not just popular They are not just popular sayings but a distillation of sayings but a distillation of

wisdom from those who knew wisdom from those who knew the law of God as they were the law of God as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit to inspired by the Holy Spirit to

write them.write them.

Contents:Contents: The theme is wisdom and includes The theme is wisdom and includes instruction on folly, sin, goodness, instruction on folly, sin, goodness, wealth, poverty, the tongue, pride, wealth, poverty, the tongue, pride, humility, justice, vengeance, strife, humility, justice, vengeance, strife,

gluttony, love, lust, laziness, gluttony, love, lust, laziness, friends, the family, life, and death.friends, the family, life, and death.

Proverbs must not to be Proverbs must not to be considered unconditional considered unconditional promises from God but as promises from God but as

pragmatic principles or pragmatic principles or procedures to follow. procedures to follow.

They are not They are not “legal guarantees from God” “legal guarantees from God” but rather “poetic guidelines but rather “poetic guidelines

for good behavior”. for good behavior”.

Prov 22:6, Prov 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old should go, even when he is old

he will not depart from it.”he will not depart from it.”

Certain proverbs that make Certain proverbs that make amoral observations (e.g., amoral observations (e.g.,

14:20; 17:8) must not be seen 14:20; 17:8) must not be seen as condoning or encouraging as condoning or encouraging

evil. evil.

Some proverbs may always Some proverbs may always be true. Frequently these are be true. Frequently these are connected to an attribute or connected to an attribute or

action of God.action of God.Prov 11:1; 12:22; 15:3; Prov 11:1; 12:22; 15:3;

16:2, 33; 22:216:2, 33; 22:2

Psa 11:1,Psa 11:1,“A false balance is an “A false balance is an

abomination to the LORD, abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is His but a just weight is His

delight.”delight.”

Date of the Book:Date of the Book:Solomon reigned from 971 to Solomon reigned from 971 to 931 B.C. and Hezekiah from 931 B.C. and Hezekiah from

715 to 686 B.C. 715 to 686 B.C. The earliest the book could The earliest the book could have been in its final form have been in its final form

was in Hezekiah’s day.was in Hezekiah’s day.

Proverbs 1:1-7Proverbs 1:1-7

Proverbs 1:1-7Proverbs 1:1-7Vs. 2 - the kind of material; Vs. 2 - the kind of material;

proverbial form to encourage proverbial form to encourage the mind to slow down and the mind to slow down and

compare. Each couplet serves compare. Each couplet serves as a kind of thesis for as a kind of thesis for

discussion among the sages. discussion among the sages.

Vs. 3–5 expand verse 2a, Vs. 3–5 expand verse 2a, while verse 6 gives a fuller while verse 6 gives a fuller explanation of verse 2b. explanation of verse 2b.

““Wisdom” -Wisdom” - ָח�ְכ�ָמ�הָח�ְכ�ָמ�ה – – CHOKHMAH, CHOKHMAH,

“Wisdom, skill, skillful, “Wisdom, skill, skillful, prudent, good sense, prudent, good sense,

experienced living, general or experienced living, general or Godly wisdom”.Godly wisdom”.

The First ObjectiveThe First Objective of of Proverbs is to show a person Proverbs is to show a person how to become clever and how to become clever and

skillful at the greatest skill of skillful at the greatest skill of all, the skill of living.all, the skill of living.

The Second ObjectiveThe Second Objective is to is to impart understanding of impart understanding of

wisdom, vs. 2b, 6. wisdom, vs. 2b, 6.

CommunionCommunion

Grace OfferingGrace Offering

Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship ChurchSunday, August 5, 2012Sunday, August 5, 2012

Tape # 12-087Tape # 12-087

Introduction to Proverbs, Part 1 Introduction to Proverbs, Part 1The Wisdom of GodThe Wisdom of God

Proverbs 1:1-7; 11:1; 22:6Proverbs 1:1-7; 11:1; 22:6

James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2012James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2012