Hansen 1 Wayne Hansen Dr.

Stephen Bennett Honors Old Testament Literature (BIB 102) 11 April 2011 434 Words Retribution in Wisdom Literature Common sense is a character trait that loving parents strive to instill within their children from an early point in their upbringing. Children learn not to touch things which are too hot, not to eat things that are inedible, to be careful around heights and in their general travails, and to watch out for suspicious activities from strangers. This common sense in akin to the views of retribution in the Wisdom Literature in the Bible. The book of Proverbs is constantly referencing causes and effects to instruct God's people in what could be called common sense for the faithful. The purpose of the book of proverbs is to heed wisdom and instruction, and allow even the simple minded to make prudent and profitable decisions in life. The purpose of Wisdom Literature is better stated directly from Proverbs: |...for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young let the wise listen and add to their learning,

Hansen 2 and let the discerning get guidance for understanding proverbs and parables, he sayings and riddles of the wise (vv. 2-6).| As aforementioned, Wisdom literature tends to deal with causality, comparable to Newton's third law stating that every action must have an equal but opposite reaction. For example, Proverbs 6 warns against adultery, and gives wise reasons why such a practice is undesirable to the people of God. An adulterous woman, scripture says, will prey upon one's very life, and no one who embraces her will go unpunished, because her husband will be jealous and merciless if he gets his hands on his wife's lover. Proverbs is also written as if it were meant to be shared from a father to his children. There is a warmth about the words: |My son, pay attention to my wisdom, turn your ear to my words of insight, that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge (Proverbs 5:1-2).| Proverbs then, is meant to show that God is a loving father who instructs his children in the ways of prudence and wisdom. The purpose of Proverbs then, is not intelligence, but following wisdom and making godly choices. Godly choices generally prevent calamity, while ungodly choices tend to permit it. Wisdom is found in the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is ultimately the key theme in Proverbs. If one makes godly choices, and heeds the instruction of God, than the Lord will provide for him and his family.