Old Testament Survey III

Proverbs
Goal
• To understand the major contents of each of the
book of Proverbs with attention to its canonical
place, genre, historical background, date,
authorship, audience, major themes, purpose,
literary structure
• Taking an “birds-eye walkthrough”
• Taking an “expository walk” (quick survey)
through this book with an open Bible
• Show implications that we can learn and apply to
our lives today
Canonical Place
LAW PROPHETS WRITINGS
Torah  Nebiim Ketubim
  FORMER LATTER  
Genesis Psalms
   
  Job
Joshua Isaiah
Exodus Proverbs
   
  Ruth
Judges Jeremiah
Leviticus Song of Songs
   
  Ecclesiastes
Samuel Ezekiel
Numbers Lamentations
   
  Esther
Kings The Twelve
Deuteronomy Daniel
Ezra/Nehemiah
Chronicles
Proverbs
Proverbs is perhaps the most practical book in the Old Testament
because it teaches wisdom (lit., “skillful living”) in the multiple
aspects of everyday life. In short pithy statements, maxims, and
stories, Solomon and other contributors set forth about nine
hundred proverbs—inspired precepts dealing with wisdom and
folly, pride and humility, justice and vengeance, laziness and work,
poverty and wealth, friends and neighbors, love and lust, anger and
strife, masters and servants, life and death. These maxims are not
theoretical but practical; they are easily memorized, timeless truths
that touch on every facet of human relationships. Reading a proverb
takes only a few seconds; applying a proverb can take a lifetime!
Title
 Hebrew: "The Proverbs of Solomon, the Son of David,
King in Israel" (cf. 1:1).
 LXX: (The Greek Septuagint): "Proverbs of Solomon."
 Latin Vulgate: “The Book of Proverbs."
 Translators of English Bibles place Proverbs among the
poetic books (Psalms—Song of Solomon),
 In the Hebrew Bible it is found among the "Writings,"
the third and final major section
Genre
 Proverbs are a distinctive genre (type of literature).
 The Hebrew word translated "proverb" (masal)
essentially means a comparison. However, through
usage it came to mean any profound pronouncement,
including: maxims, observations, sermons (e.g., ch. 5),
even wisecracks (cf. Ezek. 18:2), and revelations from
God (cf. Ps. 49:4).
  Etymologically, the English word means "in place of
(i.e., for) words." A proverb is usually a succinct
statement that stands in place of a long explanation and
expresses a truth about reality.
Genre
 Proverbs ARE NOT PROMISES: One of the common
mistakes that many Christians make when they read the
proverbs is to take them as promises. Some are promises as
well as proverbs, when the proverb expresses a truth that
is always consistent, but it is important to be able to
distinguish a proverb from a promise.
 Promises are straightforward statements of assurance that
guarantee that stated effects will inevitably follow. Some
promises are conditional, and others are unconditional.
 Proverbs and promises are really different forms of
expression, and different types of literature.
Genre
 Collection of proverbs has "chain-linked" similar or
related proverbs into chains or series of proverbs. Thus
there are frequently series of proverbs that in some way
tie together. Sometimes the link is the subject (e.g., the
fool, 26:1-12; the sluggard, 26:13-16; the talebearer,
26:20-22; the malicious, 26:23-28). At other times the
link is an idea, a Hebrew word, or even a Hebrew letter
Date

 Solomon’s proverbs were written by 931 b.c., and his

proverbs in chapters 25–29 were collected by
Hezekiah about 230 years later (Hezekiah reigned
from 715 to 686 b.c.).

 Solomon probably wrote his proverbs in his middle

years, before his character began to decline into
carnality, materialism, and idolatry
Authorship
 Solomon originated some of the proverbs (10:1—22:16 and
chs. 25—29 definitely, and probably chs. 1—9 as well).
 Unnamed wise men (sages) wrote other parts (22:17—24:34
definitely, and possibly chs. 1—9).
 Hezekiah's men copied some of Solomon's proverbs and
added them to this collection (chs. 25—29).
 Agur and King Lemuel produced chapters 30 and 31
respectively.
 We do not know who the sages were who wrote 22:17—
24:34, nor do we know the names of the men whom King
Hezekiah instructed to compile some of Solomon's sayings.
Agur and Lemuel are unknown to us also, though Lemuel
seems to have been a non-Israelite monarch.
Major Themes
1. The God of the Proverbs
a) God is Sovereign (16:1, 4, 9, 33; 19:21; 20:24; 21:1)
b) God is Man’s Maker (20:12)
c) God is Man’s Blesser (12:22; 16:7)
d) God is Man’s Judge (16:5; 20:27; 21:2; 24:11-12)

2. Man Before God

a) Man is a Rebel (19:3; 20:9)
b) Man needs to Trust God (15:33; 16:6, 20)
c) All Men are the same before God (22:2; 29:13)
Major Themes
3.  The Personal Conduct of Man
a) Diligence (10:4; 12:11; 16:26; 27:23-27)
b) Speech (10:21; 12:25; 15:23; 20:19; 29:20)
c) Humility (11:2; 12:9; 16:19)
d) Control of Temper (12:16; 14:29; 17:14; 22:24-25)
e) Joy (14:10; 15:13, 15; 25:20; 27:9)
4.  Man in Society
a) Family Life
• Wives (12:4; 18:22; 19:14; 21:9, 19; 25:24)
• Discipline of Children (22:6, 15; 23:13-14; 29:15, 17)
b) Kings (14:28, 35; 25:4-5; 28:2; 29:4)
c) Neighbors (11:9; 14:21; 25:17)
d) Money (22:7; 23:4-5; 11:24-26; 14:21; 28:11)
Purpose
 

The young, naïve son is. given exhortation to and

instruction in the ways of wisdom.
Literary Structure
Outline
I. The Purpose of Proverbs (1:1–7)
II. Proverbs to the Youth (1:8–9:18)
A. Obey Parents (1:8–9)
B. Avoid Bad Company (1:10–19)
C. Seek Wisdom (1:20–2:22)
D. Benefits of Wisdom (3:1–26)
E. Be Kind to Others (3:27–35)
F. Father Says Get Wisdom (4:1–13)
G. Avoid the Wicked (4:14–22)
H. Keep Your Heart (4:23–27)
Outline
I. Do Not Commit Adultery (5:1–14)
J. Do Be Faithful to Your Spouse (5:15–23)
K. Avoid Surety (6:1–5)
L. Do Not Be Lazy (6:6–19)
M. Do Not Commit Adultery (6:20–7:27)
N. Praise of Wisdom (8:1–9:12)
O. Foolish Woman (9:13–18)
Outline
III. Proverbs of Solomon (10:1–24:34)
A. Proverbs Contrasting the Godly and the Wicked (10:1–
15:33)
B. Proverbs Encouraging Godly Lives (16:1–22:16)
C. Proverbs Concerning Various Situations (22:17–24:34)

IV. Proverbs of Solomon Copied by Hezekiah’s Men (25:1–

29:27)
A. Proverbs Regulating Relationships with Others (25:1–
26:28)
B. Proverbs Regulating Various Activities (27:1–29:27)
Outline
V. The Words of Agur (30:1–33)

VI. The Words of King Lemuel (31:1–31)

A. Wisdom for Leaders (31:1–9)
B. Wise Woman (31:10–31)
Lessons Learned
1. Reverence for God is the beginning of knowledge.(1:7).
There is a presupposition in this statement. It is that God is
the repository of wisdom. We can only find wisdom in God
ultimately. This presupposition underlies all of what we read
in Job and Ecclesiastes, as well as in Proverbs. Furthermore,
the Hebrews assumed that God expressed His wisdom in all
His works and in all His ways. They believed that all natural
phenomena revealed God's wisdom. Wherever they looked,
they saw God: on land, at sea, in the earth, or in the sky. We
can see that viewpoint clearly in Genesis 1:1 (cf. John 14:6).
Lessons Learned
2. Three spheres of life dealt with in Proverbs.
• Home: in the home, the child must learn wisdom -
Fathers and mothers reflect the image of God to their
children. Both parents are necessary to reveal God to the
child fully. Children see some of God's characteristics in
the mother's attitudes and actions (cf. Matt. 23:37). They
see other aspects of God's character in the father. Parents
do not have to try to teach their young child systematic
theology. They just need to live in the fear of God
themselves, and their child will learn what he or she
needs to learn about God for that stage of their life—just
by observing mom and dad.
Lessons Learned
2. Three spheres of life dealt with in Proverbs.
• Friendship (cf. 1:10-19), the youth must apply wisdom. The
day must come when the child, in the natural process of
development, moves out into a wider circle of experience.
• World: In the world, the adult must demonstrate wisdom
symbolized in Proverbs by the street, the gates, and the city
(cf. 1:20-33; chs. 2—9).
3. Children have two duties to their parents.
• When the child's sphere of life is his home, he is to obey
his parents. However, that duty does not continue forever.
• When he moves into the larger sphere of life outside the
home, his duty is to honor his parents. This duty does
continue forever
Lessons Learned
4. Warning to the youth who leaves home to enter the world by
himself: Beware of the evil way of those who do not fear the
Lord (1:20-32). Wisdom does not say withdraw from the
world. Wisdom says remember the fate of those who forget
God. There is also a gracious promise (cf. 1:33). Wisdom
promises that those who live in the fear of the Lord will be
quiet and safe, even in the turmoil of the world. It is clear
how important preparation is for living in this sphere of life.
Children must learn to take God into account in the home,
and then in their friendships, before they launch out into the
world. This instruction is what really prepares them for life.
Conclusion

The person who learns the fear of God (i.e., to take God
into consideration) in every sphere of life, will be
successful, but those who forget God will fail.
Fearing God means taking God into account, being aware
of His reality and presence, and making decisions in view
of His existence and revelation.