[:en] INTRODUCTION OF PROVERBS:
“Proverb” is a combination of two Latin words – PRO (instead of) and VERBA (words). So, a proverb is a short sentence consisting of wise sayings and good advice for daily living. In Hebrew, “Proverb” means a “COMPARISON”. It has short catching sentences that contains wisdom of comparison and contrasts.
The book of Proverbs has multiple authors. Among them were royal scribes, Solomon, Agur and Lemuel. But Solomon was the most prominent among them. He wrote proverbs with “wisdom” as the main theme contrasting the fool vs. the wise. He emphasized the fear of the Lord and the willingness to obey Him as the basic requirement to understand and apply these proverbs. The entire Proverbs covered many different subjects – marriage, character, discipline, friendship, justice, folly, wisdom, poverty, wealth, love, laziness and warnings against drinking, pledge and adultery. It is important that we embrace the teachings of proverbs in order to live a holy life.
SCRIPTURE: PROVERBS 1
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline” (Proverbs 1:7)
“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck” (Proverbs 1:8-9)
“My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them. My son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood” (Proverbs 1:10, 15-16)
“Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it” (Proverbs 1:19)
“For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm” (Proverbs 1:32-33)
PROLOGUE, PURPOSE AND THEME (vs. 1-7)
IMPORTANCE OF WISDOM:
- It makes us understand words of insight (v. 2)
- It enables us to live a discipline and holy life (v. 3a)
- It teaches us to do what is right, just and fair (v. 3b)
- It gives prudence to the simple, knowledge and direction to the young (v. 4)
- It adds learning and discernment to the wise (v. 5)
- It gives understanding to the proverbs, parables, sayings and riddles of the wise (v. 6)
- It enables us to live in safety without fear of harm (v. 33)
EXHORTATIONS TO EMBRACE WISDOM ( vs. 8-19)
WARNINGS AGAINST ENTICEMENT
- Do not be enticed by sinners and give in to them (v. 10)
- Do not go along with them to shed innocent blood (v. 11)
- Do not plunder all sorts of valuable things from other people (vs. 13-14)
- Do not set foot on sinner’s path (vs. 15-16)
- Do not go after ill gotten gain (v. 19)
WARNINGS AGAINST REJECTING WISDOM (vs. 20-33)
- Calamity will overtake you like a storm (v. 27a)
- Disaster will sweep over you like a whirlwind (v. 27b)
- Distress and trouble will overwhelm you (v. 27c)
- You will eat the fruit of your ways and be filled with the fruit of your scheme (v. 31)
- You will be killed by your waywardness (v. 32a)
- You will be destroyed by your complacency (v. 32b)
LESSONS TO LEARN:
- Fear the Lord
- Seek wisdom from God
- Do what is right, just and fair
- Listen to your parents instructions and teachings
- Do not be enticed by sinners nor set foot on their paths
- Respond to rebuke and accept advices
- Do not crave for ill-gotten wealth
[:]