The Book of Proverbs: School of Wisdom - 1

Proverbs 1:1-33 (NIV)

Proverbs 1

Prologue: Purpose and Theme

1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

2 for attaining wisdom and discipline;for understanding words of insight;

3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair;

4 for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young-

5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance-

6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.

7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools [a] despise wisdom and
discipline.

Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom
Warning Against Enticement

8 Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching.

9 They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.

10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.

11 If they say, "Come along with us; let's lie in wait for someone's blood, let's waylay some
harmless soul;

12 let's swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;

13 we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder;

14 throw in your lot with us, and we will share a common purse"-

15 my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths;

16 for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood.

17 How useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds!

18 These men lie in wait for their own blood; they waylay only themselves!

19 Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it.

Warning Against Rejecting Wisdom

20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares;

21 at the head of the noisy streets [c] she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her
speech:

22 "How long will you simple ones [d] love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in
mockery and fools hate knowledge?

23 If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my
thoughts known to you.

24 But since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand,

25 since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke,

26 I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you-

27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

28 "Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me.

29 Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD,

30 since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke,

31 they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.

32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them;

33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm."

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 1:7 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old
Testament, denote one who is morally deficient.
2. Proverbs 1:12 Hebrew Sheol
3. Proverbs 1:21 Hebrew; Septuagint / on the tops of the walls
4. Proverbs 1:22 The Hebrew word rendered simple in Proverbs generally denotes one without
moral direction and inclined to evil.

15-fold purpose of Proverbs:

1. To know wisdom (v 2)
2. To know instruction (v 2)
3. To perceive understanding (v 2)
4. To receive instruction in wisdom (v 3)
5. To receive instruction in justice (v 3)
6. To receive instruction in judgment (v 3)
7. To receive instruction in equity
8. To give subtilty to the simple (v 4)
9. To give young men knowledge (v 4)
10. To give young men discretion (v 4)
11. To attract the wise man (v 5)
12. To increase learning (5)
13. To help attain to wise counsels
14. To make known the words of the wise in proverbial form (v 6)
15. To express dark sayings (v 6)

5 examples proving wise men will hear:

1. The Eunuch (Acts 8:27, 39)
2. Sergius Paulus (Acts 13:7)
3. The Bereans (Acts 17:11-12)
4. Apollos (Acts 18:24-28)
5. Jesus Christ (Isaiah 50:4-6)

5 examples of despising wisdom:

1. Cain (Genesis 4:6-8)
2. Hophni and Phinetias (1 Samuel 2:12, 25)
3. Nabal (1 Samuel 25:25)
4. Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:13)
5. Athenians (Acts 17:18, 32)

5 examples of hearing instruction:

1. The Rechabites (Jeremiah 35:18-19)
2. Samuel (1 Samuel 1:28; 2:18; 3:19-21)
3. Jesus Christ (Luke 2:51)
4. Paul (Acts 9; 26:19)
5. Timothy (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15; Acts 16:1)

5 examples of consenting not to sin:

1. Joseph (Genesis 39:9-10)
2. The unknown prophet ((1 Kings 13:8-9)
3. Jehosaphat (1 Kings 22:49)
4. Joash (2 Chronicles 24:17-18)
5. Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:14-16)

5 places wisdom preaches:

1. In open places (v 20)
2. In streets (v 20)
3. In mobs (v 21)
4. In gates (v 21)
5. In cities (v 21)

3 classes wisdom preaches to:

1. Simple ones (v 4)
2. Scorners
3. Fools

6fold message of wisdom:

1. How long will you simple oens love deception and flattery (v 22)
2. How long will you scorners continue to scorn wisdom (v 22)
3. How long will you fools hate knowledge (v 22)
4. Turn you (v 23)
5. I will pour out my spirit unto you (v 23)
6. I will make known my word to you (v 23)

12 reasons for being damned:

1. Refusal of wisdom's call (v 24)
2. Disregard of her invitation (v 24)
3. Setting at naught her counsel (v 25)
4. Rejection of her reproof (v 25)
5. Hatred of her knowledge (v 29)
6. Refusal of fear of the Lord (v 29)
7. Rejection of wisdom's counsel (v 30)
8. Despising her reproof (v 30)
9. Reaping fruit of own way (v 31)
10.Being filled with own schemes (v 31)
11.Turning away or backsliding (v 32)
12.Being satsified with prosperity (v 32)

10fold end of the wicked:

1. His calamity laughed at (v 26)
2. His terror mocked (v 26)
3. Fear and desolation a reality (v 27)
4. Destruction like a whirlwind
5. Distress coming upon him (v 27)
6. Anguish seizing him (v 27)
7. Not being heard when praying to God in punishment (v 28)
8. Seeking God when it will be too late to find Him (v 28)
9. Reaping what has been sown (v 31)
10.Being required to be satisfied with own plans (v 31)

5 examples of sowing and reaping:

1. Cain (Genesis 4:3-15)
2. Israel (Numbers 11:4-6; Psalm 106:13-14
3. Saul (1 Samuel 15: 1 Chronicles 10:13)
4. Haman (Esther 5:1-7:10)
5. Judas (Matthew 26:24; Acts 1:20-25)

5 examples of destruction:

1. Israel (Deuteronomy 32:15-25, Hosea 13:6-8)
2. Babylon (Isaiah 47:7-9)
3. Moab (Jeremiah 48:11-15)
4. Sodom (Ezekiel 16:49; Genesis 19)
5. Tyre (Ezekiel 28:2-7)

2fold end of the righteous:

1. He shall dwell safely
2. He shall be quiet from fear of evil

5 examples of dwelling safely:

1. Noah and family (Genesis 6-8)
2. 3 Hebrew children (Daniel 3)
3. Daniel (Daniel 6)
4. Christ's sheep (John 10:28-29)
5. David (Psalm 23)

The Proverbs; Words & Contrasting Sentences of Wisdom - Dark Sayings - Doctrines and Instructions to the Wise

Editors Note

To the general reader, the book of Proverbs, with its common-sense epigrams and sententious aphorisms, might seem to be the last portion of Scripture requiring any attempt at elucidation. But it is just because its chapters abound in pithy truisms that the marrow is often lost sight of by those who have been accustomed to hearing or reading them all their lives.

This present work is an attempt to press home upon the heart and conscience, with a view to the increase of every-day godliness, this distinctively practical portion of the Word of God.

Thus we encourage you to read not only the complimentary facts that follow each chapter in this blogspot, but also the daily "Discussion Topics" in the 'Facebook' site that features the classical commentary, by the late internationally beloved Bible preacher and teacher, H.A. Ironside, at:

http://groups.to/proverbsschoolofwisdom/

The New International Version (NIV) is used in this blogspot and the 'Facebook' "Discussion Topics," save where a uniform rendering of certain words seemed conducive to clearness, and where some other translation better expressed the thought of the original. Wherever changes have been made, the reader may rest assured competent authorities have been consulted, the marginal readings of the Englishman's Hebrew Bible being generally preferred.

Throughout, an effort has been made to bring tot ht reader's attention some Scriptural example fo the proverbial statements. this feature of the work will, it is sincerely hoped, be a means of stimulating the reader to more careful, earnest Bible study.


Introduction of Facebook "Discussion Topics"

The royal preacher, in the Book of Ecclesiastes, after relating so graphically the story of his weary search for happiness "under the sun," with its disappointing result, leading to the oft-repeated lament, "Vanity of vanities; all is vanity and vexation of spirit," directs those who would escape the devious paths he had himself trodden to the consideration of the collection of proverbs which he had "sought out, and set in order."

The last seven verses of Ecclesiastes (Ecc. 12:8-14) form a fitting introduction to the book which in our Bibles immediately precedes it.

Such is the arrangement of the book we purpose studying. As a part of "all Scripture," we may rest assured we shall find it "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness," helping to perfect the man(kind) of God unto all good works.

H.A. Ironside, LittD