Introduction to the Book of Proverbs
I'm excited to start sharing scripture from the Old Testament on the Circular Grace YouTube channel. This year my husband and I are following a daily Bible reading plan that includes a few verses from Proverbs. The plan will guide us through reading the whole Bible together in a year. I'm really enjoying the Book of Proverbs and they are perfect for sharing in Short video format.
The respected commentators I share alongside my New Testament readings also provide some excellent commentary on the Old Testament. I thought it would be nice to provide a post to introduce the Book of Proverbs.
Enduring Word Commentary
I confess, that before reading this commentary, I knew very little about the Book of Proverbs. For instance, I hadn't really considered how unique the book is when compared to the rest of the Old Testament. This commentary provides a good overview on that uniqueness.
a. The proverbs of Solomon: The Book of Proverbs is a collection of practical life wisdom given mostly in short, memorable statements. Though part of a larger body of wisdom literature that includes Job, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon, the Book of Proverbs is unique.
Proverbs is unique because it has no particular logical structure. It's a collection of individual statements. These statements are practical and provide wise examples to follow relating to everyday life. Apparently according to this commentator, they are in keeping with a style of ancient writing shared by secular ancient societies.
There is scholarly debate as to whether the Book of Proverbs was a forerunner or a follower. Either way, we can have confidence that the Lord Our God is the origin of pure undiluted wisdom and so the superiority of Proverbs compared to any other ancient text is in no doubt.
vi. “If Proverbs is the borrower here, the borrowing is not slavish but free and creative. Egyptian jewels, as at the Exodus, have been re-set to their advantage by Israelite workmen and put to finer use.” (Kidner)
I was grateful for some clarity on what a Proverb is and is not. They teach wisdom but are not law. They are meant to be pondered and considered but require discernment in terms of their application.
b. The proverbs: Proverbs teach wisdom through short points and principles but should not be regarded as “laws” or even universal promises.
Illuding back to the previous point about the superiority of Proverbs compared to any other secular comparison. God blessed Solomon with immense wisdom and these Proverbs share that wisdom with us. Let's recap scripture for a clearer understanding (1 Kings 4:29-31 (kjv)
29 And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.
30 And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.
31 For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.
God granted Solomon's request for wisdom that he would be a wise leader. I find the story of Solomon as told in the book of Ecclesiastes fascinating because despite his vast wisdom he was not obedient. He would be a very old man before he realised his desires had all amounted to vanity. We do however find examples of the application of his wisdom in the Book of Kings.
c. The proverbs of Solomon: Solomon was the king of Israel famous for his wisdom. In 1 Kings 3:3-13 Solomon asked God for wisdom to lead God’s people and God answered that prayer. 1 Kings then presents a remarkable demonstration of Solomon’s wisdom, seen in his response to the problem of the two women and the deceased son (1 Kings 3:16-28).
Solomon is not the originator of all the proverbs that makes up the Book of Proverbs. There is some debate as to whether he is the author of the book or wether he was responsible for gathering the collection together.
ii. The opening, the proverbs of Solomon should not be taken to mean that Solomon was the author of all these proverbs. There are a few other authors specifically mentioned. Yet, it may well be that Solomon collected all these other proverbs and set them in his book. Whether Solomon was the collector or some unnamed later person, we can’t know for certain.
If you are wondering why our Holy Bible contains the Book of Proverbs, Solomon explains at the very begining of the book that the purpose is to explain what wisdom is and is not.
a. To know wisdom and instruction: In the opening of his collection of proverbs, Solomon explained the purpose of these sayings of wisdom. They are intended to give the attentive reader wisdom, instruction, perception, and understanding.
I will leave you with a link to the full commentary. If you want a good introduction to the Book of Proverbs, I highly recommend it.
https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/proverbs-1/
Bible Project
Another resource that may be useful is provided by the Bible Project. I liked their headline that confirmed that wisdom is about trusting God! It reminded me of something I'd listened to earlier today about Eve and the fall. Eve's encounter with the serpent was the first example of failing to trust God. The fall was great!
The Big Idea
Wisdom depends on trusting God and leads to life, but folly starts with distrusting God and leads to death.
https://bibleproject.com/guides/book-of-proverbs/
Bible Gateway
I find this resource invaluable. I use the Bible Gateway frequently. It provides access to the complete Bible in numerous transitions. Alongside bible text they provide a wealth of other resources such as this complete verse by verse Matthew Henry commentary on the Book of Proverbs.
If you'd like to find out more about Matthew Henry, an English Presbyterian Minister and Bible scholar (1662-1714), you'll find a nice write up on Got Questions. I liked the Henry quote from the article:
“The Bible is a letter God has sent to us; prayer is a letter we send to him” (Daily Communion with God).
https://www.gotquestions.org/Matthew-Henry.html
For the Matthew Henry Commentary on the Book of Proverbs, follow the link.
https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Proverbs
I'd love to hear your thoughts on Proverbs as I share them on YouTube. Feel free to add thoughts, comments or questions below.
Hi Denise: I found it a bit problematic (maybe surprising, more than problematic) that some of the proverbs could have been borrowed from Egyptian material. The Bible is the inspired word of God. Why would God’s Holy Word need inspiration from a pagan polytheistic religion? All wisdom and truth comes from God, not from a pagan nation who has a polytheistic religion. What does the below excerpts by Kidder mean? Does it mean the Israelite workmen borrowed from the mundane worldly Egyptian writings, using worldly wisdom to expound spiritual wisdom? In other words, did the free and creative workmen with their God-given creativity and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, use an earthly story or lesson to convey a heavenly or spiritual truth? Have I missed the point?
I would imagine the Bible nay sayers who are always looking for new ways to discredit the Bible, having a field day with this one. I can just hear them say “plagiary.”
Below are Kidder’s excerpts, taken from Enduring Word Commentary.
v. There are several sections of Proverbs (Proverbs 22:17-23:14 is an example) that seem to be borrowed from The Teaching of Amenemope, an ancient Egyptian writing. There is debate as to who borrowed whom, but most scholars believe Amenemope is earlier.
vi. “If Proverbs is the borrower here, the borrowing is not slavish but free and creative. Egyptian jewels, as at the Exodus, have been re-set to their advantage by Israelite workmen and put to finer use.” (Kidner)
I think the reason Western cultures are shrouded in deception and confusion is because there is a lack of Godly wisdom. Never in my wildest dreams did I every think people would believe that there are more than two genders. We need to return to our Christian foundation - a sure foundation.
I haven’t entirely read the commentaries and plan to get back to them. Once I have read them all, I hope to add my “pearls of wisdom” lol, that is if I have any, in the comment section.
I hope you'll enjoy reading through Proverbs with me! Share any thoughts, comments or questions here 🙂