Bible Survey: Proverbs
If the Psalms are the believer's book of devotion, Proverbs is his handbook of conduct, teaching how to live wisely in a mixed-up world. The key verse is The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7), and there is not much fear of God in America today.
Solomon spake three thousand proverbs (1 Kings 4:32), and he gathered many sayings already known among God's people. Later the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out more (Proverbs 25:1). The last chapters give the words of Agur and of King Lemuel, who may well be Solomon himself.
A proverb says a great deal in a few words, so it stays with you. Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6). Parents should not be afraid of the rod of correction (Proverbs 22:15), either. Too many children grow up today with no discipline and no respect for authority.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise (Proverbs 20:1). Proverbs 23 describes the drunkard's red eyes and wounds, and then what he says when he wakes: I will seek it yet again (Proverbs 23:35). Some churches now say a Christian may drink in moderation, but drunkards do not start out as drunkards. They start out drinking in moderation. A Christian is better off leaving it alone.
Lemuel's mother warned him, Give not thy strength unto women (Proverbs 31:3), and it was Solomon's many foreign wives who turned his heart from God. The book closes with the virtuous woman: a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised (Proverbs 31:30).
Some claim Proverbs contradicts itself, because one verse says Answer not a fool according to his folly and the next says to answer him (Proverbs 26:4–5). It does not. It takes wisdom to know when to keep quiet and when to speak up.
Next in the series: Ecclesiastes.
Taught by Brother James Barker in Sunday School at Naples Independent Baptist Church, August 30, 2020. Watch the lesson.
