Xenos Christian
Fellowship
Christian Ministry 2
Week
3 – Old Testament Poetry and Wisdom
Editors’
note:
Italics
(lower case or ALL CAPS) show what students should write in their
student outline.
Bold
(including bold italics and bold ALL CAPS) shows what appears in the
student outline.
Regular
text is used for lecture notes; ALL CAPS are used for emphasis.
Old Testament Poetry
and Wisdom
This
part of the Bible includes Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and
the Song of Songs. These books are grouped together in our Old
Testament and are part of the “writings”
in the Hebrew Bible. Here is a very rough summary of what each book
addresses:
Job
– making sense of undeserved suffering.
Psalms
– honest prayer and praise to God.
Proverbs – the value of
true wisdom based on the fear of God.
Ecclesiastes – the
possibility of finding meaning and significance during our short
life on earth.
Song
of Songs – celebrating love between husband and wife.
Despite
containing diverse material, these books do share some common
features:
They
are all reflective. For the most part, they don’t advance
the story of the Bible, but rather look back on what God has said
and done and the implications of his words and actions for our
lives. Sometimes God’s nature, truth and actions in history
are considered to answer difficult questions, other times they form
the basis for wise living or praising him. Whatever the case, these
books contain some of the most moving and powerful material in the
Bible. It is an area we hope you don’t neglect in your own
reading!
They
should be read as a whole. A common error when reading the
wisdom books is to read bits and pieces, and miss their overall
message. They should to be read together and considered in light of
each other. Reading about Job’s suffering puts the optimistic
wisdom of Proverbs in perspective. The hope found in Proverbs is a
good balance for Ecclesiastes, which emphasizes the futility of
living without regard for God. Keep this in mind as you do your
daily Bible reading.
In
this lecture, we will give you general advice and a framework for
reading Psalms and Proverbs. We’ve also supplied a handout on
Ecclesiastes and Job. Make it a goal over the next year to become
familiar with each of these books so you can read each one in light
of the others.
They
are all written in poetic form. Other genres of the Bible
contain poems (e.g. Exodus 15:1-18), but these books showcase the
use of Hebrew poetry.
Key
features of Hebrew poetry
Hebrew
poetry has neither rhyme nor meter which are both common in English
poetry. These features were not seen in Jewish poetry until 7th
Century A.D.
Instead, Hebrew poetry “rhymes ideas” through the use of
parallelism. It also emphasizes ideas with repetition, and
illustrates concepts through the use of imagery. Instructors: You may
want to students to refer to the homework they completed for this
class as you go through this section.
1.
Parallelism
Parallelism
is a term used to describe the comparison of identical, similar or
related ideas. Two lines in a line of Hebrew poetry may say the same
thing using different sets of words, or they may contrast each other,
or build on one another. Understanding the parallel structure of
Hebrew poetry will help you explore the depth of meaning in each
verse.
There
are three basic types of parallelism:
a.
Synonymous parallelism. The second or subsequent line repeats or
reinforces the sense of the first line.
“For
he satisfies the thirsty
and
he fills the hungry with good things.” – Psalm 107:9
“He
turned rivers into a desert,
flowing
springs into thirsty ground .” – Psalm 107:33
b.
Antithetical parallelism. The second or subsequent line contrasts the
thought of the first.
“The
upright see and rejoice,
but
all the wicked shut their mouths.” – Psalm 107:42
“A
wise son brings joy to his father,
but
a foolish son grief to his mother.” – Proverbs 10:1
c. Synthetic parallelism: The
second or subsequent line provides more information about or
completes the thought in the first line.
“Others went out on the
sea in ships,
they were merchants on the
mighty waters.” – Psalm 107:23
“Blessed
is the man
who
does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or
stand in the way of sinners
or
sit in the seat of scoffers.” – Ps. 1:1
Notice how
each line advances the meaning of what is being said. The verbs
“walk,” “stand” and “sit” show
the gradual progression of the wicked man—he moves from a
casual to a settled relationship with sin.
Implication
for the reader: We live in a sound-bite culture. Listeners demand
communication that is quick and succinct. But Parallelism
forces the reader to circle back to a concept again and again, which
encourages reflection and deepens meaning. Learn to TAKE YOUR
TIME when reading the Psalms. THINK about what you’re reading
and what the author is trying to say.
“Some people never learn
anything because they understand everything too soon.” –
Alexander Pope
Good
questions to ask: Pay attention to the structure of the poem. As
you read, ask “How are these lines related to each other?”
“Are they saying the same thing?” “Are they saying
the opposite thing?” “What additional information is
being communicated in this line about the one preceding it?”
2.
Repetition
Another key
feature of Hebrew poetry is REPETITION. Like modern songs, many
Psalms have a “refrain” or repeated phrase that
emphasizes key ideas. Did you notice the repeated phrases in Psalm
107? Here’s one:
“Let them give thanks to
the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.”
– Psalm 107:8,15,21,31
Even in the shortest Psalm, the
author takes time to repeat himself:
“Praise
the LORD, all nations;
Laud
Him, all peoples!
For
His lovingkindness is great toward us,
And
the truth of the LORD is everlasting.
Praise
the LORD!” – Psalm 117
Implication
for the reader: Modern readers are often annoyed with repetition.
They wonder, “Why is the author telling me something I already
know?” But repetition is an important tool the psalmists use to
help reiterate the main point of the Psalm. Repetition helps
readers identify key emphases that God is trying to communicate.
3.
Imagery
Imagery involves the use of word
pictures that help explain or illustrate the point the author is
trying to make.
“As
the deer pants for the water brooks,
So
my soul pants for Thee, O God.” – Psalm 42:1
“I
will say to God my rock, ‘Why have you forgotten me?’”
– Psalm 42:9
Good
questions to ask: “Who does this image describe?”
“What does it say about the person or group being described?”
“What does this image tell you about the way God relates to
people?”
Through the
use of parallelism, repetition, and imagery, Hebrew poetry
communicates spiritual truths in a memorable way that evokes an
emotional response. Let’s compare two different accounts
of Israel’s miraculous escape from Egypt through the Red
Sea, one written in prose and the other in poetry:
Exodus
14:26-31; Exodus 15:1-5
Moses’
prose lacks the life and color found in his poem. His poem places
powerful images side by side and stirs the emotions of the reader. It
informs our intellect but also speaks to our heart.
Following
God is more than an exchange of ideas or adherence to a set of
practices. A variety of emotions are present in any healthy
relationship. Through poetry, we enter into the heart of God and
experience the emotional highs and lows of people who have tried to
follow him in the past.
Psalms
This is probably the most popular
book in the Old Testament. The Psalms relate every aspect of the
human experience to our relationship with God in emotional language
that deeply resonates with readers.
What are
the Psalms?
A
hymnal – a book of songs.
“Here
we have one hundred fifty separate poems, constituting a book that
functioned as the hymnbook of the Old Testament people of God.”
The Psalms
were originally written to be sung, often in ceremonies associated
with the temple. They are filled with musical terminology, including
Hebrew terms for vocal music, musical accompaniment, references to
the choir leader, and mention of various instruments. King David, the
chief author of the Psalms, was a skilled poet (2 Samuel 1:19-27;
3:33-34; 23:2-51) and musician (1 Samuel 16:18,23; 2 Samuel 6:5; Amos
6:5). He also instituted the use of music at the temple (1 Chronicles
15:16-24; 16:7,31; 25:1; Ezra 3:10).
Why are they useful?
They
show how us how to relate to God.
“Most
of the Bible speaks to us. The Psalms speak for us.” –
Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, 297-373 A.D.
The psalms
give us words that help us share our own experiences with God. In the
Psalms, we see inspired authors grappling with their own emotions and
talking with God about their disappointments, dreams, failures, etc.
As we listen to their words, we find our own.
They
encourage us to relate honestly with God.
Nearly all
the Psalms involve an honest interaction with God. Look at the range
of emotions expressed in these verses:
Reverence and respect: (Psalm
5:7) “But I, by your great mercy, will come into your house; in
reverence I will bow down toward your holy temple.”
Shame:
(Psalm 44:15a) “My disgrace is before me all day long and my
face is covered with shame….”
Anger: (Psalm 109:9-10) “May
his children be fatherless and his wife a widow, May his children be
wandering beggars; may they be driven from ruined homes.”
Sorrow:
(Psalm 6:6) “I am worn out from groaning; all night long I
flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.”
Doubt: (Psalm 73:3-5) “I
envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They
have no struggles….Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure;
in vain I have washed my hands in innocence.”
This short sampling only
scratches the surface of the deep emotions found in the Psalms.
God knows
what is going on in your heart. Are you willing to be undignified in
prayer and tell God how you really feel?
What does this kind of prayer
communicate about who God is and the type of relationship he wants to
have with us?
I hope your
exposure to the Psalms will help you be less inhibited when you pray.
God wants to hear about your anxiety, hopes and dreams, frustrations,
desires, anger, joy and disappointments.
They
show us how to affirm what is true.
While it is
necessary and essential to honestly communicate our feelings to God,
we also need to affirm what God says is true. The psalmists are very
emotional, but they also teach us how to submit our emotions to truth
in God’s Word.
For
example, in Psalm 42 and 43, we see the repeated refrain:
(Psalm 42:5) “Why are
you in despair, O my soul?
Why have you become disturbed
within me?
Hope in God, for I shall again
praise him.
For the
help of his presence.”
The author
questions himself and challenges his state of despair: “WHY are
you in despair?” Then he focuses on what is praiseworthy about
God and reminds himself that God is willing to help.
Asaph admits:
(Psalm 73:3) “For I was
envious of the arrogant
As I saw the prosperity of the
wicked.”
But he
remembers that he is a role model for other people who follow God...
(Psalm 73:15) “If I had
said, ‘I will speak thus,’
behold, I would have betrayed
the
generation
of Your children.”
...and he
reminds himself that ultimately, all people will be called to
account.
(Psalm 73:27,28) “For,
behold, those who are far from
you will perish;
you have destroyed all those
who
are unfaithful to You.
But as for me,
the nearness of God is
my good;
I have made the Lord God my
refuge,
that I may tell of all your
works.”
The
temptation to abandon God’s truth arises in many situations.
Through the Psalms we learn the discipline of talking to ourselves
and not taking the counsel of our feelings.
They
show us how to appreciate who God is.
(Psalm 29:2) “Give honor
to the Lord for the glory of his name. Worship the Lord in the
splendor of his holiness.”
The Psalms
are a window into God’s character. They help deepen our
understanding of what he is like. But more than that, we learn how to
enjoy him and express enjoyment to him and to others. We’ll see
how true this is as we look more closely at the different kinds of
Psalms.
Who
wrote the Psalms and how are they organized?
Authors:
One Psalm was written by Moses, 73 by David, 12 by
Asaph, 10 by the sons of Korah, one or two by Solomon,
and one each by Heman and Ethan. The rest are
anonymous. The Psalms are often called the Psalms of David because he
is the principal author.
The entire
collection was written over a long period of time (from Exodus to
Exile), but most were written during the time of David.
Organization:
The book of Psalms is a collection of smaller collections. In
the Hebrew Bible, the Psalms are grouped into 5 smaller books: Psalm
1-41; Psalm 42-72; Psalm 73-89; Psalm 90-106; Psalm 107-150.
Within these books there are hints of additional groupings.
Different Kinds of Psalms
Instructors:
Refer students to the handout titled, Kinds of Psalms, but
don’t go over it in class. Cover each of kind of Psalm below as
time permits.
We can’t
study all 150 of the Psalms, but we can expose you to a few different
kinds of Psalms and provide you with some simple tools for studying
them.
If you read
5 scholars on this topic, you’ll get 7 opinions on how to
classify the Psalms. Some Psalms will fit in the categories on the
Kinds of Psalms handout, some may be a mixture of these
categories, and some may not fit neatly in any category.
Gratitude
– Psalm 107
Structure:
Psalms of
praise and gratitude have many similarities. The word
“praise” occurs in both types of psalms. But Psalms of
GRATITUDE tend to focus more on WHAT GOD HAS DONE. Psalms of PRAISE
focus more on WHO GOD IS.
The typical structure is very
simple:
Opening
announcement expressing a desire to thank God.
(Psalm
107:1) “O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, For His
lovingkindness is everlasting.”
A
description of distresses faced and God’s deliverance.
See Psalm
107:6,13,19,28. Each of these verses summarizes a section
describing God’s deliverance.
Conclusion
– usually a word of praise or closing command.
(Psalm
107:43) “Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and
consider the great love of the LORD.”
The importance of gratitude
Gratitude
is a key emphasis in the Psalms and repeatedly commanded throughout
the Bible:
(Psalm
95:2) “Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving,
let us shout joyfully to him with Psalms.”
(Psalm
107:1) “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for
his lovingkindness is everlasting.”
(1
Chronicles 16:8) “Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon
his name; make known his deeds among the peoples.”
(Colossians
3:15) “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which
indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.”
(Hebrews
12:28) “Therefore, since we have received a kingdom which
cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer
to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe…”
Most Christians would agree God
has given us good reason to be grateful, but maintaining a grateful
attitude is difficult to do. We are continually exposed to
advertising geared towards making us feel discontent:
"Next
to Christianity, advertising is the greatest force in the world. And
I say that without sacrilege or disrespect. Advertising makes people
discontented. It makes them want things they don't have.”
We also tend to compare our
station in life with that of people around us. And when we come up
short, we experience powerful feelings of discontent.
The result
is that we tend to ignore the many ways God has blessed us and
instead judge his goodness on one or two very narrow criteria (a.k.a.
idols) that are important to us. Will he give me the job,
relationship, etc. that I want?
It’s
very typical for people (especially overfed, wealthy, and coddled
Americans!) to be ungrateful. Do you remember the story in Luke 17
where Jesus heals 10 lepers? Only one of them returned to thank him.
How typical of us.
An
ungrateful Christian is an absurdity in many ways. We have so much to
be thankful for. But more than that, ingratitude is a sign of
sickness—a spiritual cancer that can be very destructive. In
Romans 1:18 ff, Paul describes our ingratitude (“they did not
honor God or give him thanks”) and the rebellion and corruption
it ultimately produced.
Gratitude
is an area we all need to grow in and there is much to learn in the
Psalms. Learning to be grateful, to express our gratitude, and to
model it before others is essential for own spiritual health and
fruitfulness.
Application:
1.
Cultivate gratitude in your own life.
Here is a
practical suggestion modeled after Psalm 107. You could remember and
meditate upon God’s awesome deeds in your own life. Block out
some time to sit down and reflect on what God has done for you. Write
each “wonderful deed” down. Ask yourself where your life
would be if God had not intervened.
2.
Let gratitude be your motivation for service.
“(The
cross) is the measure of the goodness of God; lay it to heart. Ask
yourself the Psalmist’s question – ‘What shall I
render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?’ See grace
to give this answer – ‘I will take the cup of salvation,
and call upon the name of the Lord… O Lord, truly I am thy
servant… I will pay vows unto the Lord now…’
(Psalm 116:12ff.).”
Effective
service is deeply rooted in heartfelt gratitude, gratitude we can
cultivate by imitating gratitude expressed in the Psalms.
3.
Cultivate gratitude in your home church.
God’s
love and desire to bless us cultivates gratitude in our own hearts.
But how can you act in a way that provokes gratitude in the lives of
people in your home church?
Give
without expectations. (Luke 6:35-36)
Express
your thanks to God around people in your group in an open and
unrestrained way.
Help
them see how God is at work in their lives, especially during low
points.
Challenge
them to thank God for what he has done for other people.
Praise –
Psalm 103
Structure:
Praise
psalms are often more general in their content and more focused on
who God is rather than what he has done. When God’s actions are
described, they are frequently used to detail aspects of God’s
character, which are then praised by the Psalmist.
“Bless
(praise – NLT, NIV) the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within
me, bless His holy name.” (103:1)
Reasons
for praise. Here are a few examples…
Because
he cares for the oppressed (103:6).
Because
he is compassionate and gracious (103:8).
Because
he is sovereign and rules over all (103:19).
A
conclusion – often a repetition of the opening call to praise
“Bless the Lord, O my
soul.” (103:22)
The
importance of praise:
We are commanded to praise God
throughout the Bible:
(Psalm
135:1) “Praise the LORD. Praise the name of the LORD; praise
him, you servants of the LORD…”
(Hebrews
13:5) “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to
God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name.”
But why
would God be so intent on receiving praise from us? Is God
insecure? Did he create creatures and demand praise from them because
he needs to be liked and valued? If he doesn’t command us to
praise him because he needs it, why should we praise him?
1. Because
God deserves it.
“For
great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
he
is to be feared above all gods.
For
all the gods of the nations are idols,
but
the LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are
before him;
strength
and joy in his dwelling place.
Ascribe to the LORD, O
families of nations,
ascribe
to the LORD glory and strength,
ascribe
to the LORD the glory due his name.” – 1 Chronicles
16:25-29
Praise is sane because it
corresponds to reality. Praise is a true estimation of God’s
value. Praise is appropriate because God is worthy of praise! To not
praise him is to deny this fact. There is a certain insanity in the
life of a Christian who does not regularly praise God. He or she must
be deluded or indifferent to who God really is.
2. Because
it benefits US.
(C. S.
Lewis) “I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the
praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its
appointed consummation… the delight is incomplete till it is
expressed… the worthier the object the more intense this
delight would be.”
If you’ve ever seen an
excellent movie, read a good book, or just come back from a great
vacation, you know that Lewis is right. Without someone to share our
experience with, our joy is incomplete.
Through praise, God is helping us
learn to enjoy him.
(C. S.
Lewis) “To fully enjoy is to glorify. In commanding us to
glorify Him, God is inviting us to enjoy Him.”
3. Because our praise is a
sign of our own maturity.
We don’t ask our children
to be grateful in order to validate our role in their life or to feed
our ego needs. We’re delighted when they are grateful because
it shows that they’ve become less self-centered and more aware
of the contribution that others make.
Application:
1.
Choose a psalm of praise and pattern your own prayer after it.
Put a psalm of praise into your own words. Tell God how awesome
he his, how good he is, how faithful he is. Say it out loud because
it’s true. Say it because it ought to be said. (MY EXPERIENCE
DOING THIS)
2.
Praise God together in your home group prayer meeting.
Some groups exclusively focus on praising God during a portion of
their prayer meeting. This boosts everyone’s confidence in God
and fosters a profound sense of unity.
3. Start
your own time of prayer with praise. Praising God helps us
remember who we are praying to. As we appreciate God’s
qualities (his goodness, faithfulness, sovereignty, etc.) we draw
strength from him. If we start with praise, our petitions will more
likely be an exercise in faith and not just an expression of our
anxieties.
Messianic
Psalms
Note to the
instructor: This section is FYI only. Pick a few verses from the list
below to illustrate and move quickly.
Jesus taught the disciples to
look for references to him in the Old Testament, and specifically in
the Psalms:
(Luke
24:44) He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to
you while I was still with you, that all things which are written
about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms
must be fulfilled.”
The career
of Christ, his suffering, death, resurrection and return as king
Messiah are all described in the Psalms. Key chapters include Psalm
2, 8, 16, 22, and 110.
Compare the
passages on the right with each text in Psalms on the left to see how
the New Testament authors applied various Psalms to Jesus.
2:7
Acts 13:33; Hebrews 1:5 ; 5:5
2:8,
9 Revelation 2:26, 27; 12:5; 19:15
8:2 Matthew
21:16
8:4-6
Hebrews 2:6-8
8:6
1 Corinthians 15:27; Ephesians 1:22
16:8-11 Acts
2:25-28
16:10b Acts
13:35
18:2b
Hebrews 2:13
18:49
Romans 15:9
22:1
Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34
22:7
Matthew 27:39; Mark 15:29; Luke 23:35
22:8 Matthew
27:43
22:18
John 19:24; compare Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34
22:22
Hebrews 2:12
110:1
Matthew 22:44; Mark 12:36; Luke 20:42, 43; Acts 2:34, 35;
Hebrews 1:13. Compare. Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:6,2; 16:19; Luke 22:69;
1 Corinthians 15:25; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3;
8:1; 10:12, 13; 12:2; 1 Peter 3:22.
110:4
Hebrews 5:6; 6:20; 7:17, 21
Application
restrictions for all the Psalms
1.
Learn what the imagery meant to the original audience.
The images
used in the Psalms were meant for people living in a specific time
and culture. Many of the metaphors and similes are foreign to our
experience. Unless you take to time to understand what these images
meant to the original audience, you’ll miss the point of many
verses or associate the images with something from your own
experience that wasn’t in the mind of the author.
Examples:
(Psalm
26:6) “He [the Lord] made Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like
a wild ox.
The
psalmist is referring to Mt. Hermon (“Sirion”) and Mt.
Lebanon. If you aren’t aware that these are mountains, and if
you have no sense of how imposing these particular mountains are
(Mount Hermon is the site of Israel’s only ski and snowboarding
resort; both are over 10,000+ feet high), you can’t fully
appreciate what the Psalmist is saying. Imagine God making these
imposing mountains skip like a calf. This word picture conveys the
incredible power of God.
(Psalm
114:5-7) “Why was it, O sea, that you fled, O Jordan, that you
turned back… Tremble, O earth at the presence of the Lord, at
the presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool –
the hard rock into springs of water.”
Only by understanding Israel’s
unique history would you associate these phrases with the parting of
the read sea, the crossing of the Jordon, and God providing water
from a rock in the wilderness for his people.
The best
way to understand what the images meant to the original audience is
by reading a good commentary. We’ve already recommended the
Bible Background Commentary.
Another good one specifically on the Psalms is Derek Kidner’s
two-volume set
(part of the Tyndale Old Testament Commentary Series).
2.
Read individual verses in context. The literary unit is the
entire Psalm.
e.g. (Psalm
105:34) “He spoke and the locusts came, grasshoppers without
number.”
This verse
depicts grasshoppers and locusts as God’s special agents to
accomplish his purposes. But in what sense? The context supplies the
answer: the grasshoppers and locusts were part of the 10 plagues that
God unleashed on the Egyptians. God used these plagues to force
Pharaoh to let the Israelites go.
Studying
and applying psalms of praise and gratitude
See
handout. Instructors, spend some time going through Psalm 103 and the
example provided on the worksheet.
Proverbs
Definition
of a proverb: A proverb is usually a saying or maxim (rule of
thumb) which gives insight into how to live wisely.
The book of
Proverbs is a collection of wise sayings: some are fairly long
(Proverbs 1-9, 31), but most are “proverbial”
sayings—short, memorable statements that convey valuable
nuggets of wisdom (chapters 10-30).
Who wrote Proverbs?
Most of the Proverbs are
attributed to David’s son Solomon (cf. I Kings 4:32; Prov. 1:1;
10:1; 25:1), but he did not write all of them (cf. 30:1; 31:1).
The
purpose of the book of Proverbs: to know and understand
wisdom.
Solomon
clearly reveals his purpose for writing in Proverbs 1:1-6.
Today we
have access to 24-hour cable news and learning channels, the
internet, and books and magazines on any topic imaginable. But is the
glut of information making us wise?
"Diffusion
of knowledge is the dominant trend of our time... But knowledge is
not the same thing as wisdom. Knowledge can produce equally powerful
ways to destroy life, intentionally and unintentionally. It can
produce hate and seek destruction. Knowledge does not by itself bring
any answer to the ancient Greek question ‘What is a Good Life?’
It does not produce good sense, courage, generosity and tolerance.
And most crucially, it does not produce the farsightedness that will
allow us all to live together—and grow together—on this
world without causing war, chaos and catastrophe. For that we need
wisdom.”
Learning
how to drive a car doesn’t guarantee you’ll make good
decisions behind the wheel. We all know well-informed people who
frequently make foolish decisions.
Notice how
Solomon equates wisdom with “instruction in wise behavior.”
(Proverbs 1:3) Wisdom involves discernment (1:2), prudence (1:4),
discretion (1:4), and understanding.
Wisdom,
then, is not just the accumulation of information… wisdom
is the skillful use of information.
A
key concept in Proverbs: the fear of God.
(Proverbs
1:7) “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and
instruction.”
Solomon
says that fearing God is the pathway to wisdom, but what does it
involve?
To fear God is to: humbly entrust yourself to God and align
yourself with him. Contrast this with a dog’s fear of being
punished for scattering trash all over the house.
(Proverbs 14:26) “In the fear of the LORD there is strong
confidence, and his children will have refuge.”
(Proverbs 23:17) “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but
live in the fear of the LORD always. 18 Surely there is a future, and
your hope will not be cut off.”
(Proverbs 8:13a) “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil…”
The opposite of fearing God is being
a fool. We use the word “fool” to refer to someone
who makes stupid decisions. But a fool in the biblical sense is
someone lives their life with no regard for God.
(Psalm 14:1) The fool has said in his
heart, "There is no God."
Implication for the reader: Solomon’s emphasis on
fearing God has obvious implications for the reader… Are you
willing to humbly entrust yourself to God’s power and
faithfulness? Do you see him as a source of truth, someone whose
counsel should be heeded? Are you willing to act on his wisdom and
trust him that his way is best?
The book of Proverbs assumes that
we need guidance in living wisely. Solomon warns:
(Proverbs 14:12, 16:25) “There
is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of
death.”
We should search our hearts and
ask, “Do I fear God?” as we read these books. Without
the fear of God, we won’t benefit from the wisdom they contain.
Application restrictions
1. Proverbs tend to be general
maxims that speak the truth but not the whole truth. They do not deal
with the exceptions.
For
example, here’s a proverb that says a man’s enemies will
be at peace with him when his ways please the Lord:
(Proverbs 16:7) When a man's
ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at
peace with him.
We can
accept this as a valid proverb which generally proves to be true,
though not always. Jesus’ enemies were not at peace with him
even though he did only those things which pleased his father.
2.
You must interpret a SINGLE proverb in light of ALL of the
proverbs.
Example:
Consider the proverbs in the column on the left. Read in isolation,
they might lead one to become a crass materialist! These maxims have
to be weighed against what the rest of the book teaches (see the
right column).
-
8:18
With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.
10:4 Lazy hands make
a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.
10:22
The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and he adds no trouble
to it.
14:24 The wealth of
the wise is their crown, but the folly of fools yields folly.
22:4 Humility and the
fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.
|
11:4 Wealth is
worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from
death.
11:28 Whoever trusts
in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a
green leaf.
19:1 Better a poor
man whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are
perverse.
22:1 A good name is
more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better
than silver or gold.
30:8 Keep falsehood
and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but
give me only my daily bread.
|
The
cautions of 11:4, 28; 19:1; 22:1 and 30:8 temper the maxims of 8:18;
10:4; 10:22; 14:24; 22:4 on material riches.
Job’s
friends: an example of misusing proverbial wisdom
Job’s
friends are a good illustration of how proverbial wisdom can be
misused in a dogmatic and callous way. They quote maxims to Job...
(Job11:13,15)
"If you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to
him…you will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as
waters gone by.”
(Job
11:20) But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude
them; their hope will become a dying gasp."
...and
their implication is obvious: through his sin, Job has brought his
suffering on himself. But Job’s friends fail to understand the
nature of these sayings. They do teach that wise living generally
results in a better life. But they don’t promise that good and
wise people will never suffer. Taking proverbial wisdom in an
absolute way was probably behind the disciple’s assumption that
a man’s blindness is due to his sin or the sin of his parents
(John 9).
Hurt and
angered by their simplistic thinking, Job responds:
(Job
13:4,12a) You… smear me with lies; you are worthless
physicians, all of you… your maxims are proverbs of ashes.
Don’t
take proverbs meant to encourage wise living and use them
insensitively. With maxims, there is always an exception to the rule.
Conclusion
Make it
your goal to read the entire Old Testament.
While
getting familiar with the story revealed in the narrative sections,
take a stab at a prophet or a wisdom book some time this year.
Develop a
broad familiarity with the Old Testament books by reading some of
them each year. Make progress each year.
Use the tools we’ve given
you in Intro to the Bible and this class to read and apply this
important part of the Bible.
The more you read the Old
Testament, the better you will understand the New Testament.
Memory Verses
Psalm 42
& 43** – Why are you downcast, O my soul? Put your hope in
God, for I will yet praise him.
Psalm
107** – God rescues those who cry out to him. Give thanks to
the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.
Proverbs
1:7* – “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of
knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”
Assignment
Complete the Acts Assignment.
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Copyright 2006 Xenos Christian Fellowship