He
layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)
An Introduction To Our Study: Prov 1:1
1) The proverbs of Solomon the son of David,
king of Israel;
INTRODUCTION:
To begin our series from
the book of Proverbs, we’ll look at an introduction to this book found in
Proverbs 1:1…
EXPOSITION:
King Solomon introduces
himself, and the basic content of this book….
The
proverbs of …
In this book, we find a
series of “proverbs”. What is a
proverb? Throughout the Bible, a proverb
refers to a short common statement that directly, or indirectly, reveals truth
to the hearer/reader. Some examples of
Biblical proverbs that are found in books other than the Book of Proverbs are:
2 Pet
2:22 – “…The dog [is]
turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in
the mire.”
Luke
4:23 – “… Physician, heal thyself:…”
Hab
2:6 – “…Woe to him that increaseth [that which is] not his! how long? and to
him that ladeth himself with thick clay!”
Ezek
12:22 – “…The days are prolonged, and every vision
faileth?”
Ezek
16:44 – “… As [is]
the mother, [so is] her daughter.”
Ezek
18:2 – “…The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the
children's teeth are set on edge?”
Isa
14:4 – “… How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden
city ceased!”
1Sam
24:13 – “…Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked:…”
1Sam
10:12 – “… [Is]
Saul also among the prophets?”
By looking at this
sampling of Biblical proverbs, we can see the shortness of the statements
combined with the truths that are being presented by them. His book contains a series of many, varied,
short statements that will teach us Divine truths. These truths are very practical, being
designed to be applied to our day to day living.
…Solomon
the son of David, king of Israel;
The third king of
Israel, Solomon, is the author of the majority of the book of Proverbs. But, perhaps, the final two chapters of this
book were written by other men. The two possible authors are “Agur the son of
Jakeh” (30:1) and “Lemuel” (31:1). It is
possible these names are referring to King Solomon…
1. “Agur the son of Jakeh” is translated from the Hebrew phrase “the
one of the harvest, the son of the obedient one”, this title could apply to Solomon…
Solomon was “the one of
the harvest” , he is the one that had gathered (or harvested) all of this
wisdom throughout his lifetime and then compiled it into this book.
He was clearly the son
of “the obedient one”, David, who was a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam
13:14).
2. “Lemuel”
is translated from two separate Hebrew words that mean “to, for, or upon ” and
“El (the name of God)”. Being the one separated
“to God” and “for God” applies to Solomon in two very unique ways…
First, he was used by Jehovah
in the building of the temple (2 Sam 7).
Secondly, he was the one
who received, and then handed down, true wisdom in a variety of areas of life
(1 Kings 4:29-34) … to rule His people (2 Chron 1:11-12), to explain the purpose
of life (Ecclesiastes), and practical wisdom (Proverbs).
Whether these two titles
actual refer to Solomon, or are the titles of two other authors of Proverbs,
cannot be known with certainty. But it
is possible that Solomon was the author of the entire book of Proverbs.
SUMMARY:
The importance of the
book of Proverbs, and this study, cannot be underestimated. God raised up this man Solomon with a very
important purpose, to be used to hand down God-given wisdom to mankind …
“And
God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of
heart, even as the sand that [is] on
the sea shore. And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of
all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. 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. And
he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five. And
he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that [is] in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall:
he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. And there came of
all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which
had heard of his wisdom. 1Kgs
4:29-34 (KJV)
By God’s grace, we have
the privilege to study the writings of Solomon.
Our study will be centering on the truths of God that are designed to
enhance both the quality and spiritual value of the lives of His people. This is why the giving of these proverbs is described as “He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7).
May the
Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.
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