Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

“This Book of Proverbs is so called, because it consists of wise and weighty sentences: regulating the morals of men: and directing them to wisdom and virtue. And these sentences are also called PARABLES, because great truths are often couched in them under certain figures and similitudes.” quote

Reading through the 31 chapters of Proverbs monthly can give us an understanding of how to serve God.

Proverbs 1:1-33

The Hebrew writers perceived that there are only two ways – the right way and the wrong way, God’s way and man’s way. Therefore all Hebrew Scripture is by definition two-way literature. This is even more graphically so in Hebrew Wisdom literature. The Proverbs are the prime example of this. They are written for a particular reader - those with access to the Scriptures - for a particular purpose. They are written that the readers will know what upright conduct is, that the readers understand that God requires upright conduct, and that they seek diligently to have upright conduct.

Having this understanding of the Proverbs, 1:23 appears to be a key to the author’s purpose.

²³ Turn at my rebuke;

Surely I will pour out my spirit on you;

I will make my words known to you.

John 7:17 and Matthew 11:25-30 are helpful also.

John 7

¹⁷ If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.

Matthew 11

²⁵ At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.

²⁶ Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.

²⁷ All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

²⁸ Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

The following are prerequisites to understanding Proverbs.

1. God alone is all-wise and wisdom is a communicable attribute.

2. All virtues and faults are stated in absolute terms.

3. Wisdom is obtained by man through the knowledge of God and His law. There is a process to this.

• A. Instruction
• B. Knowledge
• C. Understanding
• D. Wisdom

4. Wisdom has three elements; relationship, uprightness, reward. This order is an absolute priority.

5. The concern of Proverbs is the action and words of those addressed. These will determine the content of character whether it be in the King or a peasant.

6. A change in nature must be obtained, a change in character must be developed.

7. The functional or objective equivalent of wisdom in man is uprightness or righteous conduct.