Proverbs Lesson 1 Introduction to the Book of Proverbs

 Introduction 

Reading the Envelope on the Book of Proverbs

The Fear of the Lord

1. Who wrote the book of Proverbs? 

God is the ultimate author. But he used humans to write it. Solomon is attributed to writing most of Proverbs. He was Israel's 3rd king-the son of David and Bathsheba. He was the brightest spot or peak in Israel's history for after his death the kingdom will split: northern - southern. Read 1Kings 4:29-34.

2. To whom was it written?

Wisdom is not bound by time. It is applicable to all. It doesn't go out of style. We are still benefiting from its teachings today. You could say: originally Proverbs was written for them for then, for me for now and for us for always. 

3. When was it written?

900-700 BC   The book itself was probably complied across a period of time. 

4. In what style was it written?

It is wisdom literature in poetic form.  A lot of similes, metaphors and personification. 

5. What are the central themes of the book? 

These are just some major themes that popped out to me. Feel free to add to this list.

1. Strive to obtain wisdom. Wisdom has to do with our conduct/behavior. 

2. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. This is a major thread woven all through the book 

    from the beginning to the very last verses. Wisdom has a starting point and it's to "fear" (have reverence 

    and awe for the One and only God, the creator of all things). 

3. There are two paths - which will you choose? The path of wisdom or the path of folly? 

   Wisdom says: "do what is right in the sight of the Lord." Folly says: "do what seems right in your own 

   eyes." Isn't  this what Adam and Eve did way back in the garden? They chose to do what was right in     

   their own eyes. 

4. The book of Proverbs is showing us what Christians maturity looks like. James tells us to pray for 

   wisdom if we lack it. However, a lot of times what we are praying for isn't wisdom, it's knowledge. 

  "Lord tell me what to do about a particular situation." Proverbs is not giving us that. It is helping us to 

  see how to use knowledge in a wise way to  bring about the desired outcome. For example, when Solomon has before him two women who both claim that the baby is theirs, he doesn't ask God to tell him who the "real" mother is. He asks for a sword. He showed that he indeed possessed wisdom. He had knowledge of human nature and used wisdom with that knowledge to get the real mother to reveal herself.

 

Proverbs is moving us to maturity to God, ourselves and to others.