Commentary ® Summer 2020 EXPLORE THE BIBLE: COMMENTARY Proverbs; Song of Songs of Song Proverbs; Proverbs; SUMMER 2020 SUMMER Song of Songs © 2020 LifeWay Christian Resources A LIFE WELL LIVED Wisdom is a Person with whom we can have a relationship. People want to succeed in life. In the Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, workplace, relationships, finances—in and the life. No one comes to the every area of life—they crave success. Father except through me” (John 14:6). This drive to thrive inevitably draws He is waiting for you now. people to quick fixes and easy steps. They seek advice from TV talk shows, • A dmit to God that you are a sinner. books, or the Internet. Repent, turning away from your sin. What we know from the Bible, • By faith receive Jesus Christ as however, is that the wisdom needed for God’s Son and accept His gift of life comes not from quick tips and easy forgiveness. He took the penalty for steps; true wisdom is a Person with your sin by dying on the cross. whom we can have a relationship. • Co nfess your faith in Jesus Christ The Book of Proverbs reveals God’s as Savior and Lord. Pray similar to principles for successful living. The this as you call on God to save you: theme of the book is stated in this way: “Dear God, I know that You love me. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning I confess my sin and need of salvation. of knowledge” (Prov. 1:7). This means I turn away from my sin and place my wisdom has a starting point. It begins faith in Jesus as my Savior and Lord. with a personal relationship with In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.” God. The Bible speaks of Jesus as “the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:24). Thus, Tell a pastor or another Christian about coming to a saving knowledge of God your decision. Show others your faith through the Person of Jesus Christ is in Christ by asking for baptism by the beginning of a life well lived. immersion in your local church. © 2020 LifeWay Christian Resources CONTENTS SESSIONS SUGGESTED FOR Title Page THE WEEK OF June 7 Session 1: Charted Waters* (Prov. 1:7-19) . 10 June 14 Session 2: Direction Offered (Prov. 3:1-12) ................................ 20 June 21 Session 3: Compassion Demonstrated (Prov. 3:21-35) .............. 30 June 28 Session 4: The Choice (Prov. 4:11-27) ......................................... 40 July 5 Session 5: Following God’s Design (Prov. 5:3-11,15-18) .............. 50 July 12 Session 6: Pursuing Wisdom (Prov. 8:6-21) ................................ 60 July 19 Session 7: Living Wisely (Prov. 14:8-15) ..................................... 70 July 26 Session 8: Pleasing God (Prov. 15:33–16:11) . 80 Aug. 2 Session 9: Staying Sober (Prov. 23:17-21,29-35) ......................... 90 Aug. 9 Session 10: Accepting Discipline (Prov. 29:1-3,12-20) ................. 100 Aug. 16 Session 11: Finding Honor (Prov. 31:10-16,23-31) ....................... 110 Aug. 23 Session 12: Relational Foundations (Song of Sg. 2:15–3:5) ........ 120 Aug. 30 Session 13: Relational Investment (Song of Sg. 5:6-16) ............. 130 *Evangelistic emphasis Explore the Bible 3 © 2020 LifeWay Christian Resources THE WRITER LeBron Matthews wrote this issue’s Bible ADULT COMMENTARY studies drawn from the Books of Proverbs and Song of Songs. He serves as director of the SUMMER 2020 Columbus, Georgia extension center of New VOLUME 6 • NUMBER 4 Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He also served until his retirement as pastor of Eastern DAVID BRISCOE Heights Baptist Church in Columbus. CONTENT EDITOR Dr. Matthews received his M.Div. and Th.D. DWAYNE MCCRARY degrees from New Orleans Seminary. Prior to TEAM LEADER that training, he received a Master’s Degree in architecture from Georgia Tech. Also a military KEN BRADDY veteran, Dr. Matthews recently published a MANAGER, ADULT ONGOING historical novel titled Tides of War: A Novel of BIBLE STUDIES the American Civil War. He is an experienced Bible scholar and BRANDON HILTIBIDAL expositor, having written numerous Bible study DIRECTOR, GROUPS MINISTRY sessions for Explore the Bible. SEND QUESTIONS/COMMENTS TO TEAM LEADER: EMAIL: DWAYNE.MCCRARY@ LIFEWAY.COM Explore the Bible: Adult Commentary (ISSN 1092-7174; Item 005075123) MAIL: TEAM LEADER, EXPLORE THE is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Ben Mandrell, President. © 2020, LifeWay BIBLE ADULT COMMENTARY Christian Resources. ONE LIFEWAY PLAZA For ordering or making inquiries, visit lifeway.com, or write to Life- Way Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN NASHVILLE, TN 37234 37234. For bulk shipments to be mailed quarterly to one address, email [email protected], fax (615) 251-5933, or write to the above address. MAKE COMMENTS ON THE WEB AT We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its LIFEWAY.COM end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. To review LifeWay’s doctrinal guideline, please visit lifeway.com/doctrinalguideline. PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. OF AMERICA Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers. Scripture quota- tions indicated by KJV are taken from the King James Version of the COVER PHOTO: Bible. Scripture quotations marked ESV® are taken from The Holy ©Stocksy.com Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright 2001 by Crossway, a pub- lishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NIV® are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Of- fice by Biblica, Inc.® The suggestions in this resource for pronouncing Bible names are from That’s Easy for You to Say: Your Quick Guide to Pronouncing Bible Names by W. Murray Severance, © 1997 by Broadman & Holman Pub- lishers. Used by permission. 4 Explore the Bible © 2020 LifeWay Christian Resources A WORD FROM THE TEAM LEADER The decision was made to serve donuts on the shuttle vans. The church used off-campus parking and needed to encourage people to park there, so donuts seemed to be a simple solution. The only problem was that parents began dropping their kids off in the remote parking lot so the kids could grab a donut but the parents proceeded to follow the van in their cars and park in the crowded church parking lot. Someone observed what was happening and offered some wisdom— serve coffee on the shuttle van instead. Parents began dropping their kids off at the church and then enjoyed a few moments of peace and some coffee while riding the shuttle from the remote lot. We live in a world that may seem simple at times, but the simple is often what makes it so complex. This is true in part because we live in a system where everything is connected. One decision impacts others, having a ripple effect. Systems theory refers to this as simplexity, and this simplexity points to our need for wisdom. Some people seek out professional analysts to help them navigate this world while others turn to their trusted friends and mentors. Solomon discovered that the only place to go when trying to figure out this simplex world was to the One who created it in the first place. Solomon recorded the wisdom God revealed to him in Proverbs and Song of Songs. Learning from these Bible books helps us fulfill Paul’s directive to live as wise people (Eph. 5:15). As we study Proverbs and Song of Songs, we will discover the wisdom of God and principles for living in ways that please our Creator. Not everything we discover will be easy nor will it be simple, but it will be right. May God grant us a glimpse of His wisdom and give us courage to act on what we discover. Dwayne McCrary Team Leader, Adult Explore the Bible Explore the Bible 5 © 2020 LifeWay Christian Resources INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS; SONG OF SONGS During my time of combat duty in Vietnam, I lost several personal items. One such item was a small chain necklace bearing a jewel-studded, white- gold cross. It wasn’t the necklace’s monetary worth that I grieved most but rather the sentimental value—who gave me the necklace and why. On the day I left for Vietnam, my girlfriend and future wife, Pamela, fastened it around my neck as a reminder of our love and a prayer for our future life together. She had worn the necklace since the day I met her. Now she wanted me to wear it so that I would think of her every day wherever I was and whatever happened. Losing this necklace accidentally during my time in Vietnam wounded me deeply. When God created human beings, He designed us to live in relationship— relationship with Him but also with one another. Marriage is a crucial relationship, but there are other vital relationships as well. We have relationships with our government, our neighbors, our guests, total strangers, different businesses, our children and other relatives, just to name a few. But our relationship with God is paramount. It shapes all the others. The Books of Proverbs and Song of Songs provide divine instructions for acceptable, meaningful conduct in these various relationships. WISDOM LITERATURE In the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament), both Proverbs and Song of Songs are included in the category of divinely inspired wisdom literature.