i TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION: A NOTE TO THE READER ......................................................1 WISDOM FIT FOR A KING (1:1) .............................................................................2 From Creation to Covenant (Gen to Deut) ................................................ 5 From Covenant to Kingdom (Prov 1:1; 1 Kgs 1-10) ................................. 6 From Kingdom to Corruption (1 Kgs 11; Eccl 1-12) .............................. 11 From Corruption to Christ (Isa 11:1-2; 1 Cor 1:30; Col 2:3) .................. 14 From Christ to Commitment .................................................................... 16 INTERPRETING PROVERBS .................................................................................19 Begin with the Overall Theme ................................................................. 19 Determine the Literary Form ................................................................... 19 Spot the Figurative Imagery .................................................................... 20 Understand the Ancient Context .............................................................. 21 Unlock Poetic Parallelism........................................................................ 22 Don’t Assume Unconditional Promises................................................... 25 Read Proverbs Collectively ..................................................................... 26 Let the Proverbs Point to Jesus ................................................................ 28 APPLYING PROVERBS ..........................................................................................30 Peruse ....................................................................................................... 30 Prepare ..................................................................................................... 31 Pick One to Study .................................................................................... 31 Paraphrase ................................................................................................ 31 Pray .......................................................................................................... 31 Practice .................................................................................................... 31 THE BLESSINGS OF WISDOM (1:2-6) .................................................................33 ii Wisdom and Instruction (v. 2a) ............................................................... 35 Discernment (v. 2b) ................................................................................. 38 Righteousness, Justice, and Equity (v. 3) ................................................ 39 Prudence and Discretion (v. 4) ................................................................ 42 Guidance (v. 5b) ...................................................................................... 45 Understanding (v. 6) ................................................................................ 46 THE FEAR OF THE LORD (1:7) .............................................................................49 The Person to be Feared: Yahweh ........................................................... 51 The Nature of the Fear of the LORD ....................................................... 51 Benefits of the Fear of the Lord ............................................................... 54 Cultivating the Fear of the Lord .............................................................. 57 Obstacles to the Fear of the Lord ............................................................. 63 LISTEN TO YOUR PARENTS (1:8-19) ..................................................................66 Accept Grace in the Home (vv. 8-9) ........................................................ 66 Avoid Danger on the Streets (vv. 10-19) ................................................. 69 NO LAUGHING MATTER (1:20-33) ......................................................................77 Wisdom Demands (vv. 20-21) ................................................................. 77 Wisdom Derides (vv. 22-32) ................................................................... 80 Wisdom Defends (v. 33) .......................................................................... 85 TREASURE-SEEKERS WANTED (CH. 2) ............................................................89 Bring Digging Tools (vv. 1-4) ................................................................. 89 Follow the Treasure Map (vv. 5-11) ........................................................ 97 Beware of Varmints and Vixens (vv. 12-19) ......................................... 100 Enjoy the Reward (vv. 20-22) ............................................................... 102 SIX REWARDS FOR TRUSTING THE LORD (3:1-12) ......................................106 A Long and Abundant Life (vv. 1-2) ..................................................... 108 Favor with God and Man (vv. 3-4) ........................................................ 109 iii Integrity of Heart (vv. 5-6) .................................................................... 112 Good Health (vv. 7-8) ............................................................................ 117 Prosperity (vv. 9-10) .............................................................................. 119 Our Father’s Love (vv. 11-12) ............................................................... 121 MORE PRECIOUS THAN JEWELS (3:13-35) .....................................................125 Wisdom’s Value to Man (vv. 13-18) ..................................................... 126 Wisdom’s Value to the Creator (vv. 19-20) .......................................... 130 Wisdom’s Value to God’s People (vv. 21-26) ....................................... 132 Wisdom’s Value to Our Neighbor (vv. 27-35) ...................................... 134 RAISING SONS TO BE FATHERS (CH. 4) .........................................................139 Get a Good Wife (vv. 1-9) ..................................................................... 140 Choose the Good Path (vv. 10-19) ........................................................ 145 Keep a Good Heart (vv. 20-27) ............................................................. 150 Cherish a Good Savior ........................................................................... 153 REASONS NOT TO COMMIT ADULTERY (CH. 5) ..........................................156 Our Father’s Wise Warning (vv. 1-6) .................................................... 157 Our Fear of Sin’s Consequences (vv. 7-14) ........................................... 160 Our Spouse’s Captivating Love (vv. 15-20) .......................................... 165 Our Savior’s Sacrificial Death (vv. 21-23) ............................................ 168 FIVE FOLLIES TO FLEE FROM (CH. 6) .............................................................173 Flee Foolish Speculation (vv. 1-5) ......................................................... 174 Flee Sluggishness (vv. 6-11) .................................................................. 178 Flee the Scoundrel (vv. 12-15) .............................................................. 182 Flee Seven Abominations (vv. 16-19) ................................................... 183 Flee the Seductress (vv. 20-35) ............................................................. 186 Five Resources for Fleeing Folly ........................................................... 192 WHY DO GOOD PEOPLE DO BAD THINGS? (CH. 7) ......................................198 iv They Neglect God’s Warnings against Sin (vv. 1-5) ............................. 199 They are Naïve about the Dangers of Sin (vv. 6-7) ............................... 202 They Flirt with Temptation to Sin (vv. 8-9) .......................................... 203 They are Easily Enticed to Sin (vv. 14-18, 21) ...................................... 206 They Believe in the Anonymity of Sin (vv. 19-20) ............................... 207 They Impulsively Rush into Sin (vv. 22-27) ......................................... 208 They are Plagued by Indwelling Sin (Rom 3:10-12) ............................. 210 FIND WISDOM (CH. 8) .........................................................................................212 Find Protection (vv. 1-5) ........................................................................ 213 Find Righteousness (vv. 6-11) ............................................................... 215 Find Authority (vv. 12-16) .................................................................... 217 Find Blessing (vv. 17-21) ...................................................................... 220 Find Joy in the Lord (vv. 22-31) ............................................................ 221 Find Life (vv. 32-36) ............................................................................. 224 TIME TO RSVP (CH. 9) .........................................................................................227 The Call of Lady Wisdom (vv. 1-6) ...................................................... 228 The Character of Her Guests (vv. 7-12) ................................................ 231 The Counterfeit of Woman Folly (vv. 13-18) ....................................... 234 THE GOSPEL BEGINNING IN PROVERBS .......................................................238 God ........................................................................................................ 238 Man .......................................................................................................