Page 71 - Old Testament Survey Student Textbook

The Book of Psalms

Proverbs

Proverbs is also referred as the book of timeless wisdom. More precisely is focuses
on living wisely in the fear of YHWH.

The main message: With portraits and principles of wisdom, Proverbs teaches how
YHWH created the world to work and how to live wisely in fear of Him.

Wisdom: Portraits (1:1-9:18). The opening prologue reveals the anthology’s purpose, living wisely in the
fear of YHWH—affectionate reverence that fuels righteous ethics and brings rich rewards (1:1-7). This
initial section is bracketed by two portraits: Lady Wisdom offers counsel, warns of consequences (1:20-
33). Later, Lady Wisdom’s invitation and insight is contrasted with the invitation and injury of Madame
Folly (9:1-18). The center of this opening section contains fatherly wisdom—Hear, my son 13x on various
issues in life: • pull of the wicked (1:8-19) • path to wisdom (2:1-22) • profit of wisdom (3:1-35) • pursue
wisdom! (4:1-27) • promiscuous woman (5:1-23) • practical admonitions (6:1-19) • price of adultery
(6:20-27) • promiscuous woman (7:1-27) • portrait by Lady Wisdom (8:1-36) Biblical wisdom begins with
one’s relationship with YHWH- vertical but affects all aspects of one’s life horizontal! True wisdom
affects the heart and informs behavior!

Wisdom: Practice (10:1-22:16) With a collection of individual, antithetic sayings, Solomon connects
wisdom— observation, instruction, mistakes, revelation, to issues of daily life— work, wealth, wicked
and wise. Though there are hints of exceptions— better than, 15:16, 16:8, Proverbs does not offer
immutable laws/promises but generally-true principles about the way YHWH has created the world—
righteous-wealth, wicked-poverty, presupposing the right circumstance and wisdom for their proper
application!

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