Proverbs Lesson 1
PROVERBS
“The Book of Wisdom”
KEY VERSE: Proverbs 9:10 – “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”
THEME: There are ten themes in the Book of Proverbs: 1. A Good Name (10:7)2. Youth and Discipline (13:34) 3. Business Matters (11:1) 4. Marriage (5:15) 5. Immorality (5:3-5) 6. Wisdom (3:13-16) 7. Self-Control (16:32) 8. Strong Drink (20:1) 9. Friendship (17:17) 10. Words and the Tongue (15:1).
DATE: 800 B.C.
WRITER: Solomon is given credit for writing most of the Book of Proverbs. Solomon was: a Philosopher, a Scientist of Great Knowledge, an Architect of the Temple, a King in the Political Realm, an Author and Poet, a Businessman with Vast Holdings, a Preacher.
Written: Solomon wrote most of the Proverbs and is credited as being the chief editor (Proverbs 1; 25:1); however, some are attributed to wise men (22:17), others to Hezekiah’s men (25:1), some to Agur (30:1), and still others to King Lemuel and his mother (31:1).
The Book: Number in Bible – 20th of 66 Books, Number of Chapers – 31, Number of Verses – 915, Number in Order of Writing – 3rd of Five Books of Poetry.
Purpose: To provide a handbook of wisdom which would apply to earthly conditions for the people of God. We have Divine laws, Divine history, Divine Psalms, and now, we have Divine wisdom. Proverbs contains a complete body of Divine ethics, politics, and economics, exposing every vice, recommending every virtue, and suggesting rules to govern self in every relationship of life.
Divisions: Chapters 1-10 – Counsel for Young Men; Chapters 11-20 – Counsel for All Men; Chapters 21-31 – Counsel for Kings and Rulers.
Facts: Solomon wrote 3,000 Proverbs (I Kings 4:32). He also wrote 1,005 songs. His wisdom was a direct gift of God (I Kings 3:12). He wrote three of the sixty-six Books of the Bible. He wrote Song of Solomon when he was young and in love. He wrote Proverbs when he was middle-aged and in the zenith of his intellectual power. He wrote Ecclesiastes when he was old, disappointed, and disillusioned.
Outline: 1. Duties of Man to God (1:7; 3:5) 2. Duties to Ourselves (1:10) 3. Duties to Our Neighbor (12:25; 14:31) 4. Duties of Parents and Children (4:1; 22:6) 5. Duties in Civil Life (14:21; 16:14; 18:23; 22:2)
Miscellaneous: Proverbs is intended to do for our daily lives what the Psalms is intended to do for our devotional lives. In the Book of Proverbs, there is a contrast between wisdom and folly (or the wise man and the foolish man). The Jews liken Proverbs to the outer court of the Temple, Ecclesiastes to the Holy Place in the Temple, and the Song of Solomon to the Holy of Holies in the Temple. After three thousand years, the principles of Proverbs still all hold true. The first nine chapters of Proverbs are instructions of Solomon to his son. The rest of Proverbs involve 374 statements that touch every phase of human life.
The Basic Subjects of Proverbs Are:
1. Wisdom 2. Righteousness 3. Fear of God 4. Knowledge
5. Morality 6. Chastity 7. Diligence 8. Self-Control
9. Trust in God 10. Tithes 11. Proper Use of Riches 12. Consideration of the Poor
13. Control of the Tongue 14. Kindness to Enemies 15. Choice of Companions 16. Avoiding Bad Women
17. Praise of Good Women 18. Training of Children 19. Industry 20. Honesty
21. Avoiding Idleness 22. Sin of Laziness 23. Justice 24. Helpfulness
25. Contentment 26. Cheerfulness 27. Reverence 28. Common Sense
Dr. Tom Wallace
Simply click the “Take the Quiz” Button to the right. Have your KJV Bible with you, and look up the answers to the questions on the quiz. You can then answer the questions from the Bible, (Open Book Test)