Holman Old Testament Commentary - Proverbs

By Max Anders

One in a series of twenty Old Testament verse-by-verse commentary books edited by Max Anders. Includes discussion starters, teaching plan, and more. Great for lay teachers and pastors alike.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BH Publishing Group
• Release date: Jul 1, 2005
• ISBN: 9781433674389

Max Anders

Dr. Max Anders is the author of over 25 books, including the bestselling 30 Days to Understanding the Bible, and is the creator and general editor of the 32-volume Holman Bible Commentary series. He has taught on the college and seminary level and is a veteran pastor.  Max provides resources and discipleship strategies at www.maxanders.com to help people grow spiritually.

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Introduction to

Proverbs

AUTHOR AND DATE

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Solomon is generally thought to have authored the entire Book of Proverbs except for three sections: the Sayings of the Wise in Proverbs 22:17-24:34, Proverbs 30, and Proverbs 31. He may have collected and compiled the Sayings of the Wise, but it is generally agreed that he did not write them. We do not know who wrote them, nor do we know anything about the authors of Proverbs 30-31. They are attributed to Agur and Lemuel, but we do not know who they are. Some scholars think that Lemuel was just another name for Solomon, but others do not. Since there is language in Proverbs 31 that some believe has Arabian influence, there is some support for Lemuel being from Arabia.

Solomon ruled Israel from 971 to 931 B.C. He seems to have written his proverbs early in his reign, before his heart was turned from the Lord (1 Kgs. 11:1-11), since the book reveals a heart given completely to God. The Sayings of the Wise appear to have been written at some undetermined time before that. The Book of Proverbs was not compiled in its final form until Hezekiah's day or after since Proverbs 25:1 says, These are more proverbs of Solomon, copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah. Hezekiah ruled about 715-686 B.C.

THE PURPOSE OF PROVERBS

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First Kings 4:30 says that Solomon was wiser than any other man. The Book of Proverbs is a compilation of short sayings or maxims designed to present important truth in memorable form. The Hebrew word for wisdom means skill in living. The purpose of Proverbs is to give the reader skill for living life from God's perspective and, in doing so, give the wise person greater happiness. Wisdom begins with a fear of the Lord (reverence and respect, not terror) and includes knowledge, understanding, discretion, discernment, and obedience. Proverbs is to be used to help succeeding generations be successful in life, primarily by contrasting the difference between the wise person and the fool.

INTERPRETING PROVERBS

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As Wisdom Literature, Proverbs must be interpreted with special care. Proverbs presents general truth that is often not intended to be taken literally in every situation. For example, Proverbs 22:29 says, Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings. Yet many men skilled in their work do not literally stand before kings. We don't even have many kings in the world today. But there is a greater general truth to which this proverb points—that if a person does skilled work, he will tend to be recognized and rewarded for it. This is just one example of the kind of mind-set that must be used in interpreting Proverbs. Otherwise, the book will appear to be a hodgepodge of hopeless promises.

The proverbs are intended to present brief, catchy statements of truth, designed to hit home with maximum impact. One American proverb says, An apple a day keeps the doctor away. It is not literally true that an apple a day will keep the doctor away. It is a pithy and memorable way of saying that if you eat well, you will experience a health benefit. Also, brief statements of truth, while generally true, are too brief to explain potential exceptions to that truth. If a proverb were written to explain all the potential exceptions to it, it would no longer be catchy or memorable.

It would be preposterous to say, An apple a day, as well as other fresh fruit, will not always keep the doctor away but will in general give you improved health so long as you do not eat green apples or eat them unwashed with too much pesticide residue. And keep in mind that during the winter you may not be able to find apples or other fresh fruit to eat, but there will still be residual health benefits from eating fresh fruit in moderation whenever you can. The proverb loses some of its punch that way.

The same is true of Hebrew proverbs. They are often not intended to be technically true in all situations, and they do not state everything about a given truth. They point to a general truth that may not be absolutely true if applied to all situations and interpreted technically.

Proverbs are not promises but general statements of truth. Rather than being thought of as exacting promises from God, they must be understood as general guidelines for living a successful life. For example, Proverbs 22:6 says, Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Yet many brokenhearted parents have trained up their children in the way they should go, and when their children grew up, they abandoned Christianity.

I know of a well-known pastor who had four daughters. He and his wife gave every appearance of being model Christians. Three of the daughters grew up to be exemplary Christians, but the fourth defected from the faith. There is no apparent reason the fourth daughter gave up her faith. It certainly had nothing to do with any significant failure on the part of the parents to bring her up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4 KJV). In addition, children in other families, raised in less consistent Christian homes, have grown up to embrace the faith. Does this mean Proverbs 22:6 is unreliable?

No, it means that it should not be seen as a blanket promise but a general truth. All of church history points to the fact that, when parents live out authentic faith, their children tend to become Christians as well. The vast majority of Christians in America come from Christian homes and accept Christ before their eighteenth birthday. That is the general truth to which Proverbs 22:6 points. If Solomon were here, he would likely explain that he did not intend this proverb to be understood as having no exceptions.

Proverbs are not intended to be technically exact. Take Proverbs 6:27-29, for example: Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? So is he who sleeps with another man's wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.

In their book How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1993), Fee and Stuart make this comment about that proverb:

Someone might think, Now that last line is unclear. What if the mailman accidentally touches another man's wife while delivering the mail? Will he be punished? And are there not some people who commit adultery and get away with it? But such interpretations miss the point. Proverbs tend to use figurative language and express things suggestively rather than in detail. The point you should get from the proverb is that committing adultery is like playing with fire. God will see to it that sooner or later, in this life or in the next, the adulterer will be hurt by his actions. The word ‘touch’ in the last line must be understood euphemistically (cp. 1 Cor. 7:1), if the Holy Spirit's inspired message is not to be distorted. Thus a proverb should not be taken too literally or too universally if its message is to be helpful (Fee and Stuart, 218-19).

Proverbs must be culturally translated into today's meaning. There are some proverbs that cannot be understood unless we understand the culturally obsolete thing they are talking about. When the proverbs talk about kings, we don't have kings in the United States, but the proverb will still be true if we understand a king to be representative of leaders in our lives. So when we read, He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend (Prov. 22:11), we can substitute the idea of important leaders in our lives. When we do that, it is understood in this way: when we have a pure heart and speak graciously, we will make a positive impression on leaders and responsible persons who are generally impressed with honesty and gracious speech.

Proverbs rely heavily on imagery in order to be memorable. Often the intent of a proverb is to create a mental picture so that you remember its basic truth. We must understand the image and take its symbolic truth. In Proverbs 20:26, we read, A wise king winnows out the wicked; he drives the threshing wheel over them. Of course, a wise king would never drive a threshing wheel over the wicked. If capital punishment were warranted, he would use some other means, and if capital punishment were not warranted, the threshing wheel would be too severe. The point is that a wise king will not look the other way when he sees evil. He will do what is necessary to weed out evil from his kingdom.

Of course, the principle applyies to any position of leadership. The president of a company, the principle of a school, and the coach of a team have the opportunity to do what they can to cleanse their kingdom of evil, and they will do so if they are wise.

CONCLUSION

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Many additional examples could be given, but these are sufficient to establish the basic principle. Proverbs are often not intended to be taken literally. They use many figures of speech and suggest general principles that point to basic truth. Through Proverbs's use of stark contrasts, bold relief, and overstatement to communicate truth, we will find powerful and timely guidance for wise living.

INDEX TO ALL PROVERBS BY CHAPTER AND VERSE

(AND WHERE TO FIND THEM IN THIS COMMENTARY)

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While there is some general overall organization to the Book of Proverbs, the individual proverbs within the book are often arranged randomly. This can present a challenge when studying the book because it is often helpful to study similar proverbs at the same time. Therefore, this commentary has rearranged all the proverbs into thirty-one topical studies rather than going through the proverbs in the order they are found in the Bible. The organizational structure is seen in the contents page at the front of this book. Following is a list of the proverbs in order and the chapter in this commentary where they are found.

Chapter 1

The Source of Wisdom

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Proverbs 1:1-7; 22:17-21

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I. INTRODUCTION

The Wisest Man Who Ever Lived

II. COMMENTARY

A verse-by-verse explanation of these verses.

III. CONCLUSION

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

An overview of the principles and applications from these verses.

IV. LIFE APPLICATION

Lessons from Robin Hood

Melding these verses to life.

V. PRAYER

Tying these verses to life with God.

VI. DEEPER DISCOVERIES

Historical, geographical, and grammatical enrichment of the commentary.

VII. TEACHING OUTLINE

Suggested step-by-step group study of these verses.

VIII. ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION

Zeroing these verses in on daily life.

"Knowledge is horizontal. Wisdom is vertical—

it comes down from above."

Billy Graham

Proverbs 1:1–7 introduces the entire Book of Proverbs, identifies its primary author, calls for the reader to gain wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and prudence, and declares that the beginning point of this kind of wisdom is to fear the Lord. Then, Proverbs 22:17–21 tells us that if we commit ourselves to a study of the proverbs, it will be pleasing to us, our trust will be in the Lord, and we will have sound answers to the questions of life.

The Source of Wisdom

I. INTRODUCTION

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The Wisest Man Who Ever Lived

You are already familiar with one of the most amazing stories of wisdom ever told. Two women brought an infant son to the king, each claiming to be the true mother. They both claimed that the other woman had suffocated her own son in the middle of the night by rolling over on top of him without realizing it. And, having suffocated her own son, she was trying to steal the other woman's son, claiming it to be her own.

The king called for a swordsman to cut the baby in half and give half to each woman. The first women said, Fine with me! If I can't have him, I don't want her to have him either. The second woman screamed in horror and begged the king to give the son to the first woman.

The king, revealing his wisdom, said, Give the baby to the second woman. She is his mother.

When the people heard about the judgment the king had handed down, they were stunned! The implications of this kind of wisdom were actually frightening. It was as though the king could peer into their souls. There was no pulling the wool over this man's eyes! It was time for honesty and integrity!

The king who handed down this judgment was Solomon, regarded as the wisest man who ever lived. His wisdom was a gift from God. When he was crowned king, he asked God not for riches or success over his enemies but for wisdom. God was pleased with the request and granted it in greater measure than any other human being except Christ.

It is this man—renowned as the wisest man who ever lived—who wrote the Book of Proverbs. He knew what he was talking about. When he spoke, it was time to listen. Now we begin our study of Proverbs. Solomon will speak. We should listen.

II. COMMENTARY

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The Source of Wisdom

MAIN IDEA: Wisdom is the most important thing a person can acquire in life. It comes from God. Pay attention to these proverbs and apply your heart to them so that you can profit from them.

The Purpose of Proverbs (1:1-7)

SUPPORTING IDEA: These proverbs were written to impart wisdom. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

1:1. The Hebrew word for proverb can have a broader meaning than the typical American usage. It means a comparison, or a brief, pithy saying, or an ethical saying. In this context the word refers to several different kinds of insightful sayings and observations.

Though Solomon is declared to be the author of Proverbs in 1:1, it is clear that someone other than Solomon wrote some of the content of this book. The entire contents of the book were collected over a period of time. Solomon's name appears three times in this book, each time apparently introducing a section in the book that was written by him. His name appears in 1:1, probably announcing authorship for Proverbs 1:1-9:18; in 10:1, probably announcing his authorship of 10:1-22:16; and in 25:1 for chapters 25 through 29.

1:2. Verse 2 begins a summary statement about why the Book of Proverbs was written: first, for attaining wisdom, discipline, and understanding, Lofty goals for sure! The Hebrew word for wisdom is transliterated hokmah and means skill or expertise in living. Just as a person might be a skilled craftsman, musician, or mediator, so a person might be skilled in the living of life. The purpose of Proverbs is that a person might gain such skill.

The Hebrew word for discipline is musar, meaning moral discipline, instruction, or correction. Even after a person knows how to live skillfully, he must have the personal discipline to do so. Finally, the Hebrew word for understanding is binah and carries the idea of discernment.

In summary, then, the purpose of Proverbs is that the reader might gain skill for living life, the discipline to carry through with it, and the discernment to know whether one is on course.

1:3. Verse 3 expands the summary statement, repeating the need for discipline, adding prudence, which includes having good judgment with high moral standards, along with a high sense of justice and fairness.

1:4. Solomon targets a simple person and a young person, hoping to give both persons prudence, knowledge, and discretion. A simple person refers to someone who is untaught and naïve. It does not mean that he is intellectually limited or that he is a fool. Instead, he is one who is inexperienced, who simply hasn't lived life long enough, or who has not been instructed in wisdom. It is similar with the young person, though this person's need is perhaps clearer. A young person is one who is beginning to enter into the adult world; he has not had the range of life experiences or the physical and mental maturity to develop wisdom.

1:5. The target group is now expanded to include not just simple or young people but also wise and discerning people. Even they can learn from the Proverbs. We should all continue to grow in our knowledge, understanding, and wisdom as long as we live. No one should get complacent or feel that he has arrived.

1:6. The learning and guidance that the wise and discerning gain is for the purpose of understanding proverbs, parables, and sayings and riddles of the wise. This list of subjects helps us understand more of what is meant by the term proverbs. It is more than just a pithy saying. Part of Solomon's strategy to impart wisdom was to sharpen the mind by challenging wise and discerning people to increase their wisdom and discernment by pondering and interpreting proverbs, parables, and riddles.

1:7. Having stated his purpose in writing the proverbs, Solomon now gives his first and perhaps most important piece of instruction. The beginning point for becoming a wise person is the fear of the LORD. To fear the Lord does not mean to be frightened of him. Rather, it means to revere him, to honor him, to give him the proper place in one's life. If a person does not start out at the right place, he cannot expect to end up at the right place. Fearing the Lord is the place to begin in gaining wisdom to live life skillfully.

In contrast to the person who is wise and discerning because he fears the Lord, Solomon spotlights the fool. Fools despise wisdom and discipline. To despise means to hold in contempt, to belittle, to ridicule (Num. 15:31; Neh. 2:19). If anyone holds God in contempt, he will never be a wise person, and he will tend to live his life in violation of God's will. This will bring trouble into his life. As a man sows, that shall he also reap. A person cannot break the laws of God. He can only break himself against them when he violates them. Solomon is giving us an implicit choice: fear God or be a fool. There seems to be no middle ground.

The Result of Proverbs (22:17-21)

SUPPORTING IDEA: If you commit yourself to a study of the proverbs, it will be pleasing to you, your trust will be in the Lord, and you will have sound answers to the questions of life.

22:17. Solomon now exhorts the reader to commit himself to a life of study and a pursuit of wisdom. Solomon's spirit is similar to Jesus' when he said, He who has ears to hear, let him hear (Mark 4:9). In other words, don't let this information go in one ear and out the other. Take it in. Think about it. Ponder it. Let it change you.

22:18. The goal of paying attention, listening, and applying (v. 17) is so that it will be pleasing for you. The idea here seems to be to memorize the sayings of the wise (keep them in your heart ) so that you will be able to quote them and talk knowledgeably about them (ready on your lips ). What we say about wisdom will have little value unless it has changed us from the inside out.

22:19. Solomon teaches his student so that his trust may be in the LORD. This is reminiscent of Paul's statement, The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith (1 Tim. 1:5). Neither Paul nor Solomon was teaching to satisfy curiosity but to change lives.

22:20-21. Solomon now refers to thirty sayings of counsel and knowledge that he has written. These sayings are true and reliable words and, when learned by the student, can help him give sound answers to him who sent you (possibly meaning his teacher or employer).

MAIN IDEA REVIEW: Wisdom is the most important thing a person can acquire in life. It comes from God. Pay attention to these proverbs; apply your heart to them so that you can profit from them.

III. CONCLUSION

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Follow the Yellow Brick Road

When Dorothy's house landed in Munchkin Land, killing the Wicked Witch of the North and throwing all the Munchkins into gala celebration, all Dorothy wanted to know was, How do I get home? The Munchkins didn't know. They told her she needed to go to Oz and ask the wizard. The Munchkins told her to follow the Yellow Brick Road. The Yellow Brick Road began at the very point where Dorothy's house had landed, spiraled out like a bull'seye, and eventually headed toward Oz. Stay on it, they said, and she would eventually get to Oz.

There was one road to Oz. It began right there. To stay on it would take her to Oz. To depart from it would take her anyplace except to Oz. If you want to get to Oz, you have to follow the Yellow Brick Road to the final destination.

The principle is true, too, of having a rewarding life. The beginning point—the origin of the Yellow Brick Road leading to a rewarding life—is reverence for God (1:7). The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, and knowledge leads to wisdom, prudence, and discretion (1:2-6), which in turn lead to a pleasing life (22:18). Start with reverence for God; stay on the road of knowledge, wisdom, prudence, and discretion, following them to their ultimate destination; and you will arrive in the land of a pleasing life. That is the message of the Book of Proverbs.

PRINCIPLES

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A life of wisdom cannot be gained apart from reverence for God.

A person who turns his back on God is a fool. A wise person will pursue learning and listen to counsel.

Wise sayings are not always easy to understand at first. Sometimes it takes effort, time, and maturity to comprehend a deeper insight.

APPLICATIONS

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Revere God. Honor him in your life. Give him first place. Everything you want in life is based on this decision.

Commit yourself to the pursuit of wisdom. Wisdom is hard to gain even after you have given yourself to it. It is impossible without commitment to it.

Be willing to struggle to understand things that are difficult to comprehend. The struggle sharpens your understanding and increases your wisdom.

IV. LIFE APPLICATION

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Lessons from Robin Hood

In The Adventures of Robin Hood, a 1938 movie starring Errol Flynn as the legendary English hero, Robin Hood and his merry men were conducting guerilla warfare from Sherwood Forest against Prince John, younger brother of King Richard the Lionhearted. Richard had led a crusade to the Holy Land, leaving England in the hands of his younger brother, who taxed the people of England beyond reason and pocketed the money himself. Robin stole from the rich (Prince John and his cohorts) and gave to the poor (the common people