Topical Studies in Proverbs

By Scott Hanks

The oceans of wisdom found in the book of Proverbs can seem too vast to be practical. The simple outlines you discover in this book can be a valuable resource for classroom instruction or personal application. Find out what will cause a Christian to fall, or what desires a Christian should have. These Proverbs outlines can be used as a basis for further study of these subjects in scripture. Get wisdom from Solomon, the wisest man that ever lived, as you study the definitions, outlines, and applications from Proverbs in this easy-to-use format.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Feb 19, 2021
• ISBN: 9781098365608

Book preview

Copyright, 2008 by

Mercy and Truth Ministries

Lawrence, Kansas

ISBN-13: 978-0-9815083-3-7

eISBN: 978-1-0983656-0-8

A Ministry of

Heritage Baptist Church

Printed in the United States of America

Acknowledgments

This is to express sincere appreciation to the following ladies for the countless hours spent in graphic design, editing, typesetting, and proofreading this book:

Stacia Hanks

Lani Benton

Carrie Selim

Joy Smith

Stephanie Stumfoll

About the Author

Dr. Scott Hanks was born near Chicago, Illinois and had the unique opportunity of growing up in a preacher's home. Being brought up in a Christian home with parents who put an emphasis on living for the Lord, gave him a good foundation for what he preaches and teaches today.

After completing his education in a Christian high school, Dr. Scott Hanks attended Bible college, where he earned his Bachelor of Science and Masters degrees in Education. He would later earn his Ph.D. in 2007.

He served as an assistant pastor and Christian school teacher for five years in Sauk Village, Illinois under the leadership of his father, Dr. John A. Hanks. In 1994, the Lord led Dr. Scott Hanks and his wife Stacia, to Lawrence, Kansas where he continues to pastor the Heritage Baptist Church. The Lord has blessed their home with six children, Sharon, Seth, Samuel, Silas, Stephen, and Stephanie.

He has authored many other titles in addition to Topical Studies in Proverbs. Other books include devotion books, discipleship material, Sunday school curriculum, and many books for Christian growth.

Recommendation

Some time ago on a Sunday evening I challenged the people of Faith Baptist Church to desire to live the Christ life. In Acts 11 the disciples living in the city of Antioch were called Christians. They did not give themselves the name Christian; rather, the people who observed their lives gave them that name. They were not called Christians because they went to a certain building three times a week. They were called Christians because they embodied the principles that Jesus Christ taught and lived. It was their life away from the church building that caused the town’s people to name them Christians or Christ ones.

In our day and age, we have far too many people who are satisfied with attending services in a church building three times a week. While there is something noble and right about being faithful to church, the greater challenge is to embody the principles of Christ in our lives throughout the week in our homes, on our jobs, among our neighbors, and in our communities so that others might see Christ in us.

Dr. Scott Hanks has done his fellow Christians another great service by putting together this most helpful and practical book. As with all of his other books, Dr. Hanks has kept the format of this one simple, making it easy to understand. If the reader would take the challenge to embody the principles found in this book as taught from the Proverbs, that person would go a long way toward living the Christ life.

Truly Jesus came to this earth to save us, to redeem us and to put us back in fellowship with the Heavenly Father. But He also came for more than that. He came for the purpose of being an example to show us how to live in such a way so as to bring pleasure and glory to God. I trust that this book will help accomplish that purpose in the lives of all those who read it. Take the challenge to develop the Christ life.

Kind Regards,

Dr. Terry Anglea

Pastor of Faith Baptist Church

Bourbonnais, Illinois

Introduction

No doubt there are several word studies done on the book of Proverbs. Topical Studies in Proverbs is organized in such a way to be easily taught and understood. Much of the first nine chapters in Proverbs are either in story form or the verses flow together. Chapters 10-31 were written more topically. Each verse is a sentence sermon. Topical Studies in Proverbs takes the whole book and brings together one thought that is scattered throughout. Scripture interprets scripture, and by following a word or topic throughout the book of Proverbs you can get a full and complete understanding of the principle God is teaching. For many Bible teachers this book will be the skeleton to which illustrations and examples can be added. It will be a foundation to build a message or teach lessons of wisdom. Whether you use Topical Studies in Proverbs for teaching or for personal study, you will find it helpful and enlightening. As always, God’s Word is inexhaustible for finding life-changing truths. May this book be a source of unlocking some of them.

Pastor Scott Hanks

Study Guide

In Topical Studies in Proverbs there are 101 topics from the book of Proverbs and an outline taken directly from the verses for each subject.

Some suggestions for use are as follows:

1. Sunday School Lessons

2. Midweek Bible Studies

3. Christian School Bible Class Curriculum

4. Family Devotion Resource

5. Youth Group Challenges

6. Sermon Outlines

7. Personal Bible Study

8. Staff Devotions

9. Group Bible Study

The easy-to-read format lends itself to many uses. The basic thoughts and outlines are in the book of Proverbs and can be as simple or detailed as needed.

All scripture is from the King James Bible. References used include Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary and Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abomination

All

Answer

Better

Blessed

Bread

Cease

Children

Conceit

Confidence

Correction

Counsel

Crowns

Curse

Days

Death

Deceit

Delivered

Depart

Desire

Despise

Destruction

Devices

Direction

Door

Envy

Established

Equity

Every

Expectations

Eyes

Faithful

Fall

Far

Fat

Father and Mother

Favour

Fear

Fire

40 Flatter

Friend

Gifts

Gold

Good

Happiness

Hasty

Hate

Head

Healthy

Heart

Honey

House

Instruction

Integrity

Judgment

Keep

King

Knowledge

Labour

Law

Learning

Life

Like

Lion

Love

Multitude

Neck

Neighbour

Overthrow

Pit

Praise

Prayer

Pride

Punishment

Pure

Rewards

Rod

Safety

Satisfied

Secret

Sin

Sleep

Snares

Spirit

Strange Woman

Strength

Strife

Surely

Surety

Sweet

Talebearer

Thought

Tree

Trust

Truth

Void

Will

With

Without

Witness

Words

Chapter 1

ABOMINATION

Proverbs 6:16

These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

Abomination is a strong word for hate or disgust. There are many things mentioned throughout scripture that are an abomination to God. Some of these would be sodomy, transgender dressing, nakedness, and idolatry. The book of Proverbs also addresses the subject of abomination. It is divided into what is an abomination to God and what is an abomination to man. As Christians, we should do our best to please the Lord with our lives by what we say and do. Though man himself cannot be an abomination to God, a man’s actions can be an abomination. God loves sinners, but He hates sin! We should strive to please God in all we do and avoid anything related to the abominations pointed out for us in the book of Proverbs.

Abomination

Dictionary ABOMINATION: Extreme hatred; detestation; the object of detestation.

Hebrew ABOMINATION: Something disgusting (morally), that is, (as noun) an abhorrence; (8441)

I. What Is an Abomination to the Lord

A. Froward

1. For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous. Proverbs 3:32

2. that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight. Proverbs 11:20

B. Proud Look

1. A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, Proverbs 6:17

2. Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. Proverbs 16:5

C. Lying Tongue

1. look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, Proverbs 6:17

2. lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight. Proverbs 12:22

D. Hands That Shed Innocent Blood

A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, Proverbs 6:17

E. Heart That Deviseth Wicked Imaginations

1. An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, Proverbs 6:18

2. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. Proverbs 15:8

3. The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words. Proverbs 15:26

4. The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind? Proverbs 21:27

F. Feet That Run to Mischief

1. An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, Proverbs 6:18

2. The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness. Proverbs 15:9

G. One Who Soweth Discord

A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Proverbs 6:19

H. He That Justifieth the Wicked, and He That Condemneth the Just

He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD. Proverbs 17:15

I. Deceit and Dishonesty

1. A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight. Proverbs 11:1

2. Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD. Proverbs 20:10

3. Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good. Proverbs 20:23

II. What Is an Abomination to Men

A. To Fools to Depart from Evil

The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil. Proverbs 13:19

B. To Kings to Commit Wickedness

It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness. Proverbs 16:12

C. To Men a Scorner

The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men. Proverbs 24:9

D. To the Just an Unjust Man

An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.

Proverbs 29:27

E. To the Wicked an Upright Man

An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.

Proverbs 29:27

Chapter 2

ALL

Proverbs 3:6

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

The word all leaves nothing out. It means everything. It gives no loopholes for exceptions to the rules. The book of Proverbs uses the word all to describe commands, concerns, and the Creator of all. It is easy today to live half-hearted Christianity. The word all implies surrender, whole-heartedness, and complete obedience. Does God have your ALL? Just as no man can serve two masters, so a Christian cannot live for God and the world. Proverbs describes the importance of ALL.

All

Dictionary ALL: Every one, or the whole number of particulars; the whole quantity, extent, duration, amount, quality, or degree; wholly; completely; entirely; as all along;

Hebrew ALL: The whole; hence all, any or every, altogether. (3634)

I. Commands of All

A. With All Your Heart - Trust

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

B. In All Your Ways - Acknowledge Him and Be Established

1. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:6

2. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Proverbs 4:26

C. With All Your Substance - Honour the Lord

Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: Proverbs 3:9

D. With All Your Getting - Get Understanding

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Proverbs 4:7

E. With All Diligence - Keep Your Heart

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23

F. In All Your Day - Fear the Lord

Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. Proverbs 23:17

II. Concerns for All

A. Love Covers All Sins

Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. Proverbs 10:12

B. There Is Profit in All Labour

In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury. Proverbs 14:23

C. A Friend Loves at All Times

A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17

D. The Poor Is Hated by All Brethren

All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? He pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him. Proverbs 19:7

E. A Fool Utters All His Mind

A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards. Proverbs 29:11

III. Creator of All

1. The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. Proverbs 16:4

2. The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all. Proverbs 22:2

3. The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors. Proverbs 26:10

Chapter 3

ANSWER

Proverbs 15:23

A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken

Proverbs 18:21 says, Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. How we answer can either make or break us or others. We are reminded in James 3:2, For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. The right answer, at the right time, to the right person is sometimes a hard combination. It is easy to get in the flesh and say things we shouldn’t. Our prayer should be as the Psalmist, Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips (Psalm 141:3). It was Spurgeon who said, Words are spoken in a moment, but they may live through centuries. We must be careful how we answer because God warns us That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment (Matthew 12:36).

Answer

Dictionary ANSWER: To speak in return to a call or question, or to a speech, declaration or argument of another person;

Hebrew ANSWER: A reply (favorable or contradictory): - answer, himself. (6030)

I. Answer Softly

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. Proverbs 15:1

II. Answer Seasonably

A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it! Proverbs 15:23

III. Answer Studiously (After study)

The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things. Proverbs 15:28

IV. Answer Slowly

He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him. Proverbs 18:13

V. Answer Scripturally

That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee? Proverbs 22:21

VI. Answer Soundly

Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer. Proverbs 24:26

VII. Answer Sensibly

1. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Proverbs 26:4

2. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. Proverbs 26:5

Chapter 4

BETTER

Proverbs 16:8

Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

Being better is about improvement. We can all stay where we are physically, academically, and spiritually, but our goal should be, to become better. Proverbs says much about what is better. What we do might not be necessarily bad, but could it be better?

Many proverbial statements have used the word better to teach a truth. Such as:

Better a full barrow than an empty wagon.

Better a true enemy than a false friend.

Better alone than in bad company.

Better to be unknown than ill known.

Better to go to Heaven in rags than to Hell in robes.

Many biblical principles have been taught by using the word better. One hundred fourteen times God uses the word better to describe, illustrate, or teach something. We as Christians should desire to do better, live better, choose better, and be better than what we are right now.

Better

Dictionary BETTER: Having good qualities in a greater degree than another.

Hebrew BETTER: Good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; beautiful, best, better. (2895)

I. Better Choice

A. Better to Be Called Than to Come Uninvited

Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come