Annual Interpretative Expository 2021-2022

By Church Of God In Christ Publishing House

Sunday School across America is on a decline. Biblical literacy is at an unprecedented low amongst believers, and it seems as if there is no end to where this could lead to in our churches. The COGIC Sunday School department desires to help aid literacy by providing quality supplemental lesson material. Enlisting help from scholars across the country, the department wrote the Interpretative Expository, an exposition for each lesson of the Sunday School curriculum. Also, to assist pastors, preachers, missionaries, and laity with sermon subjects and preparation, our team has included a sample sermon outline from one of the lessons. Reemphasize the message of Sunday School by preaching a message from the text of the lesson.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Church Of God In Christ Publishing House
• Release date: Nov 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9781680875218

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Bishop Drew Sheard

Presiding Bishop | Church Of God In Christ, Inc.

Bishop Uleses Henderson, Jr. Esq.

Chairman | Church Of God In Christ Publishing Board

Bishop Reggie Witherspoon

Secretary | Church Of God In Christ Publishing Board

Mother Sandra S. Jones,

Chairman of Marketing | Church Of God In Christ Publishing House

Superintendent Mark Ellis

President | Church Of God In Christ International Sunday School Department

© 2021 Church Of God In Christ Publishing House

ISBN-13 978-1-68087-514-0 ISBN-10 1-68087-514-0

ISBN13: 978-1-68087-521-8 ISBN10: 1-68087-521-3

All rights reserved. No parts of this book may be reproduced or used in any form without written permission from the publisher. Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version (Public Domain).

COGIC Publishing House

806 East Brooks Road • Memphis, TN 38116

1-877-746-8578 | www.cogicpublishinghouse.net

Table of Contents

Letter From The Publishing Board

Letter From the Presiding Bishop

Foreword

A Sermon Outline Example

FALL QUARTER

September

Righteousness And Wisdom

From Generation To Generation

Teaching Values

Wisdom And Discernment

October

An Ordered Life

The Superiority Of Wisdom

Wisdom For Aging

Tradition And Love

Living As God’s People

November

Forgiving As God’s People

Loving As God’s People

Praying As God’s People

Facing Life Without Worry

WINTER QUARTER

December

A Blessing For All Nations

A Promise To Abraham

The Lord Provides

According To The Promise

January

God Watches Over Joseph

Joseph Finds Favor

God Preserves A Remnant

Joseph Transmits Abraham’s Promise

Out Of Egypt

February

Justified By Faith In Christ

Freed From Law Through Christ

Heirs To The Promise

Fruits Of Redemption

SPRING QUARTER

March

Wisdom’s Part In Creation

The Word Became Flesh

The Wedding At Cana

God’s Word Saves

April

Jesus Testifies To The Truth

The Living Word

Cleansing The Temple

Woman Of Samaria

May

Healing The Blind Man

The Bread Of Life

The Good Shepherd

The Resurrection And The Life

The Way, The Truth, And The Life

SUMMER QUARTER

June

Rules For Just Living

Living As God’s Just People

Celebrate Jubilee

The Heart Of The Law

Samuel Administers Justice

July

David Embodies God’s Justice

Solomon Judges With Wisdom And Justice

A King Acts On A Widow’s Behalf

Forgiving As God’s People

August

Praise For God’s Justice

God Promised A Righteous Lord

God Promised A Righteous Branch

God Promised To Be With Us

Letter From the Presiding Bishop

5

Greetings in the matchless name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

2021-2022 is upon us, and we optimistically, yet cautiously, look forward to this next year. The past year has been the most challenging we have ever experienced. A relentless, microscopic virus catapulted the entire world into a tailspin. Schools, malls, airports, and even our churches were forced to close as we sought alternate ways of functioning. Our day-to-day lives were upended, and many of us were faced with the unbearable losses of friends, family, and co-laborers.

How much longer will we be forced to endure, and when will this end? When will normalcy return? These are questions that have been asked but cannot be answered with any amount of certainty. As believers, it is this time that we faithfully place our uncertain futures in the hands of a loving and faithful God. A God who promised never to leave or forsake us. Now is when we must trust in the Lord with all of our hearts and not lean to our limited and finite understanding.

We must continue to dedicate ourselves to trusting God in all circumstances knowing that even when the road is rough and the journey tumultuous, we maintain unyielding confidence in the God of our salvation.

Regardless of the many hardships, we have endured, let us now focus on this next season with hope and anticipation, trusting that God will sustain us. Jeremiah 17:7-8 declares, Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water that sends out its roots by the stream and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.

Be encouraged, knowing that no matter what the season may bring, God is with us.

In His service

Presiding Bishop J. Drew Sheard

Eighth in Succession

Church Of God In Christ, Inc.

FOREWORD

Dear Saints of God,

Peace and grace be multiplied unto you.

I would like to give God praise for His goodness, grace, and mercy toward you and me. With great joy, zeal, and excitement, I also would like to congratulate our newly elected Presiding Bishop and Chief Apostle, the honorable Bishop J. Drew Sheard, the eighth in succession. Let us all join together to uphold our leader and the entire Church Of God In Christ in prayer. I am confident I speak for all of us when I say Bishop Sheard; you have our unending love and support!

Without equivocation, this past year was one of the most trying times we have ever witnessed as a country and certainly a denomination. We have lost some great leaders and Saints of God who will never be forgotten. Yet and still, the Church Of God In Christ is alive and well. In these days and times, with everyone and everything pulling for your time and attention, it is essential not to lose your passion for God. Like any healthy relationship, you must work hard at remaining dedicated to passionately carrying out God’s mandate for your personal life and that of the Church. Jesus reminds us that we are the salt of the earth, and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16). I pray you continue to make a difference in your spheres of influence. I believe this excellent Church Of God In Christ material will serve you exquisitely in helping to keep that fire burning within you for passionate ministry.

I implore each of you as you study these lessons to remember that we are called into community. Indeed, we are a community of believers. We need each other. We are much more effective in reaching this sin-cursed world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ when we see ourselves as a body of believers in community with one another. The German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, The church is her true self only when she exists for humanity.

In this 21 century the Church Of God In Christ has not lost our identity. We are still doing the work of ministry and making a difference in our communities. That is why it is so important to keep your church exposed to our Christian Education literature, especially for our young people. It is fresh, vibrant, innovative, and relevant. I sincerely pray that as you study this material, the Holy Ghost minister’s life into you and everything that is important to you.

Bishop Reggie C. Witherspoon, Sr.

Secretary

Church Of God In Christ Publishing Board

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen (Jude 24,25 NKJV).

A SERMON OUTLINE EXAMPLE

Lesson Date: Sunday, September 5, 2021

I.        Opening Prayer: Lord, help us to trust in you in all that we do. We know that these present times are uncertain, but help our faith in you to grow so we can be like trees planted by rivers of water that bring forth fruit in its season. Help our leaves to not wither so whatever we do will prosper. In your Name, we pray. Amen.

II.      Introduction

III.    Subject: Principles For Prosperous Living

IV.     Text: Proverbs 3:1-12

V.       Proposition: Seek God for wisdom: Wisdom protects and preserves God’s people.

VI.     Introduction of the Theme: For centuries, people have searched for the keys to prosperous living. A person once said that prosperity is a mindset. Brenda Lee Sanders believes that a happy heart ensures a long and prosperous life. But in His Word, God teaches us how to live prosperously. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus said, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. And, here in our text, we turn to King Solomon to find additional nuggets to living a fulfilling life.

VII.   Background: King Solomon is considered by many to be one of the wisest persons in the history of mankind. In 1 Kings 3, God appeared to King Solomon when he was a young king and told him to ask what I shall give thee, and King Solomon asked for wisdom and an understanding heart to judge God’s people. God was pleased with Solomon’s request and said that because Solomon asked for wisdom and did not ask for long life, wealth, or the death of his enemies, that He would not only give Solomon wisdom but that He would give him wisdom and understanding such as no one else has had or ever will have! God also promised Solomon that He would give him what he did not ask for—riches and fame! God promised that no other king in all the world would be compared to Solomon for the rest of his life! And that if Solomon followed God and obeyed His decrees and His commands as David did, then He would grant Solomon long life.

In this proverb, King Solomon gives life-changing advice to his son. Solomon knew that if his son kept a persistent and continual regard for God’s precepts, promises, and provision, he would lead a life of unspeakable advantages.

VIII. Body

A.    Remember God’s Law (vv. 1-2)

Store God’s law in your heart, and if you do this, you will live a long and satisfying life.

B.    Chose Mercy and Truth (vv. 3-4)

Don’t let loyalty and kindness leave you.

Tie them around your neck.

Write them deep in your heart.

Then you will find favor with God and people and will earn a good reputation.

C.    Truth in the Lord (vv. 5-6)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own wisdom and understanding.

In everything that you do, you should consult God, and he will direct your path.

God word will be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Psalm 119:105)

D.    Don’t let your wisdom fool you (vv. 7-8)

Don’t be impressed by your own wisdom, because pride goes before destruction, and a haughty

spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18)

But if you fear the Lord, it will keep you humble.

Humility is healing for your body, and it strengthens your bones.

E.    Honor God with Your money (vv. 9-10)

Give God the best of everything that you produce.

You give the best to whatever you value most.

If you give God your best, God will give you His best. He will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.

F.    Appreciate God’s Discipline (vv. 11-12)

Don’t be upset when God corrects you.

God corrects those he loves like a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

For whom the Lord loves He chastens and scourges every son whom He receives (Hebrew 12:6)

IX.     Personal Story / Illustration

X.      Conclusion: Trust in God and seeking his wisdom are the keys to prosperous living. Persistent and continual regard for God’s precepts, promises, and provision lead to a life of unspeakable advantages. Compliance with the wisdom of these verses is therapeutic: obedience will bring health to the body and nourishment for the frame. The healing that the fear of the Lord and avoidance of evil brings is first spiritual. The benefit of true wisdom is physical health and vigor. The navel and the bones are symbols for the whole body. Knowledge of God that leads to spiritual well-being has its effects on psychological and physical aspects of human personality. As health to the navel and marrow to the bones represent physical strength, so the fear of the Lord is the spiritual strength of God’s children.

Written by: Bishop Uleses Henderson, Jr., Esq.

Lesson 1

September 5, 2021

RIGHTEOUSNESS AND WISDOM

MEMORY VERSE

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

OVERVIEW

When you know Jesus Christ, you know Wisdom (1 Cor. 1:24, 30): and through His Word, you receive Wisdom for daily living. In the Book of Proverbs, Solomon urges Wisdom to the young man because of the blessings it will bring to his pathway. However, despite its immeasurable value, Wisdom remains a most understated reference in the Bible. One example: WISDOM occurs 234 times in 222 verses in the KJV. However, the Bible contains over 2,000 scriptures about money. That’s almost ten times more verses about money than references to Wisdom in the Bible.

It is important to note that a proverb is a method for conveying wisdom. According to noted scholar J. Vernon McGee, A proverb is a saying that conveys a specific truth in a pointed, pithy way. Proverbs are short sentences drawn from long experience. A truth couched in a form that is easy to remember, a philosophy based on experience, and a rule for conduct. A proverb is a sentence teaching a principle; it is a maxim or an old saying.

"The Orient and ancient Near East are the home of Proverbs. Solomon gathered many from other sources. He was editor of all and author of some. Dr. J. Thirtle and other scholars noted a change of pronoun in the book from the second person to the third person. They conclude that Proverbs in the second person were taught to Solomon by his teachers, and Solomon composed Proverbs in the third person.

MEMORY VERSE ILLUMINATED

Proverbs 3:5 does not teach that Christians should not think and consider facts when making decisions because God expects us to use our brains. Instead, it means that we should not overly trust our ideas or Wisdom; we must ask God to direct us (James 1:5). A willingness to obey is the first step towards knowing God’s will (John 7:17). Faithful giving is a part of obeying. According to the International Bible Encyclopedia, Wisdom, when activated, results in righteousness; and continued righteousness leads to immortality. The lives of the wise (righteous) are happy. Their sufferings are disciplinary and remedial; they shall live forever and reign hereafter over the nations (Gentiles). According to Matthew Henry, we must live a life of dependence upon God because that is the way to be safe. If we trust God, we will obey Him. We may think that our Wisdom is sufficient, but it is not; we need the Wisdom of God.

ISRAELOLOGY

The book of Proverbs is a collection of moral and religious maxims containing instructions on right living. It also includes valuable instructions on wisdom, justice, temperance, industry, and purity. In these pithy sayings, a sharp contrast is made between wisdom and folly. Several verses in the book of Proverbs support the belief that Solomon was the author of Proverbs or that he is responsible for collecting many of the maxims that appear in the book of Proverbs (Prov. 1:1; 10:1; 25:1). Solomon perhaps spoke the proverbs around 1,000 BC. Proverbs also draws upon the wisdom sayings of ancient Egypt and upon sayings of Lemuel and Agur (Clifford 2009).

The Proverbs were comprised of an older, wiser, experienced man presumed to be Solomon speaking into a young man’s life about the vicissitudes of life. This type of conversation was inbred in ancient Israelite culture. The main message was for the young man to embrace God’s Word with his heart and prefer the Word over his reasoning and understanding. According to noted author J. Vernon McGee, Solomon urged the young man to prepare his heart as Ezra did. For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord and to do it and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments (Ezra 7:10).

WISDOM DIRECTS OUR PATHS

Proverbs 3:5 are precious promises to the Christian who wants to know and do God’s will. Trust and Obey!" God wants us to know and do His will; He is anxious to reveal His will to us (Eph. 5:8, John 7:17). There are certain conditions that we must meet before God can direct our paths. Listen to the Word (Prov. 3:6). God’s will is discovered in God’s Word (Col. 1: 9-10). It is not the mind but the heart that should remember and consider the Word. We must ask the Spirit to write the Bible in our hearts (2 Cor. 3:1-3). We must receive the Word every opportunity we have – in class, in church services, and through reading the Bible and other spiritual resources.

If we trust God, we will obey Him. We may think that our wisdom is sufficient, but it is not; we need the wisdom of God. Prov. 3:5 does not teach that Christians should not think and consider facts when making decisions because God expects us to use our brains. Instead, it means that we should not trust our ideas or Wisdom; we must ask God to direct us (James 1:5). A willingness to obey is the first step toward knowing God’s will (Jn. 7:17); note that faithful giving is a part of obeying. Submit to the Word (Prov. 3:11-12). Sometimes God has to chasten us to bring us into His perfect will; see Heb. 12:5-11. If we submit, God will turn the chastening into a blessing. Treasure the Word (Prov. 3:13-16). Matt. 6:33 summarizes this perfectly! Put Christ first! Solomon lists in Prov. 3: 21-26 the blessings that come to the believer who lets the Word direct his path. Note how every part of the body should be controlled by the Word (Rom. 12:1-2).

INTERPRETATIVE ANALYSIS

The proverbs in this book are not to be interpreted as prophecies or their statements about effects and results as promises. For instance, 10:27 says that the wicked years are cut short, while the righteous live long and prosperous lives (see 3:2). Typically, the righteous and wicked receive their due on earth (11:31), but at other times reward and punishment lie beyond the grave. At times Proverbs is straightforward and earthy (cf. 6:6; 21:9; 25:16; 26:3). This is the nature of wisdom literature. It seeks pedagogically effective ways to illuminate life situations and guide the unwise (or not yet wise) into wise choices concerning how to shape their lives as members of the human community.

Circumstance

According to Prov. 1:1; and 10:1, many proverbs come from King Solomon, who lived around 970-930 BC. Proverbs 25:1 adds that some Solomonic proverbs were collected by King Hezekiah, who reigned from 715 to 686 BC. The Septuagint includes the book of Proverbs. The Septuagint is a Greek translation and collection of many books that are in our Old Testament. The Septuagint dates to approximately 200 BC. Based on the dates of Solomon’s reign and the appearance of the Septuagint, Proverbs was not written before 1000 BC or after 200 BC but somewhere in the middle. If you were trying to establish the Gospels’ historical reliability, when they were written would be necessary. But Proverbs is not about what happened in the past but about what should happen right now. It is a book of timeless wisdom, not time-sensitive data.

Common sense doesn’t have an expiration date. It doesn’t have national boundaries either. So, while Solomon wrote the Book of Proverbs in ancient Israel, it shares much in common with neighboring countries’ proverbs. Its wisdom is international.

Setting

The Bible showcases the internationalism of Solomon’s Wisdom in 1 Kings 4:29-34. According to 1 Kings 4:30, Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of the Arabians, Chaldeans, and Egyptians. Throughout biblical history, Israel often found itself at the mercy of Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon. One part of Israel ultimately was destroyed by Assyria in the 8th Century BC, and the remaining component of Israel, i.e., Judah, was exiled to Babylon in the 6th century BC. In Solomon’s day, however, Israel was independent of the three previously mentioned superpowers, and its king’s wisdom reigned supreme.

Significance

Until today the treasured proverbs of Solomon provide a soundtrack for righteous living Christians. In Solomon’s time, contemporaries embraced these jewels of wisdom. Their value is elaborately expressed in the first chapter of the book of Psalms. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the Law of the LORD (Word of God), and in his law doth he meditate both day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season (Ps. 1:1-3). There is a timeless significance to these oracles; They are spoken to the ages.

Ethics/Apologetic

Dr. Samuel Chand, noted author and leadership development architect, reminds us that our integrity is all we have. It is a contemporary restatement of the Proverbs of Solomon. Solomon defends righteousness and wise choice as the recommended way to proceed in life. Dr. Chand’s analysis emphasizes these same values and virtues of character and Wisdom over foolishness and folly with twenty-first-century linguistics but with centuries-old biblical force. Dr. Chand points to the necessity of unity between our walk and our talk. He emphasizes that there must be a complete symmetry between who we are and what we do. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is described in the choices one makes. In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. These precepts are noteworthy reflections of the Proverbs of Solomon, God’s man of Wisdom.

INTERPRETATIVE PRINCIPLES

Remember thy creator in the days of thy youth (Eccles. 12:1)

It will lead to the length of days.

It will lead to long life.

Will lead to a peaceful life.

Trust the Lord with thine whole heart and lean not to thine own understanding.

Hide the Word in your heart to not sin against God.

Embrace the Word of God

Choose righteousness

Get Wisdom, and with all thy getting, get understanding.

Wisdom activated leads to righteousness.

A righteous life leads to honor, respect, and riches.

Continued righteousness leads to immortality.

SUMMARY

No one can say who the wisest person ever to live was. But I will argue from a human perspective Abraham Lincoln was. He accrued this Wisdom through tremendous personal struggle. Others would agree that Albert Einstein, a German mathematician and physicist who developed relativity theories, was among the wisest ever to walk the earth. But historians, scholars, pundits of the world agree that King Solomon and his endowment of divine Wisdom was the wisest man ever to walk the earth. The beautiful takeaway is that this endowment is available to you and me. Ask for it (James 1:5).

RESOURCES

Chand, Samuel. 52 Tuesdays with Sam Chand. Avail Publishers

Clifford, Richard. Proverbs, Book Of. Pages 655-660 in The New Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible. Vol 4, edited by Katharine Sakenfeld. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2009.

Eastep. D.B. The Preacher’s Goldmine, Flame Fellowship for Pastor’s and Teacher’s Aid, Notes on Proverbs

McGee, J. Vernon. Notes on Proverbs. Blue Letter Bible Classic

Matthew Henry Commentary, Notes on Proverbs, Blue Letter Bible Classic

Thirtle, James, William. London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, New York, and Toronto

Wood, George P. – [1] Tremper Longman III, How to Read Proverbs (Downers Grove, IL: 2002), 61-7.

Administrative Assistant Harold W. Jones, Sr. B.A., M.Th.

Michigan Southeast Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction

Bishop Roger L. Jones, Sr. Jurisdictional Prelate

Lesson 2

September 12, 2022

FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION

MEMORY VERSE

Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life (Proverbs 4:13).

OVERVIEW

Solomon goes to great lengths to instill a sense of moral responsibility in his children, the same things that had been taught to him, through persistent instruction. The Pilgrim Journal summed it up in three essential elements: (I) An earnest exhortation to the study of wisdom: of true religion and godliness, learned from the good instructions his father gave him, and enforced with many considerable arguments (v. 1-13). (II) A necessary caution against bad company and all fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness (v. 14-19). (III) Particular directions for attaining and preserving wisdom and bringing forth the fruits of it (v. 20-27).

For the righteous, their way of life is like a shining light that becomes even brighter until the day is established and their path becomes progressively clearer (v.18). Their words and deeds reveal that wisdom is their guide. The way of the wicked is as darkness and ruin; in their ignorance, they do not even recognize the things that cause them to stumble (v. 19). The son was admonished not to turn to the right or the left but stay on the path of righteousness (v.27).

MEMORY VERSE ILLUMINATED

Solomon loved the Lord and walked in the footsteps of his father David (1 Kings 3:3). Because of his tender heart, the Lord loved Solomon and appeared to him in a dream, asking, What shall I give you? (1 Kings 3:5) So important is wisdom and understanding that when Solomon could have asked for any number of things, he asked for an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and evil (1 Kings 3:9). Solomon realizes that wisdom and understanding are the greatest gifts that he can impart to his son. In Prov. 4:5, Solomon admonishes his children to get wisdom; in verse 4:13, he admonishes them to keep wisdom. He earnestly implores him to grab hold of his wisdom teaching, never letting it go no matter the cost, for out of it comes life itself, especially when we think of Wisdom Incarnate in the person of Lord Jesus (MacDonald 1995, p.). He was to safeguard (meaning to hold close to himself and allow it to be his guide) the discipline of the wisdom being imparted, which would protect him from engaging in senseless acts that could shorten his life (Werner).

ISRAELOGY

Proverbs, one of three books in the Bible known as Wisdom Literature (the other two being Ecclesiastes and Job), afford us the wisdom of generations of godly individuals that tell us how to live wisely. Proverbs has two overlapping themes – wisdom and folly. Wisdom, which includes knowledge, understanding, instruction, discretion, and obedience, is built on the fear of the Lord and the Word of God. Folly is everything opposite of wisdom (MacArthur 1997, p.1272). Proverbs offers insights on various life issues and personifies wisdom as Lady Wisdom, who does not hide her knowledge or keep it to herself. Lady wisdom wants everyone to receive the gift of life, and she is more than willing to share her insights with anyone who seeks her. For, Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words saying, How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you (Prov. 1:20-23).

Solomon’s instruction was of great value, and the son was to guard it as though guarding his very life. Of great importance is acquiring and keeping the wisdom to our life on earth and the life to come. In our earthly life, those who embrace wisdom shall be accepted of God and respected by all wise men (4:8); in the life to come, one will be owned in the great day and shall inherit everlasting glory (4:9) (Matthew Henry 2007, p. 963).

Solomon urges his children to spare no effort in gaining true insight (MacDonald 1995, p.801). Solomon has taught them, as his parents taught him, not only that we might learn ourselves, but that we might teach our children the good knowledge of God. For he established a testimony in Jacob… that they should make them known to their children (Ps. 78:5); That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the work of God, but keep his commandments (Ps. 78:7).

Solomon warns them to always walk in the path of wisdom and never turn aside, for the by-paths draw us aside and lead to danger (4:14-15). A quote from Matthew Henry provides an appropriate parable for this day and time of the COVID Pandemic -- Venture not into the company of those who are infected with the plague, no, not though thou think thyself guarded with an antidote (p. 963), meaning if we are drawn into an evil situation, we must quickly remove ourselves from it, just as we would upon exposure to COVID. The same vigorous precautions that our country and the world have taken against COVID should be the way we guard ourselves against the darkness of sin. We must immunize ourselves with the Word of God (v.21-22); get booster shots through prayer and fasting (v.23), and diligently avoid those things (the bread of wickedness, the wine of violence, a deceitful mouth, and perverse lips - v.24-26) that would expose us to sickness and disease – the ways of sin and sinners. If we error, once we become aware of our mistake, retire (retreat) immediately, take not a step more, stay not a minute longer, in the way that certainly leads to destruction (v.27). The ways of evil men may seem pleasant, but they will end badly.

INTERPRETATIVE ANALYSIS

Subjects

Research shows that Proverbs, also known as The Proverbs of Solomon, may have had more than one author (possibly Agur and Lemuel) whose sayings were compiled by Solomon. However, Solomon is believed to be the author of the clear majority of the book, as he, himself, had composed over 3,000 proverbs (1 Kings 4:32), of which several hundred were consigned, by the Spirit of God, to Holy Scripture. There is agreement that Solomon is the author of the didactic section, Chapters 1-9, from which today’s lesson emanates, as well as the Proverbs of 10:1 – 22:16. The focus of Chapter 4 is Solomon’s teaching of his children, precept upon precept, and line upon line what he had learned from his parents, David and Bathsheba (4:3-4).

Circumstance

Solomon, who had been taught well by his parents (3-4), who had received his request for understanding (1 Kings 3:9-12; 2 Chr. 1:10-12), and whose wisdom exceeded all others (1 Kings 4:29-31), is now passing on what he had been taught to his children. The children are exhorted to hear and heed the father’s instruction. The objective is for them to know insight, to possess the essential understanding or discernment to live uprightly (Werner).

Setting

In this lesson, we have instruction offered in the tender relationship of a father and mother with their children, designed to produce a meditation on God (MacArthur 1997, p.1270). Because he had received teaching from his father, Solomon was able to impart important life-saving lessons to his children, which would help them live wisely and conduct themselves to not bring harm to themselves or others. The father’s teaching was to be obeyed, as one would an authoritative command, not forsaking the law (4:2). The father’s objective was to motivate the child such that he would Keep my commandments and live (Werner).

Significance

Although Solomon had received teaching from both of his parents, the focus is primarily on the father’s teachings in the ways of God. According to Hebrew tradition, the home was the primary place of learning for children, particularly from a father to a son. The Fear of the Lord appears in Prov.1:7 and is widespread in Proverbs 1-9. Submissive fear is reverential awe and admiration, which is the basis for spiritual knowledge and wisdom (9:10).

Under Hebrew tradition, wisdom literature was intended to provide a path for serious, ordered learning and fundamental values starting at an early age. Parents were to set moral determinants through strong encouragement for children to want to do what is right and instill within them the proper response to the rightful authority of parents (Prov. 22:6).

Ethics/Apologetic

The theology of Proverbs offers several themes on life issues to help us live godly lives. The sayings of Proverbs present us with practical ways to live out righteousness (1:3) as God intended when He created man (Ps. 90:1-3, 12). Proverbs tells us, generally speaking, that "the wise (the righteous, who keep themselves clean/healthy through the Word) can expect to live longer (9:11); prosper (2:20-22); experience joy (3:13-18), and goodness of God temporally (12:21), while the foolish suffer shame (3:35) and death (10:21). A believer cannot have access to ultimate knowledge until he is in a redemptive relationship with the Lord, whereby one’s own will and desires are subjugated to the Lord’s will for his life. Nevertheless, we must understand that even the wise can suffer disaster (Job), and the wicked can prosper (Ps. 73:3, 12), but only for a season (Ps. 73:17-19) (MacArthur 1997, p.1271).

While we are cautioned that we must not join in partnership with the unrighteous, this was not a prohibition against witnessing to them (Eph. 5:11; James 5:20).

INTERPRETIVE PRINCIPLES

Receive instruction from the righteous.

Teach your children; charity begins at home (1 Tim. 3:4-5).

Teach the young people in the days of their youth (Prov. 22:6).

Teach all who will receive instruction (Is. 55:8-9).

Seek knowledge, wisdom, and understanding, the bread of life.

Receive instruction (Prov. 4:1).

Receive wisdom (Prov. 4:11).

Receive understanding (Prov. 4:7).

Walk in the ways of the Lord.

Guard my words and my sayings (Prov. 4:20).

Guard your lips, your eyes, and your feet (Prov. 4:24-26).

Guard thy heart, the very source