Wisdom's Foundation

Introduction

Every culture has its sayings which are designed to summarize one of life’s truths into a short easily remembered statement. In our culture we have a number of proverbs. These rules for living capture truth in such a way that we can grasp the importance of the point without needing further instruction. For example, which is easier to understand and retain: “A buffoon and his accumulation of legal tender are expeditiously disunited” or “a fool and his money are soon parted”? Try this one: “Surveillance should precede saltation” or “Look before you leap.” Proverbs exist in every language.

What makes the Proverbs from the Bible different from proverbs from other cultures is that the biblical proverbs are given for one overriding purpose — to know God’s truth and will for living. While we must be careful not to read the Proverbs as if we were reading one of Paul’s letters, we must take care to read the Proverbs with an eye toward God’s desire to see his people live ethically and morally upright lives. These proverbs speak to a number of facets of life. Many of these themes we will study in the next several weeks, but the overall theme is that following the words of these proverbs will bring one closer to God’s intent and purpose for life. Today we will look at the introduction to the writing called Proverbs and learn what the purpose of the author was for his readers.

Objectives

Proverbs is attributed to Solomon. While there are other authors mentioned in Proverbs, Solomon is rightfully given prominence as the one who wrote most of the Proverbs. God had given to Solomon an inordinate amount of wisdom. When Solomon was made king, God allowed him to ask for anything. Solomon could ask for wealth, extension of the kingdom, long life, or any number of other things. Solomon asked for the ability to understand and rule wisely. Because of the genuineness of his request, God granted him not only wisdom but wealth, a long life, and peace against his enemies. Solomon’s wisdom was internationally known. Rulers would send envoys to seek his guidance and to answer difficult questions. According to 1 Kings 10, the Queen of Sheba came to verify for herself that Solomon’s wisdom was not overrated. Her time spent with this man resulted in a statement testifying to the inadequacy of words to describe his insight and understanding.

A wise man like Solomon would not have written these proverbs then just to be writing. There must have been a reason or reasons for writing them. In the first chapter of this writing, Solomon gives us three reasons or objectives for writing these Proverbs. Let’s very quickly go through these objectives.

First, the proverbs are written to attain wisdom and discipline (v. 2). The word for wisdom reflects the idea of developing a skill but in this case it isn’t a skill for a job but skill for living. For Solomon there was not greater objective than to be skilled in living life. It is the idea of knowing what will help you be a better person. These proverbs are designed to help a person know what is important. The word for wisdom carries the idea to make the right choices at the opportune times. We often face decisions which affect our lives in both the short term and long term. These proverbs are to help us make decisions which will benefit us so that we can not only make good decisions but good decisions at the right time.

Second, the proverbs are written to impart moral insight (v. 3). It isn’t enough to hear the words of wisdom we must also be willing to accept them. The Proverbs help form a framework for truth and right standards. These proverbs are to help us to have a discerning heart; to be able to judge between right and wrong. These proverbs are to help us look at events and understand what the possible consequences might be. These proverbs are written so that we will not end up making foolish statements such as “I don’t care what may happen, I’m going to do it anyway.”

In John 5, there is a man who has been lame for 38 years. He is placed daily by a pool of water where the belief is that when the waters are disturbed the first person in the pool will be healed. The man has not been able to get into the pool of water during these 38 years. When Jesus approaches the man he simply asks “Do you want to be well?” What is the man’s response? “I have no one to help me get in the pool. Someone always gets in before I do.” Is that what Jesus asked? Sometimes we fail to see the truth because we have our excuses and reasons already lined up. We don’t want to be confused with the facts so we continue to live life foolishly. These proverbs are written so that we may have a discerning heart and learn how to live life with high moral standards.

Third, the proverbs are written to bring wisdom to the gullible and the young (v. 4). Some lessons can only be learned from living. Proverbs is written from the perspective of a father instructing his son. One who is older; who has lived longer; who has more experience about life tries to explain life to one who is gullible and young. No one has all knowledge about life. But there are some things that can only be learned in the course of living. Some who are young and gullible find it difficult to receive and accept the lessons from those who are older. That is to their detriment. Solomon wrote to help those who are younger to know something about life so that they will not be taken advantage of. The word “prudence” is used in Genesis 3:1 to describe the serpent. It has the idea of being crafty. God isn’t interested in making us crafty or deceitful but to be equipped to deal with those who are. Older people who have lived a bit longer can help steer the young and gullible from the precarious pitfalls in the road of life. Solomon writes with that intent.

Perspective

These objectives find their importance in one primary principle — fear God. What difference does it make to have wisdom, moral insight, or experience without some underlying principle to put these objectives into practice? Even as there are proverbs in every language so there are principles for putting those proverbs into effect. For instance, Buddhism says how a person lives determines how he will return to earth in his reincarnation. Life depends on his good works. The great hope is to have one’s life merged and lost in the “Good Unspeakable, the eternal bliss that lies in the last Nothingness.” Where is the higher calling? To live so that eventually you end up in an eternal void of unconscious peace seems anticlimactic.

Solomon says that real wisdom begins with God. This is the beginning. Wisdom begins with God but God is also the very heart and essence of wisdom. If we want to know truth; if we want to have wisdom, moral insight or to gain experience we must fear God. Solomon says that fools despise wisdom and discipline. There are those who refuse to listen to God. There are those who do not fear God. These live life to please self rather than seeking God’s will and purpose. Those who ignore wisdom and discipline become morally deficient. These do not think about God and his will, but these think only about themselves. The godly man thinks in every circumstance what is God’s relation to him and to that circumstance. The truly wise person listens to the words of God and when he does he finds wisdom.

In 1899, Nicholas II of Russia took the initiative to call for an international peace conference. It was held in the Hague in the Netherlands. Because of this first conference, it was decided that the nations of the world would resolve to bring peace to the world. To that end, a building was constructed in the Hague. Known as the Peace Palace it was built between 1907 and 1913. Different countries contributed different materials needed for construction. England gave the stained windows; Germany donated the iron gates; Italy gave the marble; the United States gave busts of the world’s statesmen; Japan sent tapestries. It is truly an international building. It is the product of man’s wisdom and achievement. It is the representation of the best that man has to offer in an effort to find peace and harmony. And one year after it was completed World War I began. The ways of man will not bring wisdom.

The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 that the cross is demonstration of God’s wisdom. While human beings see the cross as foolishness, God used the cross to demonstrate his wisdom and power. Let’s take the Lord’s Supper together as we celebrate the wisdom of God.

Proverbs is written from the perspective of a father to his son. Solomon’s great wisdom is displayed for all to see. Interestingly, Solomon’s son, Rehoboam did not listen to his father. After Solomon’s death, Rehoboam ascends to the throne and is barely seated when the 10 northern tribes send a delegation asking for an end to the tyrannies started during Solomon’s reign. Rehoboam ignored the advice of the older wiser men and instead listened to the inexperienced and unwise friends. As a result Rehoboam lost most of his kingdom. If we want wisdom, moral insight, and experience we must listen to the words of those who are wise and real wisdom comes from God. Even as we celebrated the cross as a demonstration of God’s wisdom, so now we invite all who will to come to the cross and seek God’s wisdom.

Follow Jesus

If you’d like to respond to this message or learn more about following Jesus, please reach out.