COLE WOMEN S MINISTRY SPRING 2018 LESSON 1 LESSON 1. Heavenly Wisdom for Earthly Living. The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

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1 COLE WOMEN S MINISTRY PROVERBS SPRING 2018 LESSON 1 LESSON 1 Heavenly Wisdom for Earthly Living Proverbs 1:1-6 NASB The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, to discern the sayings of understanding. 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice and equity; 4 To give prudence to the naïve, to the youth knowledge and discretion, 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles. 1. Tell about a time in your life when much heartache and trouble could have been avoided if you had but heeded some advice. 2. Do you think that knowledge and education are sufficient to meet the problems and demands we encounter in day to day living? Explain your answer. In 1991 a small booklet by the title of Life s Little Instruction Book was published. The author was a father whose son was about to leave home for college. The book contains observations and words of counsel the father thought his son might find useful. It was a best seller even though books such as it were not new. Books containing bits of wisdom and advice for living have been around for a long, long time. Ancient cultures, such as the Babylonian, Egyptian and Greek, all had collections of wisdom literature. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Our Heavenly Father would give us, His beloved children, just such a book. It contains heavenly wisdom for earthly living. Known as the Book of Proverbs and inspired by the Holy Spirit, it far surpasses any other collection of wisdom. Whether you rule a kingdom or rock a cradle you will find instruction in this book. It offers practical, sanctified wisdom for dealing with the decisions and realities of everyday life. The Book of Proverbs puts godliness in working clothes. 1 1

2 PROVERBS COLE WOMEN S MINISTRY LESSON 1 SPRING 2018 During this study, we will examine this book, not verse by verse, but by looking for verses that deal with the same topic. For example, by studying verses containing the word wisdom, we will gain an understanding of what it means to be wise. While we will not be studying straight through from verse 1:1 to verse 31:31, it is suggested that you read the entire book through several times. This can be done by reading just one chapter a day. Since Proverbs contains 31 chapters, it is ideal for monthly reading - one chapter a day, every day of the month. It is important to note as we begin that the Book of Proverbs is not a book of promises. While some proverbs are statements of absolute truth, many are not. Some are statements that are generally true but may have exceptions. Proverbs 18:10 would be an example of a proverb that is always true, while 17:17 and 22:6 are proverbs that are true in general. Pause and begin your study with prayer. Seldom do we have the privilege of studying a book with the author of the book, but in Bible study just such a privilege is ours. 3. Read Proverbs 10:1-12, I Kings 20:11, Matthew 24:28, and I Peter 4:8. After reading these verses, write a statement telling what you think a proverb is. 4. What definition is given in the dictionary for the word proverb? 5. Give an example of a proverb from a source other than the Bible. 6. What do the following verses tell us about the authorship of Proverbs? a. Proverbs 1:1 b. Proverbs 10:1 c. Proverbs 22:17, Proverbs 24:23 d. Proverbs 25:1 e. Proverbs 30:1 f. Proverbs 31:1 1 2

3 COLE WOMEN S MINISTRY PROVERBS SPRING 2018 LESSON 1 7. While Solomon did not write the entire book, he is credited with it in much the same way David is associated with the Psalms. What do you learn about Solomon in the following verses that shed light on why this is so? a. I Kings 3:4-9 b. I Kings 4:29-34 (Take special note of verse 29.) c. II Chronicles 9:1-6 Proverbs is a book of Hebrew poetry. The wise sayings that comprise it were written down in verse making them easier to remember and more enjoyable to hear. With the exception of chapters 1-9, 30, and 31 most of Proverbs was written in balanced couplets or clauses presenting either contrasts or similarities. This use of parallelism is a typical feature of Hebrew poetry. Let s look at some forms this may take: i. The two clauses are compared to one another. ii. The two phrases are connected by the word but and describe things that are opposite to each other. iii. The two clauses may just express a simple fact. iv. The same thought is repeated in each clause in a slightly different way. 8. Being familiar with and able to identify this literary device will aid in our study. Read each of the following verses and decide which form of parallelism is used. The first reference is completed for you as an example. a. Proverbs 10:7 Two clauses that show contrast; connected by the word but. b. Proverbs 16:7 c. Proverbs 23:27 d. Proverbs 25:25 1 3

4 PROVERBS COLE WOMEN S MINISTRY LESSON 1 SPRING 2018 Read and reread Proverbs 1:1-6. As we begin, let s take a closer look at some words that are key to our understanding of this book. The Hebrew word translated Proverbs is Mishlai. It is derived from the root word mashal, which means to rule. Thus mishlai are words and sayings that are supposed to rule and govern life. Wisdom is used repeatedly. The Hebrew word used here for wisdom is hokmah. It refers to a person s ability to make the correct choices at the right times. A future lesson will deal with the topic of wisdom in great detail but for now remember that the one who is wise is skilled in godly living. The wise have the ability to handle life in a God-honoring way. Discernment could be defined as the ability to see consequences that are not visible. It is the ability to read between the lines and to distinguish between what is true and what is not. The word translated instruction (NASB) or discipline (NIV) (verse 1:2) is from a Hebrew word meaning to admonish or discipline. Only a disciplined mind can see the pros and cons of an issue and be willing to learn by correction. (John Phillips, Exploring Proverbs Vol. 1, p.20) 9. In order to help us better understand some of the benefits of studying this book, let s paraphrase (put in your own words) the main thought of each of the following verses from Proverbs 1: a. Verse 1 b. Verse 2 c. Verse 3 d. Verse 4 e. Verse 5 f. Verse 6 1 4

5 COLE WOMEN S MINISTRY PROVERBS SPRING 2018 LESSON Author John Paterson (in Wisdom in Israel) humorously but accurately noted that the aim of Proverbs is to subtract from the number of fools and add to the number of the wise. In one brief sentence tell, in your own words, the purpose for which Proverbs was written. 11. Do you want what Proverbs has to offer? Why or why not? 12. Read Proverbs 2:6 and Psalm 119: a. According to these verses, who is the giver of wisdom and discernment? b. What do we learn from Isaiah 29:13-14 about this subject? c. Do you pray regularly for wisdom and discernment? If not, and it is the desire of your heart, why not compose a prayer right now to the One who is the giver of all good things. If you do pray often for wisdom and understanding, write a prayer thanking the Lord that He hears and answers. 13. It is one thing to know something and quite another to put it into practice. We worry so about the big decisions we must make but it is the little decisions that formulate our character and direct the road in life that we take. a. What are some big decisions you are facing at this time? b. Do you seek God s wisdom in the decisions you must make each day? How might a knowledge of Proverbs help as you seek His will for you? 14. Take time to review the material we have covered so far. If you were to meet a young lady who was not interested in reading her Bible because she was afraid that she might have to stop doing things she wanted to do, what would you say to her? Rosetta Lane (1997) 1 5

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