Introduction
The book of Proverbs is often viewed as an incohesive gathering of Proverbial says. I would suggest that the mind of Solomon and those who built upon him under Divine inspiration was a bit more complex. The first three chapters set the tone of the book. That tone is one of appeal. The first three chapters set out the broad parameters of the book. The remainder digs down to the details of the application of wisdom and echoes the tone of appeal. This tone can be summed up: listen to God and experience good outcomes in your horizontal lifestyle that is pleasing to God and yields inner peace. Fail to listen to the appeals of God and garner the horizontal and eternal consequences with the primary emphasis on the horizontal.
The Purpose of the Book 1:1-7
- To know wisdom
- To know the source of wisdom
- To understand how to use the wisdom
- To garner instruction
- To remember the exclusive source of wisdom
The Five Appeals of the Book to Live by Wisdom
Appeal One:
- Listen to both parents 8
- Listen to the warnings/consequences delineated 10-19
- Listen to the revelation all around you 20-22
Appeal Two:
- Listen, don’t be a fool 23-26
- Listen to the natural consequences of not listening 27-33
- Listen to the ultimate consequence of not listening 28
Appeal Three:
- Listen to these promises for heeding the God’s Word 2:1-5
- To deliver you from ignorance 6:11
- To deliver you from evil 11:15
- To deliver you from sexual sin 16-19
- To deliver you into the walk of good men 20-22
Appeal Four:
- Listen to God for—
- Peace and long life
- Favor, good reputation before God and men
Appeal Five
- Trust God and not yourself, and God will make your path straight
- Promises 13-26
- Social application 27-32
- Natural consequences 33-35
Conclusion
If you have raised children or reflect on your own childhood, ponder how often you had to hear what your parents taught you before you learned the lesson. Many times, in the counseling office, it has been necessary to address a person’s problems from different perspectives before the proverbial light bulb turns on. We see this reality played out in these three chapters. The Holy Spirit repeats the fact that God is the source of Wisdom, and it is wise to live by this Wisdom. The remainder of this book reiterates this tone and theme in a myriad of practical illustrations coupled with repeated appeals culminating with the wonderful illustration of the excellent wife.
Implementation
- Think of several situations in your life where you have experienced the natural consequences of your actions and evaluate, “Where did I miss the Wisdom of God that generated these consequences?”
- Determine to spend time listening to God through the reading and study of His Word to acquire and to remind yourself of His Wisdom.