PROVERBS RESOURCES Commentaries, Sermons,
Illustrations, Devotionals
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Updated August,
2012
How
blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
And the man who gains understanding.
Proverbs 3:13
PROVERBS
OVERVIEW CHART
Proverbs Overview
Purpose of
Proverbs
1:1-7
Proverbs
to Youth
1:8-9:18
Proverbs
of Solomon
10:1-24:34
Proverbs of
Solomon (Hezekiah)
25:1-29:27
Words
of Agur
30:1-30:33
Words
of Lemuel
31:1-31:31
Father's
Exhortations
First Collection
of Solomon
Second Collection
of Solomon
Numerical
Proverbs
Wisdom for
Leaders
31:1-9
Virtuous
Wife
31:10-31
Title:
Proverbs 1:1
Precepts
of Wisdom
Proverbs of
Solomon
Proverbs Copied by
Hezekiah's Men
Proverbs
of Agur
Proverbs of Lemuel
31:1-9
Capable
Wife
31:10-31
Theme:
Proverbs 1:7
Wisdom for
Young Men
Proverbs for
Everyone
Personal Notes
from
Agur & Lemuel
Prologue
Principles of
Wisdom
Epilogue
Commend
Wisdom
Counsel
of Wisdom
Comparisons
of Wisdom
What is a
proverb? First, what it is not - a proverb is not a
promise or saying definitely guaranteeing the outcome that is
being discussed (See MacArthur below). Second, proverb is the
Hebrew word mashal which means comparison, similar,
parallel. In short, a proverb is a figure of speech in which
the author uses comparison in order to present a pithy,
poignant observation or instruction. A proverb is a timeless
truth in the form of a simple illustration that exposes a
fundamental reality of life. Proverbs are practical (not
theoretical), easy to memorize (Are you practicing the
discipline of Biblical memorization?) and imminently
applicable to real life situations.
Are the
Proverbs guaranteed Promises? No. John MacArthur offers a
good perspective: A final area of challenge comes in
understanding that proverbs are divine guidelines and wise
observations, i.e., teaching underlying principles (Pr 24:3,
4) which are not always inflexible laws or absolute promises.
These expressions of general truth (cf. Pr 10:27; 22:4)
generally do have “exceptions,” due to the uncertainty of life
and unpredictable behavior of fallen men. God does not
guarantee uniform outcome or application for each proverb, but
in studying them and applying them, one comes to contemplate
the mind of God, His character, His attributes, His works, and
His blessings. All of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge
expressed in Proverbs are hidden in Christ (Col. 2:3).
MacArthur adds:
The word “proverb” means “to be like,” thus Proverbs is a book
of comparisons between common, concrete images and life’s most
profound truths. Proverbs are simple, moral statements (or
illustrations) that highlight and teach fundamental realities
about life. Solomon sought God’s wisdom (2Chr 1:8–12) and
offered “pithy sayings” designed to make men contemplate 1)
the fear of God and 2) living by His wisdom (Pr 1:7; 9:10).
The sum of this wisdom is personified in the Lord Jesus Christ
(1Cor. 1:30).
Wilkinson:
Proverbs is the most intensely practical book in the Old
Testament because it teaches skillful living in the multiple
aspects of everyday life. Its specific precepts include
instruction on wisdom and folly, the righteous and the wicked,
the tongue, pride and humility, justice and vengeance, the
family, laziness and work, poverty and wealth, friends and
neighbors, love and lust, anger and strife, masters and
servants, life and death. Proverbs touches upon every facet of
human relationships, and its principles transcend the bounds
of time and culture. (Talk thru the Bible)
Theme of
Proverbs: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of
knowledge. Fools despise wisdom and
instruction. (Pr 1:7).
The
Septuagint
rendering amplifies the meaning of Pr 1:7 - "The fear of the
Lord is the beginning of wisdom (sophia);
and there is good understanding (sunesis
= "putting together the pieces")
to all that practice it: and piety (eusebeia)
toward God is the beginning of discernment (aisthesis);
but the ungodly (asebes)
will set at naught wisdom and instruction (paideia
= "child training")."
The Greek emphasizes wisdom instead of knowledge. Notice that
"fools" are equated with the ungodly.
The fear of the
LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the
knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Pr 9:10)
Note that this
fear is not "shaking fear" but a reverential awe. It is
like a child who fears disappointing their father or
losing his approval and thus it is a "healthy" fear, good for
our "spiritual health!"
Key Words (NAS95):
Wisdom (48x/47v), Righteous(ness)(90x/89v), Guidance (3x),
Wise (62x/58v), Fear of the LORD (14x), my son (23x),
Knowledge (40x/39v), Understand(ing) (56x/55v), Instruction
(16x), Discipline (17x), Commandment/command (11x), Tongue
(18x), Foolish (12x/11v), Fool(s) (58x), Tongue (18x), Evil
(58x/55v), Wicked (83x/82v), Life (46x), But (246x/242v).
From Paul Apple's Introduction...Helpful
general comments on the significance and usefulness of Proverbs for our
daily life....
Goldberg: The teachings of
Chapters
1-9 are considered: to understand the goal of wisdom in her outreach; why
the fruits of wisdom are so important; how the disciple can be wise in the
ways of the Lord, as well as in the practicalities of life; the burden the
father carries in his spiritual leadership of the family; the call for
chastity, with good instruction in how to avoid the temptation of
immorality; the abundant folly we run into and how we can avoid it; and
why and how we should respond to the call of wisdom to avoid "folly's
cursed crumbs."
Lane: Job and Ecclesiastes are speculative wisdom, for they
investigate why things are as they are and how we can make sense of them.
Proverbs is practical wisdom, showing us what we can do to get on in this
puzzling world without losing our way and ending in disaster. Whether or
not we ever come to solve the problems aired in the other two books, we
can still come to terms with this world. We don't have to opt out and
spend the whole of our lives thinking. We can get on with living in the
real world, conquer our limitations and get along with other people. No
book gives us more help in this than Proverbs.
House and Durham: By God's grace, the book of Proverbs enables each
of us to have God's insight on how to live lives that will glorify Him;
how to build up others; and how to be at peace with ourselves. Following
its precepts will bring success in business and in the home. Through
heeding its advice, we can avoid those regrettable pitfalls that can make
life so difficult. If we listen to God's wisdom, we will experience joy
and laughter rather than feeling the sorrow and despair that are so much a
part of those who heed the "spirit of the age." Proverbs speaks to every
area of life we will ever encounter. No stone is left unturned; no path
not taken. The only issue in question is whether we will consider its ways
and follow its advice.
Stedman: Life is simply too big for us to handle by ourselves. No
matter how good the advice seems to be, if it isn't consistent with what
God has told us, it is not to be trusted. And that is the conclusion that
is reached through these opening chapters. Chapters 8 and 9 personify the
two ways of life. Wisdom is seen as a beautiful woman, calling those who
follow her to come away into the place of victory and achievement and
success in life, while folly, or foolishness, which thinks everything it
does is right in its own eyes, is personified as an evil woman --
attractive, alluring, tempting us to step aside into death. It is a
marvelously-beautiful poetic passage.
Mouser: Two mistakes Christians make in interpreting proverbs: 1)
Some Christians read the proverbs as if they were inflexible laws of God's
creation, admitting no exceptions and 2) Christians will sometimes confuse
proverbs with promises... However, proverbs in Solomon's collection are
not promises made by God, but are guides which are to direct people in
living successful and productive lives. (All
of the above are from
Paul Apple's introduction to proverbs)
William Arnot Laws from Heaven for Life on
Earth
1858
Highly
Recommended-Wonderful Illustrations of Scriptural Truths Suggestion: Read it
As A Devotional as you spend a month in Proverbs.
Bible.org
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Biblical Illustrator Book of Proverbs
Ed by Joseph Exell
Introduction
James Rosscup comments - "Originally issued in 1850, this
conservative work is still valuable. Spurgeon called it the best
book on Proverbs in his day. About one page, sometimes more, is
devoted to each proverb. There is some good exposition, and the
emphasis of the work is mainly practical...Bridges also did the
famous work on Psalm 119."
(Commentaries
for Biblical Expositors: An Annotated Bibliography of Selected Works
or
Logos)
Franz Delitzsch 1890
Biblical Commentary on the Proverbs of Solomon
In two volumes
Jim Rosscup
comments: From the standpoint of Hebrew exegesis and careful
detailed scholarship this is very good. (Commentaries for Biblical
Expositors: An annotated bibliography of selected works)
W.
Harris Homiletical Commentary
on the Book of Proverbs
1882 Interesting
Resource - Homilies, Outlines, Illustration &
comments & notes from many other writers
Table of Contents
Zockler writes:
While other parts of Scripture show us the glory of our high
calling, this may instruct in all minuteness of detail how to “walk
worthy of it.” Elsewhere we learn our completeness in Christ (Col
2:10); and most justly we glory in our high exaltation as “joint
heirs with Christ,” etc. (Ro 8:17; Eph. 2:6). We look into this
book, and, as by the aid of the microscope, we see the minuteness of
our Christian obligations; that there is not a temper, a look, a
word, a movement, the most important action of the day, the smallest
relative duty, in which we do not either deface or adorn the image
of our Lord, and the profession of His Name."
George Lawson
Exposition of the Book of Proverbs
(1821)
James Rosscup writes that "Lawson was a Scottish clergyman
(1749–1820) who learned exegesis at the University of Edinburgh and
later became Professor of Theology there for 33 years as the
successor of John Brown. His 890 pages here are not of a critical
nature but seek only to explain the verses with simple, practical,
judicious comments flavored with pertinent quotes, illustrations or
thoughts that suggest illustrations. His definition of the fear of
the Lord in 1:7 is choice, and he gives good food for counsel in
3:5, 6; 4:18; 6:25, 26; 7:6–27; 8:14–32 applied to Christ; 22:6;
26:4, 5; 31:10 ff., and many others. This has to rate as one of the
most helpful older works in reference to the main task of explaining
the English sense of verses, often quite well."
(Commentaries
for Biblical Expositors: An Annotated Bibliography of Selected Works
or
Logos)
C H Spurgeon: A
thoroughly sound and useful commentary. Lawson wrote popularly and
vigorously.
Instructions: Proverbs 1-18 click link and enter the pagenumber in parenthesis. Proverbs 19-31 links go directly to
the respective chapter.
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Proverbs - from Christ
in All the Scriptures
(Index
to All Books-Recommended)
The Book of Esther
closed the historical books of the Old Testament. Between these and
the Prophets, we have a series of writings which have been said to
deal with the exercises of the hearts of God's people as to
sanctification.
In Job, we have the
death of the self-life.
In Psalms, the resurrection-life and the idea of worship.
In Proverbs, ''Laws from Heaven for life on Earth'' (Dr. Arnot).
In Ecclesiastes, the powerlessness of the world to satisfy the soul.
In the Song of Songs, the satisfaction of the soul in the Beloved.
Proverbs Commentary Spurgeon comments:
Home says of this work:—“It is one of the most valuable helps to the
critical understanding of this book.” It is certainly one of the
best of Holden’s productions. We may be wrong, but we could not
conscientiously subscribe to Horne’s opinion.
Scripture Proverbs:
Illustrated, Annotated, and Applied-1876 Spurgeon comments:
This work illustrates many of the proverbs scattered throughout the
Scriptures, and some of those collected by Solomon. Mr. Jacox seems
to have read everything good and bad, and hence he pours forth a
medley of fact and fiction more entertaining than edifying. He
reminds us of the elder Disraeli and his “Curiosities of
Literature.”
The Book of Proverbs
Explained and Illustrated - 1842 Spurgeon comments:
Contains very sensible suggestions for the interpretation of
proverbs, and gives instances of explanations by geography, natural
history, etc. It is a somewhat helpful work.
A commentary on the book of Proverbs Spurgeon comments:
Stuart’s introductory matter is highly instructive, though no reader
should blindly accept it all.
Lectures on the book of
Proverbs - Volume 3 Spurgeon comments:
Wardlaw is diffuse, and his views upon “wisdom” are peculiar; but he
always repays the reader and neither Bridges nor Arnot have rendered
him obsolete, for he works a different vein, and expounds in a
manner peculiar to himself.
Ralph Wardlaw
Golden Words from the
Book of Wisdom - 1918
Wightman seeks to
restring Proverb’s pearls of insight according to a more systematic
classification, joining the book of Proverbs with a portion of the
book of Ecclesiastes.
Pulpit Commentary
Edited by Spence and Exell
William John Deane, S. T. Taylor-Taswell, Walter Frederic Adeney
Expositional Commentary and Homilies
1891
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Holy Spirit, Who Jesus promised would
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Remember that Scripture is always the best commentary on Scripture. Any
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cannot help but have at least some bias of the expositor based upon his training
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we agree with every comment. We have made a sincere effort to select only the
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have removed several links in response to concerns by discerning readers. I
recommend that your priority be a steady intake of solid Biblical food so that
with practice you will have your spiritual senses trained to discern good from
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