Proverbs 1:1-19, The Book for All Seasons

January 3, Proverbs 1:1-19

Ephesians 3:14-19 “but fools despite wisdom and instruction.”

The Book for All Seasons

It is difficult to give an outline of this Book. It has so many topics but little apparent structure. It mostly runs on from one verse to another. Almost every verse could be a sermon or a principle standing alone. Yet there is a general design that runs through the whole that is always kept in view by the author. Its purpose is to instruct all, young as well as old, in the secret for a life of true joy, for time and eternity. In the end the choice is between Wisdom of God or the Folly of man.

The theme throughout, then, is on obtaining “a right relationship with God as the basic principle of life.” To this end instruction in folly, sin, goodness, wealth, poverty, the tongue, pride, humility, justice, vengeance, strife, gluttony, love, lust, laziness, friends, family, life, death, is graphically set forth. In other words, almost every Divine-human relationship is scrutinised. “The teaching of the Book is applicable to all men everywhere,” says C.C. Ryrie, and, we add, for all seasons, too. The advice comes to us in highly concentrated form as “sage tidbits boiled down, trimmed, pared, sharpened, honed and polished” (Alden). Thus they are aptly referred to as “God’s transistorised wisdom.” This is “truth in the smallest possible package, intense with brevity and urgency” (J.T. Draper).

The apparent lack of arrangement, outline, order, or progression is a bit like life for most of us. “We try to bring order to life, but opportunities, crises, and unexpected intrusions come. Sometimes life is boring, while at other times its many activities almost overwhelm us. We seek order and coherence, but often we are driven to despair because our efforts seem to fail. Perhaps that is why Proverbs comes to us in the form it does,” comments Robert L. Alden, and, we might add, with such relevance for our day.

Remember what is implicit in this Book. It is not just Solomon but God who is active in all the affairs of His people. Dr E. Hopkins reminds us that human life is ”ec-centric” because “self” occupies the place that rightly belongs to God alone. Proverbs shows us what sin has done and how life must become “God-centric” again, where God controls every sphere of human life and all human relationships. Nothing great or small is outside His purview. He condemns arrogance as much as insincere worship; gossip is as evil as hatred. He wants our behaviour to be holy every day and in every place.

Isaiah tells us that Bread corn is bruised, a description of God’s judgment on Israel. Before the grain becomes bread it must be bruised and baked. Only then can it be food for the hungry. Christ was bruised and passed through the “oven” of affliction that all who trust Him might have the Bread of Life. Take the grains of proverbs and crush and bake them, as the Holy Spirit prompts us, that they may be to us the very Bread of Life.

Thought: No Book in the Bible searches our hearts more fully than the Proverbs.

Prayer: “Search me, O God, and know my heart, I pray.”