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Proverbs. Week 3, Cycle 3. Proverbs:. Authors : King Solomon Agur King Lemuel. Proverbs:. “Yaweh” is mentioned 90 times in the book It does not mention priests, prophets or kings The book is quoted directly 14 times in the rest of Scripture
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Proverbs Week 3, Cycle 3
Proverbs: • Authors: • King Solomon • Agur • King Lemuel
Proverbs: • “Yaweh” is mentioned 90 times in the book • It does not mention priests, prophets or kings • The book is quoted directly 14 times in the rest of Scripture • Proverbs preaches to our Mondays and not just our Sundays – it is wisdom for all circumstances
Proverbs: • The book presents us with a moral choice • Its not a mental/intellectual choice – but a question of morals/character • We must choose between WISDOM or FOLLY – we will land up with one of them – which do we choose. • They are both personified and personlised in the book • They cannot coexist
Proverbs: • There are 4 groups of people spoken about in the book: • The wise: they heed and receive the truth • The naïve: they are easily deceived – do not heed the truth • The scoffer: they are cynical and sarcastic – toward God and spiritual things • The fool: they reject God’s wisdom – they are dull and wicked
Proverbs: • There are 5 major themes: • The wise man • The fool • Words • Family • Friends/neighbours
1. The proverbs are proverbs • Proverbs are proverbs NOT PROMISES • What is a proverb: • “a brief saying that is used to communicate much truth” • Root of the word = “to govern” or “rule” therefore: “proverbs are wise, concise sayings that are to be used in governing our lives” • “a timeless truth that can be used in different situations in life”
1. The proverbs are proverbs • A proverb is a general observation on life • A promise is a particular obligation • Don’t quote proverbs as promises
2. Proverbs is poetry • The truths were written in a format that makes them easy to remember • Hebrew poetry is written according to RHYTHM and not rhyme • Its about beat as well as rhythm of thought • Rhythm of though is achieved by parallelism • Which is: pairs of lines that relate to each other
2. Proverbs is poetry – 3 types of parallelism: • Synonymous Parallelism • “and” • The first line is repeated in the second line • Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall
2. Proverbs is poetry – 3 types of parallelism: • Antithetical Parallelism • “but” • The first line is contradicted by the second line • He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honours God.
2. Proverbs is poetry – 3 types of parallelism: • Synthetic Parallelism: • “for” • The first line is advanced by the second line • Stay away from a foolish man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips.
2. Proverbs is poetry: • The rhythm is lost in translation • Chapters 10 – 15 are antithetic • Chapters 16 – 22 are synonymous • Proverbs 31 is an acrostic poem – each line starts with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
3. Proverbs is patriarchal: • All of the proverbs are addressed to men • Same as letters in the New Testament – addressed to men • If the men get it right, if they lead their lives and their families on the right paths and in wisdom then the women and children will be right too.
Wisdom: • Worldly wisdom is about choosing your most profitable option but godly wisdom is about what is best for your character • 1 Corinthians 3:19 • What is heavenly wisdom? • James 3:13-18 • The value of wisdom • Job 28 • Even Jesus had to grow in wisdom • Luke 2:52 • Want it? Ask for it • James 1:5
Your turn: • Write 3 proverbs: • Pick a theme to write about • 1 with antithetic parallelism • 1 with synthetic parallelism • 1 with synonymous parallelism • Write them from yourownexperience