Passage: Proverbs 1.1-7

1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2 for attaining wisdom and discipline;
for understanding words of insight;

3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,
doing what is right and just and fair;

4 for giving prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young-

5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,
and let the discerning get guidance-

6 for understanding proverbs and parables,
the sayings and riddles of the wise.

7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.


1. What is the context and how relevant is it to grasping an understanding of the passage as a whole?

The context of this passage is about calling people to gain wisdom, thus learning to get the most out of life. It also settles on the definition of wisdom, which is not merely at the knowledge level (v2, 4), but the knowledge always goes hand in hand with the moral righteousness in life (v3).

Apart from this, in v1, we are told that the book is closely connected with Solomon, who wrote much of what was written in the book. Perhaps by knowing of Solomon as the author (1 Kings 4:32), we also learnt that at this peak period of Israel’s history (c. 970 – 930 BC), most things seemed to be in good order, life was at its best, and there were less random situations to complicate the outcome of life, and hence this mainline wisdom in Proverbs caters most likely for standard occurrence of things in life, and hence the perception of an orderly outcome. For example, if one fears God, life will be good. What if life is difficult even though one fears Him?

This passage rightly serves as a prologue for the book. It provides the readers with the purpose of the book in v2-6 (i.e. to attain wisdom and understand words of insight). It mentions regarding the pattern of the book (i.e. proverbs, parables, sayings and riddles in v6). It suggests who the book is meant for in v4-5 (i.e. the simple, young, already wise and discerned people). Finally, it also states the underlying principle of the book in v7 (i.e. that no true wisdom is to be found without a proper relationship with the Lord). By way of introduction, this passage actually provides the readers with a key to understand the passage as a whole.



2. What is the meaning of the significant words in the passage?

A few significant words from the passage are as followed:
- Proverb: is a profound saying in one or two sentences which expresses life insight through its shrewd observation about life.
- Wisdom: is skill in living or practical knowledge which is more than just knowing facts, but also being able to make the right use of facts to achieve desirable goals that God determines.
- Prudence: is the ability to exercise care and good judgment through present decisions so as to achieve the best outcome for the future.
- Discretion: is the idea of self-restraint and sensitivity so as to make decisions in such a way that won’t cause offence or hurt others.
- Fear of the LORD: the state of being in reverent or humble awe before God’s power and greatness.


3. How does this passage contribute to the wisdom of the book to which it belongs?

It’s fair to say that the repetition of the terms relating to ‘wisdom’ and ‘knowledge’ found in this passage introduces the reader to the very concern of the book. This passage offers the interpretative key to understand wisdom in the book of Proverbs. It sets the basic pre-supposition that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (v7). What it means is that fearing God is the foundational truth upon which everything else is based on. The entire book is found to unite under the theme of wisdom and knowledge, but always under the framework of taking God into the reality and understanding what He has revealed about the world as observation is drawn based on life experiences. As a consequence, wisdom does begin with faith and repentance. Wisdom without any reference to God is akin to missing the essence of wisdom by failing to learn of the Creator who is behind all things that are studied.

Another way this passage contributes to the wisdom of the book, as has been mentioned, is that wisdom doesn’t concern the intellectual appeal that some have in term of knowledge, in fact, it calls to all people, the simple, the young, the wise (but not the fool who refuses it) to be transformed in both heart and mind.


4. How should a Christian read this passage?

A few general rules for reading Proverbs are that the contents are not to be taken as promises to claim or as universal truth, and together, they are to be read as a collection.
Proverbs operates under its own genre and context (just like the whole of the Bible is to be read in their context). Proverbs functions as generalization and this provided the circumstances are right. Besides, no single proverb can capture all the truth in any given subject. But when they are read as a collection, we learn of their useful principles. Reading Proverbs thus requires a thoughtful attention, not just simply clinging on a set of rules that provided they are applied, will guarantee a successful life. In fact, we all know that the opposite often holds true, and all the more in this matter, part of wisdom is to know how to live in these difficult times.
This passage suggests that wisdom is a constantly growing aspect of life. We don’t stop learning to reach a stage of stagnant growth, nor does it mean that God gives us all the answers to every single question that requires our decisions. By fearing and trusting God, we don’t suddenly become passive, but that in our pursuit of learning, we want to make sure that the guided decisions that we make finds their path that leads to life than death.


5. How would you teach this passage? (i.e. audience is an adult bible study group).

Among the truths that can be taught through this passage, perhaps two important truths warrant a mention before the rest of the passage content that is sandwiched in between verses 1 and 7. Both truths will lead to the application for the passage in term of obedience to Jesus.

Firstly, v1, associates the book with Solomon, the king of Israel and son of King David. Solomon was notable for his wisdom given by God (1 Kings 4:29) that measures beyond all things. This somehow spells out the close connection between wisdom and God’s king in the Bible. Although there were many foolish kings after Solomon, nevertheless, there was one clearly seen example of a wise king that both the OT and NT referred to. Isaiah prophesied the coming of God’s King, Christ, whom he portrayed as full of the spirit of wisdom and understanding (Is. 11:2). Moreover, in the NT, Christ was seen as the bearer of great wisdom, one who was even greater than Solomon (Matt 12:42). This connection between wisdom and God’s king fleshes out on the implications for how we are to live our lives. To get the most out of life, we must obey Jesus. Jesus’ wisdom and understanding is more than Solomon, therefore His Words provides us with the best insight we can glean from life.

Secondly, v7 quickly offers us the very lesson that is also closely shared by most wisdom books in the Bible. It is that we must fear God. Throughout the book, Proverbs repeatedly stresses on the truth that “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge”. Without the fear of the Lord as the basis of our life, sooner or later it will crack, no matter if we are full of skills and expertise. To fear God is to be in reverent or humble awe before God’s power and greatness. It carries a positive idea than just being scared or frightened of God. The necessity of humbling ourselves before God is rightly because He is full of love and mercy. Yet, on the other side is the coin is that He is also a holy and powerful God that we shouldn’t presume on His goodness by being ignorant and rebellious toward Him lest we are under His judgment. The Bible rightly exhorts us to fear God’s chosen King, Jesus (Ps. 2:10-12). Our daily obedience toward Jesus will ensure a life of blessing as Proverbs invites us to have under God.

References:

Goldsworthy, Graeme. 2000. The Goldsworth Trilogy – Gospel and Wisdom. Paternoster Press, UK.

Smith, Bryson. 2008. The Art of Living – Pathway Bible Guides: Proverbs. Matthias Media, Kingsford, Australia.