Overview of the Bible: Proverbs

 Proverbs   

Title: Proverbs, in Hebrew Mishley – from the verb to make alike, to assimilate – sayings, based on similar properties of things or events.  

Date of writing: Depending on the dating of 25:1, 30:1, and 31:1 the time might stretch from about 1000 BC to 707 BC (Times of king Hezekiah)    

Structure: Seven parts can easily be identified

A. 1 – 9, Proverbs (of Solomon) as speeches to “my son(s)”

B. 10:1 – 22:16, Proverbs of Solomon

C. 22:17 – 24:22, words of the wise

D. 24:23-34, more saying of the wise

E. 25 – 29, Proverbs (of Solomon) gathered by the men of king Hezekiah

F. 30, Words of Agur son of Jakeh (“gatherer, the obedient one”)

G. 31, Words of king Lemuel (Devoted to God) [what his mother – Bathsheba – taught him]

Main themes:

God and man

Wisdom and folly

Labor and laziness

Friend(s)

Rule and leadership

Words and tongue

Family: husband and wife, parents and children

Life and death 

Reflection in other parts of the Bible:

There are parallels between the Book of Proverbs and Deuteronomy: Both begin with a long exhortation, then there are many particular rules (Deut.) or “suggestions” (Prov.). Both books end up with a poetic conclusion – a song – that sums up the whole book: Deut. 32 and Prov. 31    

There are also parallels with Psalms:

19:10 – the Word is more desirable than gold and honey, Pr. 25:16,27

111:10 the fear of the LORD, Pr. 1:7

Jesus uses proverbs for His parables, see. Lk. 14:7-11 (Pr. 25:6-7)   

Lutheran teaching: The Book of Concord uses a few verses from Proverbs. 

17:15 “he who justifies the wicked…” is found in both Epitome and Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord discussing the Righteousness of faith (FC, Epitome III:7 and SD III:17).

22:6 “train up a child…” it is used in the Large Catechism I:75, 168 207 to establish the foundation of godly parenting raising up the faithful children.   

Lutheran hymnody:

LSB 750 – If Thou but Trust in God to Guide Thee (3:5-6)

LSB 618 – I come, O Savior, to Thy Table (25:6-7)   

Relevancy of the Book:

Unlike the Books of the Law, Proverbs do not give a commandment – they present the observations of life. “Most of the time it works like this”. So, the sayings of Proverbs should be taken as the Divine suggestions of the wise person to the one who wants to be successful in life. Yet, it is not about earthy wealth first and foremost. The Proverbs begin with the fear of the LORD and they end with the description of Lady Wisdom that is teaching faithfulness (to God) and shares His gifts of bread and wine (:16, 26).      

Memory verses:  

1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

30:5,6 Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and you be found a liar.