Proverbs 1-9

Proverbs 1
Intro: These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel

2-7 Prologue

• For learning, understanding, gaining instruction in wisdom, righteousness, justice and equity
• To teach the simple and also those who have some degree of wisdom already
• The beginning of knowledge: Fear the LORD. This seems simple enough.
  
• If you despise wisdom and instruction, you're a fool.

8-19 Warnings against Evil Companions

• Listen to your parents
• Do not consent to sinners - they are setting an ambush for their own lives

20-33 The Call of Wisdom (or, Wisdom Personified)
Wisdom calls out in public places:

• How long will you love being simple?
• Give heed to my reproof
• After you have ignored my plea, I will laugh at your calamity. We can't ignore wisdom then expect to reap its rewards.
  
• You will call on me, but I will not answer, because you did choose the fear of the LORD. We will have to pay the consequences of our own foolishness.
  
• Waywardness kills the simple; but those who listen to me will be secure

Proverbs 2 - The Value of Wisdom

• If you seek wisdom as you would silver, you will understand the fear of the LORD. We must actively pursue wisdom -- it won't just come to us. But if we do seek it, we'll understand what it means to fear God.
  
• You will understand righteousness and justice and equity
• Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul
• You will be saved from the way of evil, from strange women who lead you to death
• The upright will abide in the land...but the wicked will be cut off....

Proverbs 3
1-12 Admonition to Trust and Honor God

• My child, let your heart keep my commandments, and you will have a long life and abundance
• Keep loyalty and faithfulness close, and you will find a good reputation
• Trust in God, not in yourself; acknowledge him, and you will find healing and refreshment in your body
• Honor God with your possessions, and they will be increased
• Do not despise God's discipline, for it means he loves you as a father loves a son

13-18 True Wealth

• When you find wisdom, you find
  
• income better than silver. It's interesting that Solomon uses silver as a simile for a precious stone, when we have just read in 1 Kings 10:21 that because it was so plentiful, silver during his time was not valuable -- but that may have been from Solomon's viewpoint, not the ordinary citizen.
  
• long life
• riches and honor
• pleasantness and peace
• happiness

19-20 God's Wisdom in Creation

• Heaven and earth were created through the wisdom of God,
  
• Seas and skies through his knowledge

21-35 The True Security

• Wisdom and prudence will give you a sure foothold, sweet sleep, and peace in a storm
• When you can, do good to your neighbor when the opportunity comes, not planning harm nor quarreling without cause
• Do not envy the violent - the perverse are an abomination
• Contrast good and evil:
• confidence vs abomination
• blessing vs curse
• favor vs scorn
• honor vs disgrace

Proverbs 4
1-9 Parental Advice

• Listen, my children, for your father gives you good precepts, which I learned from my father.
• Get wisdom, love her and prize her, and you will reap her benefits: she will guard you, exalt you, honor you,
  

10-27 Admonition to Keep on the Right Path

• I have taught the way to a long life, which will keep you from stumbling
• Avoid the path of the wicked. It is full of evil people who cannot sleep until they have done evil; they live in darkness.
• The path of righteousness is light, full of healing and life.

Proverbs 5
1-21 Warning against Impurity and Infidelity

• Listen to my warnings about a loose woman.
• Though she may look sweet and smart and attractive, she will lead you to death – even she doesn't know that's where she's going.
• Don't even go near her house.
  
• If you follow her and those like her, they will take all you have – your wealth, your work, your health, and at the end of your life, you will long to have heeded my instruction.
• Be faithful to your wife – what you have should not be given to strangers, but to the wife of your youth.
• Also, God is watching. He will see to it that the wicked will be lost for lack of discipline.

Proverbs 6
1-35 Practical Admonitions

• If you are in debt, don't sleep until you have paid it all back
• Laziness leads to poverty.
• God hates – hates! – the actions of those who deceive, who intentionally cause problems for others, who devise evil plans and who cause problems within families.
• Keep your father's and mother's instructions close by so they will lead you wherever you go, whatever you do.
• Dire warnings against adultery:
• An adulteress woman is more dangerous than a prostitute. One will take half a loaf of bread; the other will ruin your life.
• If you play with fire -- you will get burned -- you will pay 7 times over, destroy yourself, be disgraced, and will be the subject of her husband's fury.

Proverbs 7
1-27 The False Attractions of Adultery

• Again - keep my words close as a glove, as a sister, as an intimate friend.
• The father has seen from his window the seduction of a young man by an adulteress – how she lies in wait for him, entices him, makes him feel special, promises him pleasure, makes him feel safe from her husband
• The foolish young man follows her like an ox to slaughter, not knowing this will cost him his life.
• Be warned! Her victims are numerous; her house is a chamber of death.

Proverbs 8
1-21 The Gifts of Wisdom

• By contrast, wisdom also calls -- but she appeals to the intelligence, not to lust
• She doesn't hide in corners, but stands at the gates and calls out to everyone who will listen.
• She speaks noble things, truth and righteousness, worth more than silver or choice gold.
• She hates evil, pride, arrogance and perverted speech
• By her, kings reign and rulers govern rightly.

22-36 Wisdom's Part in Creation

• God created wisdom first, before the beginning.
• She was there beside him, like a master worker, "rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race."
• Listen, my children -- you'll be happy and find life if you find me.
• Hating me means you love death.

Proverbs 9
1-6 Wisdom's Feast

• She invites all the simple, those without sense, and the immature to come to the feast she has prepared.
• The invitation: "Walk in the way of insight."

7-12 General Maxims

• Contrast between trying to instruct a scoffer and one who is wise; one will hate you – the other will love you.
• Fearing God is the start to having wisdom; wisdom results in years added to your life.

13-18 Folly's Invitation and Promise

• The foolish woman also calls out to the simple, but she promises stolen water and bread eaten in secret.
• Her guests are dead.