Morning Moments

PROVERBS
Proverbs Chapters 1-31


How does one outline such a book as this when so many subjects are covered, and not in an orderly fashion sometimes?  Is there structure to the Book?  I'm sure there is, and many have sought to put it in some kind of structural form, but, I shall simply attempt to show that the overall intent of the Divine Author is to place the emphasis where is should be - on Divine Wisdom.


We must also understand that God's wisdom is NOT something that we are merely given once for all.  Solomon is a perfect example of that!  Many have sought also to define wisdom as: "seeing life from God's perspective and responding accordingly" or "the application of knowledge", etc.  The words translated are six in number and are used for discernment, discretion, understanding, discrimination, knowledge, heart, shrewdness, prudence, good sense, etc., so one can see that there are layers of understanding to be peeled back, so to speak, from a thorough study of the original languages.


For our Morning Moments together, we shall simply give the following brief outline so that you may "see" the overall intent of the collection of these sayings.  You might NOT understand many of them without considering two basic things:  1) Eastern Culture and 2) Figures of Speech.  I say this not to confuse the readers, but to help you understand the need for always keeping a text in it's context before making an application of the text.  Otherwise, there is the danger of making it a pretext.


The Penman 1:1
The Purpose 1:2-4
The Problem 1:5-7
The Priority 1:8-9:18
The Practice 10:1-31:31


Remember that these are proverbs - Divinely Inspired - but proverbs nevertheless.  They are "wise sayings" not LAWS that lead to salvation, but a lifestyle that is consistent with salvation.  Let me give a simply example of the danger of taking a text that was literal for the reader then as literal for us now:  Pro 22:28 - "Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set."  If we take this literally we have a big property problem!  Here is another:  "...And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite" Pro 23:2.  Do you actually think that God is telling you to cut your own throat if you have a tendency to eat too much?  That's not the point!  We can, however, see and apply the higher principle of not forsaking the teaching of the wise who have preceded us and the use of Biblical Principles that guided their lives and should guide ours.


It is our nature to want to KNOW where the lines, boundaries, limitations, and restrictions are.  Those things are necessary for children, but for the mature there are "guiding principles" taught by fathers and mothers TO children, and THAT is what this book is all about - helping us grow up and helping us help others to grow up WISE with the WISDOM of GOD!


BLESSINGS!