1. Proverbs

3. Hebrew Old Testament Proverbs Job Law of Moses (Torah)
Prophets (Nebiim)
Writings (Kethubhim)
Genesis
Former Prophets
Poetical Books
Exodus
Joshua
Psalms
Leviticus
Judges
Proverbs
Numbers
Samuel
Job
Deuteronomy
Kings (I & II)
Five Rolls (Megilloth)
Latter Prophets
Song of Songs
Isaiah
Ruth
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Esther
The Twelve
Ecclesiastes
Historical Books
Daniel
Ezra – Nehemiah
Chronicles

4. Purpose
To instruct and exhort in Godly wisdom and skillful living according to God’s moral standards.
Proverbs develops a healthy respect/fear of the Lord and resultant fruit in response to it.

5. Key Word: Wisdom Major Themes Instruction Wisdom/Folly
Student/son to receive instruction
Teacher/Father to give instruction
Wisdom/Folly
The Fear of the Lord (19x)
The Sovereignty of God

6. Structure 1:2-7 Purpose of the Proverbs
1:8-9:18 Preparation of the Son
10:10-24:34 Practical Wisdom
25:1-29:27 Proverbs with a Purpose
30:1-33 Words of Agur
31:1-31 Words of King Lemuel

7. Purpose of the Proverbs (1:2-7)
Two-fold purpose
To receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice, and equity (1:3)
To give prudence to the naïve/wide open (1:4)
Wide open – those who lack discernment as opposed to the wise who discern well
Motto of the Book (1:7)

8. Preparation of the Son (1:8-9:18)
“Hear my son”
Used 10 times in chapters 1-8
(1:8; 2:1; 3:1; 4:1, 10, 20; 5:1; 6:1, 20; 7:1)
Son encouraged to avoid folly and acquire wisdom
Youth naturally tend toward folly – need to have it disciplined out of them by mother and father (1:8; 6:20)

9. Two Kinds of Women in the World
They compete for the soul of the youth (2:10-33)
Folly Speaks (1:10-19)
Wisdom is open and public
Whoever forsakes folly and acquires wisdom will prosper
Wisdom speaks (1:20-33)
Folly secretly ensnares the soul of the youth by luring her victim into a trap
Folly leads to death/Sheol

10. Practical Wisdom (10:10-24:34)
Two Broad Divisions (375 proverbs in all)
Synonymous parallelism
Chapters 16-22
Two line proverbs in which similar or comparative ideas or principles placed together
Teach on things such as God’s Sovereignty (16:1, 4, 33; 21:1), His righteous judgment (16:5; 20:27; 24:12) and man’s natural bent toward foolishness (20:9)
Antithetical parallelism
Chapters 10-15
Two line proverbs in which opposing ideas are contrasted
Teach on things such as a good work ethic (10:4; 12:11) and Humility (12:9; 15:33)

11. Emphasis
Short, pithy maxims which teach how to live wisely and with discretion/prudence in everyday life situations
Sharp contrast between wicked/foolish and righteous/Godly
Also proverbs relating to kings and the behavior expected of them (14:28, 35; 16:14;, 15; 20:28; 21:1)

12. Proverbs with a Purpose (25:1-29:27)
Proverbs of Solomon which had been transcribed (copied and arranged) by Hezekiah’s men
Why? To bring spiritual renewal to the nation
Many of the same themes as section III

13. Words of Agur (30:1-33) Wise sayings from an anonymous sage
Clusters of numerical proverbs

14. Words of King Lemuel (31:1-31)
Poem #1
31:1-9
Instructive wisdom for leadership
Poem #2
31:10-31
Describes the ideal, virtuous woman
Set in an acrostic pattern for memorization – every verse begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet

15. Application
“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.” – Charles Spurgeon
Don’t simply grow in knowledge, but the application of true knowledge – 2 Peter 1

16. Acquire Wisdom Psalm 90 – Live Skillfully
Deuteronomy 5:29; John 15:14 – Hear and obey God
1 Peter 2:17 – Fear God

17. Parents, Teach your children
To fear the Lord (1:7, 9)
To guard their minds (4:23)
To obey their parents (1:8)
How to select their companions (13:20)
To control their lusts (2:16-19; 5:3-5)
To enjoy their spouses (5:15-20)
To watch their words (4:24)
To pursue their work (6:6-8)
To manage their money (3:9-10)
To love their neighbors (3:27-29)
John MacArthur (Successful Christian Parenting, )