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What Proverbs Is All
About
Today’s reading gives us as fair a sample of Proverbs as we
are likely to find. The “big words” in Proverbs 1:1–6 state its
purpose. Verses 7–9 lay down its basic position: reverence toward
Yahweh (v. 7) and respect for inherited learning (v. 8), with the
promise that this promotes an attractive life and character (v. 9).
Then verses 8–19 and 20–23 show how life is set between two
contrasting voices, putting us ever in a situation of responsibility
and choice.
The meaning of the “big words” can be studied through
Proverbs with the help of a good concordance, but here are some
pointers:
“instruction” (v. 2) is “educative instruction and correction” (as in
Heb. 12:5– 11); “to understand” and “insight” (v. 2) express
“discernment,” seeing to the heart of a matter; “prudence” (v. 4)
is knowing how to face and appraise life so as to reach a
successful outcome (“success,” Josh. 1:7)—it is more like
“shrewdness” (in a good sense), taking a “canny” view;
“discretion” (v. 4) means approaching situations in a
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thoughtful/thought-out way; “simple” (v.
4) is not necessarily “gullible” (though it can be)—rather (as
here), one still forming his or her opinions, finding the way toward
maturity; “learning” (v. 5) is getting a “grasp”; “guidance” (v. 5)
is “direction,” or steering a correct
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course; “to understand” (v. 6) is “to discern” (as above).
Ponder these words and you get the idea of what Proverbs
will do for you.
In verse 7 “fools” are what we would call “fatheads”—people
who think they know it all but do not—whereas in verse 22 the
“simple ones” are the “thickheads” who simply can’t see the
point anyway. Both are favorite Proverbs characters. In verse 22
the “simple ones” (cf. v. 4 above) and “scoffers” are those who
have given themselves to cynicism, to whom nothing matters any
more, nothing is to be taken seriously (cf. Ps. 1:1)— they are
sitting on the sidelines of life, aloof from the worries, detached
from the big questions, the “opted-out” “know-it-alls.” The
promise of wisdom in verse 23 is, literally, “I would pour out /
flood out my Spirit to you” (cf. the Spirit in Isaiah 11:1–3)—this is
a big, big promise.
It is typical of the Wisdom books of the Old Testament to go
into the details of their illustrations, as in verses 10–19, leaving
us in no doubt about what is going to happen, and very typical is
the concluding warning (vv. 18–19) that sin is a boomerang,
returning to hurt the sinner—not a delight or a fulfillment of life,
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not an enrichment but a destructive threat, an inescapable
danger, what we might call an “own goal.”
