The Book of Proverbs—Is it just a book of good wisdom?
I have been richly blessed in my recent study of this book. I have found that chapters 1-9 serve as an introduction to the book, while chapters 10-29 contain the actual proverbs (followed by some short sayings of Agur and King Lemuel, and ending with the beauty of the Proverbs 31 woman or "excellent wife").
It's so refreshing to read through these introductory chapters and see someone showing some seriousness about the things of God (in light of the ever-so-flippant world around us)! In it we find a deeply loving and earnest appeal to his "son" to "get wisdom" and save his soul, avoiding the path of wickedness and folly and choosing the way of righteousness and life. Hover over these references to get an idea of how the introduction is addressed: Proverbs 1:8, 2:1-5, 3:1, 3:11-12, 3:21-22, 4:1-2, 4:10-11, 4:20-23, 5:1-2, 6:20-22, 7:1-3, 7:24.
Then, in light of this introductory charge to be a man of God, we come to the long lists of proverbs and sayings of the wise. As I read through these short sayings, I noticed many reoccurring themes throughout the book—humility, hard work, being slow to speak, and disciplining your children to highlight a few.
I hope that some of you who read this will be inspired by God to do your next study in the book of Proverbs and experience the same blessings that I have. Below is the list of some of the themes that I encountered in the book, which I would encourage you to meditate on if there are certain topics of particular interest to you.
The Fear of the Lord
Proverbs 1:7, 2:3-5, 8:13, 9:10, 10:27, 14:2, 14:26-27, 15:16, 15:33, 16:6, 19:23, 22:4, 23:17, 24:21, 28:14, 31:30
The Sovereignty of God
Proverbs 16:1, 16:4, 16:9, 16:33, 19:14, 19:21, 20:24, 21:1, 21:30-31
Humility vs. Pride
Proverbs 11:2, 15:33, 16:5, 16:18-19, 18:12, 21:4, 21:24, 22:4, 25:27, 26:12, 27:2, 29:23
Receiving Rebuke & Instruction
Proverbs 12:1, 12:15, 13:10, 13:18, 15:5, 15:10, 15:31-32, 17:10, 19:20, 19:25, 19:27, 25:12, 27:6, 28:23, 29:1
The Blessing of a Godly Wife
Proverbs 18:22, 19:14, 31:10-12
The Curse of an Ungodly Wife
Proverbs 12:4, 14:1, 19:13, 21:9, 21:19, 25:24, 27:15-16
The Joy of a Wise Son, the Grief of a Foolish Son
Proverbs 10:1, 10:5, 13:1, 15:5, 15:20, 17:21, 17:25, 19:13, 23:15-16, 23:24-25, 28:7, 29:3, 29:17, 30:17
Discipline Your Children
Proverbs 13:24, 19:18, 20:30, 22:6, 22:15, 23:13-14, 29:15, 29:17
Working Hard vs. Being a Sluggard
Proverbs 12:11, 12:24, 13:4, 14:23, 18:9, 19:24, 20:13, 21:25-26, 22:13, 24:27, 24:30-34, 26:13, 26:14-16, 28:19
Patience vs. Haste
Proverbs 14:29, 15:18, 16:32, 19:2, 21:5, 25:15, 29:11
Overlooking an Offense
Proverbs 12:16, 17:9, 17:14, 19:11
Good Company vs. Bad
Proverbs 13:20, 14:7, 18:24, 22:24-25, 24:1, 24:21, 28:7
Seek Counsel
Proverbs 15:22, 20:18, 24:6
Be Slow to Speak
Proverbs 10:19, 11:12-13, 12:23, 13:3, 15:1, 15:28, 17:27-28, 18:2, 18:6-8, 18:13, 18:21, 21:23, 25:15, 29:20
Be Generous to the Poor
Proverbs 11:24-25, 14:21, 14:31, 19:17, 21:13, 21:26, 22:9, 28:27, 29:7, 31:8-9, 31:20
Wisdom and Health
Proverbs 12:25, 13:12, 14:30, 15:13, 15:15, 15:30, 16:24, 17:22, 18:14
Seek Wisdom, Not Wealth
Proverbs 16:16, 22:1, 23:4-5, 28:20
I have been richly blessed in my recent study of this book. I have found that chapters 1-9 serve as an introduction to the book, while chapters 10-29 contain the actual proverbs (followed by some short sayings of Agur and King Lemuel, and ending with the beauty of the Proverbs 31 woman or "excellent wife").
It's so refreshing to read through these introductory chapters and see someone showing some seriousness about the things of God (in light of the ever-so-flippant world around us)! In it we find a deeply loving and earnest appeal to his "son" to "get wisdom" and save his soul, avoiding the path of wickedness and folly and choosing the way of righteousness and life. Hover over these references to get an idea of how the introduction is addressed: Proverbs 1:8, 2:1-5, 3:1, 3:11-12, 3:21-22, 4:1-2, 4:10-11, 4:20-23, 5:1-2, 6:20-22, 7:1-3, 7:24.
Then, in light of this introductory charge to be a man of God, we come to the long lists of proverbs and sayings of the wise. As I read through these short sayings, I noticed many reoccurring themes throughout the book—humility, hard work, being slow to speak, and disciplining your children to highlight a few.
I hope that some of you who read this will be inspired by God to do your next study in the book of Proverbs and experience the same blessings that I have. Below is the list of some of the themes that I encountered in the book, which I would encourage you to meditate on if there are certain topics of particular interest to you.
The Fear of the Lord
Proverbs 1:7, 2:3-5, 8:13, 9:10, 10:27, 14:2, 14:26-27, 15:16, 15:33, 16:6, 19:23, 22:4, 23:17, 24:21, 28:14, 31:30
The Sovereignty of God
Proverbs 16:1, 16:4, 16:9, 16:33, 19:14, 19:21, 20:24, 21:1, 21:30-31
Humility vs. Pride
Proverbs 11:2, 15:33, 16:5, 16:18-19, 18:12, 21:4, 21:24, 22:4, 25:27, 26:12, 27:2, 29:23
Receiving Rebuke & Instruction
Proverbs 12:1, 12:15, 13:10, 13:18, 15:5, 15:10, 15:31-32, 17:10, 19:20, 19:25, 19:27, 25:12, 27:6, 28:23, 29:1
The Blessing of a Godly Wife
Proverbs 18:22, 19:14, 31:10-12
The Curse of an Ungodly Wife
Proverbs 12:4, 14:1, 19:13, 21:9, 21:19, 25:24, 27:15-16
The Joy of a Wise Son, the Grief of a Foolish Son
Proverbs 10:1, 10:5, 13:1, 15:5, 15:20, 17:21, 17:25, 19:13, 23:15-16, 23:24-25, 28:7, 29:3, 29:17, 30:17
Discipline Your Children
Proverbs 13:24, 19:18, 20:30, 22:6, 22:15, 23:13-14, 29:15, 29:17
Working Hard vs. Being a Sluggard
Proverbs 12:11, 12:24, 13:4, 14:23, 18:9, 19:24, 20:13, 21:25-26, 22:13, 24:27, 24:30-34, 26:13, 26:14-16, 28:19
Patience vs. Haste
Proverbs 14:29, 15:18, 16:32, 19:2, 21:5, 25:15, 29:11
Overlooking an Offense
Proverbs 12:16, 17:9, 17:14, 19:11
Good Company vs. Bad
Proverbs 13:20, 14:7, 18:24, 22:24-25, 24:1, 24:21, 28:7
Seek Counsel
Proverbs 15:22, 20:18, 24:6
Be Slow to Speak
Proverbs 10:19, 11:12-13, 12:23, 13:3, 15:1, 15:28, 17:27-28, 18:2, 18:6-8, 18:13, 18:21, 21:23, 25:15, 29:20
Be Generous to the Poor
Proverbs 11:24-25, 14:21, 14:31, 19:17, 21:13, 21:26, 22:9, 28:27, 29:7, 31:8-9, 31:20
Wisdom and Health
Proverbs 12:25, 13:12, 14:30, 15:13, 15:15, 15:30, 16:24, 17:22, 18:14
Seek Wisdom, Not Wealth
Proverbs 16:16, 22:1, 23:4-5, 28:20
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