Wisdom Lit: Understanding Proverbs
Jun. 27 2008
A whole unit or a loose collection of pithy phrases? Proverbs is a unique book and requires a unique approach. Read the whole thing is one sitting, ask the book questions, and look for common themes. Here’s how.
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“Often quoted and often misunderstood. “
This isn’t just a book of proverbs…it’s THE Book of Proverbs.
That’s been my personal experience with the book of Proverbs. If you’re like me you’ve probably found a few, choice nuggets of wisdom that you have memorized and drop into conversations to make a point. How can you not love Proverbs 12:1? “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.” Nothing like being able to call someone stupid and still be loving them! (Unfortunately, I’ve been on the receiving end of this proverb more than I’ve given it.)
Proverbs is an amazingly rich book that deserves our attention, our study, and our best efforts in understanding and applying. But how? How should we read it? Can it really be understood as a whole unit or is it simply a loose collection of pithy phrases? Does it have an organizing theme and if so what is it? All good questions for sure and ones that I’ve wrestled with over my Christian life. Thankfully these are questions that have answers. I hope what follows will assist you benefit from the treasury of wisdom that Proverbs is.
Some suggestion for understanding and applying Proverbs:
Read the whole book through in one sitting.
Proverbs will never seem more than a loose collection of wisdom phrases if you always read it that way. Dipping into one proverb here and another one there will guarantee that you miss the overall theme that is emphasized loudly throughout the book. It isn’t just a book of proverbs…it’s the Book of Proverbs. It’s inspired, it’s authoritative and it’s given to us by God to accomplish a particular purpose. We should know that purpose so we can more fully benefit from the book. So read it like a book. Do it more than once and what will begin to emerge for you is the overall theme of the book: obtaining wisdom so we can know how to live in the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7).
Ask questions of the text to help you grasp it’s meaning.
A proverb is defined in basic terms as, “a short, memorable statement which crystallizes reality and exposes illusion that then compels the hearer to choose reality.” A proverb is meant to provoke thinking on your part, to get under your skin in a way that confronts your thinking, your understanding of reality, of what is good, wise, foolish, or evil. Asking questions of a particular section of proverbs will help you discern what the author is trying to provoke you to think about or see.
Let’s look a specific proverb to see what I’m talking about: “Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.” (Proverbs 18:1)
1. Is there action or thinking that is expressed positively or negatively in this proverb?
It would appear that the person in this proverb is removing himself from his community for selfish reasons. He has a personal and self-focused desire that has led him to separate himself from the blessing and the wisdom of his community. He has become an isolated loner in order to seek out his own desires.
2. Are there any consequences that can be discerned in this proverb?
This man, due to his selfishness, finds himself in a position of rejecting or “breaking out” from sound judgment or wisdom. He is in the position of a rebel now who opposes the wisdom of his community for selfish reasons.
3. What are the dangers I’m being warned about?
The danger or warning in this text would seem to be the rejection of wisdom. Inherent in this rebellion against wisdom is that we become fools who are deceived into believing we are wise. A wise man listens to counsel but a fool rejects it. (Proverbs 12:15).
4. Or conversely, what are the benefits held out in this proverb?
If we listen to the counsel our community provides we will possess wisdom and understanding and be protected from the deception of our own desires.
5. How does this proverb connect with the rest of the book?
Within this proverb we can see themes that are evident throughout the book. Humility, embracing instruction, community, the seeking out of wisdom, and the juxtaposition of the wise and the fool (study the context in Proverbs 18:1-21 to see this more clearly) is thread throughout this book. Making connections like this help you see the major thematic elements of the book which will, in turn, help you understand the message of Proverbs more clearly.
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This is part two of a two part series on reading and understanding wisdom literature. Read part one.
The Author
Isaac Hydoski is a pastor in the singles ministry at Covenant Life Church.
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