Proverbs Lesson #1
Introduction:
A. Complete the following sayings:
1. A stitch in time saves ______.
2. A penny saved is a penny ________.
3. The early bird gets the _______.
4. It is better to have loved and lost than never to have __________.
B. Questions concerning these sayings:
1. Why are they so easy to remember?
a. They are short.
b. They are practical.
2. Do they have more meaning than appears on the surface?
a. Does the saying, "A stitch in time . . . ." only apply to sewing?
b. Is the saying , " The early bird . . . ." only refering to birds?
C. These sayings are similar to the proverbs.
1. The proverbs are:
a. Short pithy sayings that relate to various truths.
b. A collection of "practical ethics dealing with man's relation to God and his
fellow men."
c."A literary device to arrest attention, awaken responsive thought and remain
fixed in the memory."
2. The proverbs, however, are a part of God's word.
a. Truth is truth (even if it is of men).
b. The truth of God is not comparable to the wisdom of men.
Therefore let us begin our study of the book of Proverbs that we might learn, apply, and
live by these truths.
I. The author/s of the book of Proverbs.
A. there seems to have been at least two unknowns who wrote them.
1. "Agur the son of Jakeh"-30:1.
a. Agur = Gatherer or collector.
b. Ithiel = utterer
c. "Prophecy" = there is a lot of variation on what this means, and how it should
be translated (burden-interlinear; uttereance-NKJV; and son of Masa-RSV cf.
Genesis 25:14)
2. "King Lemuel" = 31:1.
a. His mother is said to have taught him these words.
b. He is given credit for the first nine verses.
B. Solomon is credited with writing most of the proverbs.
1. "The proverbs of Solomon" =1:1.
2. "The proverbs of Solomon" =10:1.
3. "These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah King of Juday
copied out" =25:1.
II.What do we know about Solomon?
A. His genealogy.
1. Who were Solomon's parents (II Samuel 12;24)?
a. David.
b. Bathsheba.
2.What influence or effect do you think his parents had on him? and why?
a. David was said to be a man after God's own heart = Acts 13:22.
b. David's household was not a happy one = II Sam.12:9-12
1) Absalom killed his brother Amnon = II Sam. 13.
2) Absalom tried to take away throne = II Sam . 15.
3) Adonijah tries to make himself king =I Kings 1.
B.Solomon's wisdom.
1. God told him to ask anything he would = I Kings 3:5-15.
a. He could ask for anything, but he asked for wisdom.
b. He is said to be one of the wisest man ever = I Kings 3:12
c. When two women came to him, both claiming the same child as their own,
how did Solomon show his wisdom? = I Kings 3:16-27
d. What famous person came to check out Solomon's wisdom?, and what was
their conclusion concerning his wisdom? = I Kings 10:1-10
2. Did Solomon always act wisely?
a. He married women who turned his heart from the Lord = I Kings 11:1-4
b. In what book did he give himself all things he desired, which turned
out to be vanity? (Ecclesiastes)
3. Solomon's son Rehoboam, who reigned after him,begann his career with a
foolish act that cost him almost the whole kingdom; what was it? =
I Kings 12.
C. Words of wisdom spoken to Solomon by David.
1. David gave Solomon words he should have obeyed.
a. I Kings 2:1-4.
b. I Chron. 22:11-13.
c. I Chron.28:9-10.
2. How can we apply these words to ourselves?
a. I Kings 2:1-4.
1) Make ourselves strong.
2) Keep the charge of the Lord our God.
b. From I Chron. 22:11-13
1) Seek the wisdom and understanding only God can give.
2) Keep the law of the Lord our God.
3) Be strong, and of good courage, dread not, nor be dismayed.
(Romans 8:31; Philippians 4:6; I Thess. 5:16; I Cor. 16:13; II Tim. 1:7)
c. From I Chron.28:9-10.
1) Know God.
2) Serve him with a perfect heart, and a willing mind.
III. Studying the book of Proverbs.
A. Will help us to gain certain things.
1. As is listed in the first four verses.
a. Wisdom = application of knowledge.
b. Instruction (correction, discipline, instruction) in:
1) Wisdom = (exercising sound judgement in practical matters).
2) Justice = (Knowing what is right).
3) Judgement = (judging rightly).
4) Equity = (the way in which one goes/right away).
c. Subtlety (mentally keen) to the simple.
d. To the young :
1) Knowledge = intelligence , understanding, wisdom.
2) Discretion = (the ability to make decisions).
* This book has been called "the best guide book to success that a
young man can follow."
B. Is done easiest by catagories.
1. Wisdom. 5. Self control. 9. Success.
2. Fools. 6. Laziness. 10. Things God hates.
3. Friendship. 7. Tongue. 11. Riches.
4. God. 8. Family life. 12. Anger.
Conclusion:
A. Proverbs are small sayings with big truths .
B. By studying , and applying the book of Proverbs we will:
1. Be able to live better with our fellow men.
2. Be more pleasing to God.
C. Next week's assignment is to look up ten verses that speak of wisdom. explain them,
give N.T. passages that teach on wisdom, and make application to our lives today.