Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

Proverbs is a book classified as ‘wisdom literature’. They are a collection of sayings and guidelines for practical daily living. The book is believed to be written about 900 B.C. mostly by King Solomon, but also with Lemuel and Agur being listed as contributors (although Lemuel is believed by some to be a pseudonym for Solomon). It was written in a poetic style, relying a lot on comparing and contrasting. They are not a collection of specific saying to a specific people. Instead, they are timeless wisdom for all humanity and all point of the human timeline. They are just as applicable today as they were when they were written, and that will remain the same for a LONG time to come.

Wisdom itself is the theme of the first four chapters of Proverbs. This is the prologue: “To know wisdom and instruction, to understand sayings of understanding, to gain insightful instruction, righteousness and justice and equity, to give shrewdness to the simple, knowledge and purpose to the young, may the wise hear and increase learning, and the one who understands gain direction, to understand a proverb and an expression, words of wisdom and their riddles. Fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; wisdom and instruction, fools despise” (Proverbs 1:2-7). Revering God is how we start building true knowledge. And if we think we are short on wisdom, God has a fix for that too: “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask for it from God, who gives to all without reservation and not reproaching, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). The entire book of Proverbs is the beginning of the answer to that prayer.

Chapter one is about the theme of the whole book (the embracing of wisdom). It is also about the call of wisdom to us. Wisdom calls out for us because it is a vital part of our journey as humans travelling God’s path. It will ALWAYS be rewarding to us when we answer.

Chapter two is the value of wisdom. It is about the benefits we can have when we seek it and the many ways it helps us. Further, it clearly states that God doesn’t hide wisdom to us but that He encourages us to pursue it.

Chapter three is about the rewards we experience when wisdom is something we not only value, but pursue. It shows us the blessing it can be in our lives and the practical things we can have without needing to force them into place – like peace and confidence.

Chapter four is an explanation about the supremacy of wisdom and a warning about what you can lose out on when you don’t value it. We get lists of benefits. We get instructions on how to pursue wisdom. And we get examples of how to be godly in our thoughts, words, and actions.

Summary

Key Players: God, Solomon

Key Verse(s): Proverbs 1:8-9; 2:1-5; 3:1-10; 4:5-11