Brownback / Ortlund Proverbs

A 12-Week Study
1. Auflage 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4335-4025-7
Verlag: Crossway
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 0 - No protection

E-Book, Englisch, 96 Seiten

Reihe: Knowing the Bible

The book of Proverbs uncovers the foundation of wisdom, marks out the paths that make us wise, and points us to the ultimate source of all true understanding: Jesus Christ. Helping make sense of a unique book, this guide explains the biblical text with clarity and passion-uncovering its wise instruction for godly living that glorifies God and leads to blessing for his people. Over the course of 12 weeks, these studies explore books of the Bible and: - Ask thoughtful questions to spur discussion - Show how each passage unveils the gospel - Tie the text in with the whole story of Scripture - Illuminate the doctrines taught in each passage - Invite you to discover practical implications - Help you better understand and apply God's Word

 Lydia Brownback (MAR, Westminster Theological Seminary) is the author of several books in addition to the Flourish Bible Study series, including the On-the-Go Devotionals for women; Finding God in My Loneliness; and Sing a New Song. She is a regular speaker at conferences and events and is passionate about teaching God's word.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Brownback, Lydia

Ortlund, Dane

Leseproben

WEEK 2: THE BEGINNING
OF KNOWLEDGE

Proverbs 1:1–7

The Place of the Passage

This brief passage sets the stage for the whole book of Proverbs. Verse 1 shows that the instruction contained in the collection is authoritative for God’s people because it comes from God’s appointed king, Solomon, son of David. Verses 2–6 describe the goal of the book, which is the acquisition of wisdom and knowledge, and verse 7 reveals what makes this acquisition possible: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (v. 7).

The Big Picture

Proverbs 1:1–7 shows us that humble, reverent submission to the covenant Lord is the path to covenant life.

Reflection and Discussion

Read through the complete passage for this study, Proverbs 1:1–7. Then review the questions below concerning this introductory section to Proverbs and write your notes on them. (For further background, see the ESV Study Bible, page 1135, or visit www.esvbible.org.)

When Solomon succeeded his father, David, as king of Israel, he prayed for wisdom to govern God’s people, and God granted his request (1 Kings 3:5–12). As a result, Israel flourished under Solomon’s leadership for many years. The practice of writing and compiling proverbs crossed cultural lines in the ancient world, but Solomon’s collection is distinctive in that it identifies submission to the Lord as the source of true wisdom. In light of these historical facts, how is God’s covenant with his people reflected in the introductory verse, “The proverbs of Solomon, son of David” (Prov. 1:1)?

“To know . . . to understand . . . to receive . . . to give.” Proverbs 1:2–5 provides the purpose and benefits of the book. Those who take its instruction to heart will develop an increasing sensitivity to that which is practically, intellectually, and morally wise. What heart posture is indicated in these verses as necessary to know, receive, and understand?

“To give prudence to the simple” (Prov. 1:4a). The benefits of wisdom are held out to the simple. The simple in Proverbs are those not firmly committed either to wisdom or to folly, and because of that, they do not apply themselves to the discipline needed to gain and grow in wisdom. Why do you think such a person is vulnerable to danger?

“To give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth” (Prov. 1:4). Much of the instruction in Proverbs is issued to young men in Israel, the next generation of leaders of covenant life. Several sections in the first nine chapters begin with a similar refrain: “Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction” (4:1; compare 1:8; 2:1; 3:1; 5:1; 6:1, 20; 7:1, 24; 8:32). Read Deuteronomy 4:9–10, a portion of Moses’ instruction to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. How do the father-to-son admonitions in Proverbs take their place within Moses’ instruction?

“Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance” (Prov. 1:5). What can we infer from the fact that wisdom is offered to those who are already wise?

We’re told in Proverbs 1:6 that the wise are able to understand riddles. We find riddles elsewhere in Scripture. Ezekiel, for example, issues an oracle using a riddle in chapter 17 of his prophecy, and a riddle is put forth in Psalm 49:4–6. Why do you think Scripture uses riddles as a teaching device?

“The fear of the LORD” (Prov. 1:7a). This phrase occurs frequently in Proverbs and is sprinkled throughout the Old Testament and found twice in the New Testament. Read Job 28:28; Psalm 19:9; Isaiah 11:2–3; Acts 9:31; and 2 Corinthians 5:11, as well as the surrounding context of these verses, and then describe what it means to “fear the Lord.”

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Prov. 1:7a). This verse summarizes the message of the entire book. The quest for wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord (see 9:10 and Ps. 111:10). Knowledge and wisdom are closely tied together in Proverbs. Knowledge has to do with developing a correct understanding of the world, while wisdom is the acquired skill of applying that knowledge rightly. Why do you think the fear of the Lord is a prerequisite for obtaining knowledge and wisdom?

“Fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Prov. 1:7b). The contrast is between the way of wisdom and the way of folly. This contrast dominates the entire book. The way of wisdom, the fear of the Lord, is set against the way of folly, which in Proverbs is equated with evil. What heart attitude revealed here classifies someone as a fool?

Read through the following three sections on Gospel Glimpses, Whole-Bible Connections, and Theological Soundings. Then take time to consider the Personal Implications these sections may have for you.

Gospel Glimpses

WISDOM REVEALED. The covenant Lord condescends to reveal his wisdom, not only to the wise but also to the simple and the fool, so that each might live in joyful fellowship with him and with one another. Each is unworthy of this gift—even the wise—yet wisdom and its benefits are offered for the taking.

TRANSFORMING GRACE. This opening passage of Proverbs, which outlines the transformative nature of wisdom, points forward to the believer’s sanctification1 in Christ. The apostle Paul wrote that believers are progressively transformed by the Holy Spirit into Christ’s likeness as they behold the glory of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 3:18).

EARS TO HEAR. “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance” (Prov. 1:5). Both the call to hear and the ability to do so are gracious gifts from God. Many times in the Gospels Jesus issues a call to hear, saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear,” and we find a gracious call to hear in Revelation: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22).

Whole-Bible Connections

DAVIDIC KING. The Lord made a promise to King David: “I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son” (2 Sam. 7:12–14). The offspring spoken of in this promise is Solomon, the author-compiler of Proverbs. Later, Hebrews 1:5 applies the words “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son” to Christ.

FEAR OF THE LORD. Throughout Scripture the fear of the Lord is prescribed for God’s people. It involves both reverent awe and a healthy fear of God’s displeasure and discipline. In Acts it refers either to godly awe, reverence, and devotion (see Acts 2:43; 10:2; 13:26) or to fear of God’s displeasure and fatherly discipline. In Romans 3:18 Paul identifies the root cause of sin as a failure to fear and honor God, and he makes his case from Psalm 36:1: “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Any society that commonly assumes that God will not discipline sin in this life or judge it in the next has no fear of God and will therefore give itself increasingly to evil. Such people are labeled as “fools” and “scoffers” in Proverbs.

Theological Soundings

SANCTIFICATION. Proverbs’ introductory passage makes clear that growth in godly character is not an automatic process. The way of wisdom is held out to us, but we must expose ourselves to its instruction in order to manifest it: “Let the wise hear and increase in learning” (Prov. 1:5). Here we get a glimpse of sanctification, the process of being made holy, which is revealed more fully in the New Testament. The Word, the Spirit, and the believer all participate in this transformation process. We see this joint action in Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind”; and again in Philippians 2:12–13: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

SCRIPTURE. The fear of the Lord, what generates knowledge and wisdom, comes by studying and obeying the Word of God.2 All God’s people are to be open and submissive to its instruction. The transformative power of God’s Word has been emphasized ever since the law was given by God to Moses: “Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the LORD your God commanded me to teach you . . . that you may fear the LORD your God, you and your son and your son’s son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments . . . that your days may be long” (Deut. 6:1–2); and it continues into the new covenant era: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16).

Personal Implications

Take time to reflect on the implications of Proverbs 1:1–7 for your own life today. Consider what you have learned that might lead you to repent of folly, pursue wisdom, and grow in your fear of the Lord. Make notes below on the personal implications for your walk...