Proverbs 1:1
The book of Proverbs is a very difficult book to study as it’s
content is greatly varied. It is a book of wisdom about EVERYTHING
and so it is very difficult to outline and in some places, even to
read. In some sections. topics change every verse. However, we can
outline the book in its style as follows:
Outline of the Book:
I. \\#1:1-9\\ Introduction
II. \\#1:10-9:18\\ - Lengthy Proverb) (A Father’s Exhortations)
A. \\#Pro 1:10-21\\ Resist Peer Pressure
B. \\#Pro 1:20-33\\ Wisdom Desires You
III. \\#10:1-22:16\\ - Short Proverbs
A. There are 375 verses in this section, most containing a
individual proverb, making it very hard to organize.
B. \\#1Kings 4:32\\ Solomon spoke over 3,000. By spoke, I take
to mean that he could readily quote and apply them.
IV. \\#22:17-24:34\\ - Medium-Length Proverbs
V. \\#25:1-29:27\\ - More Short Proverbs
A. Solomon’s proverbs but were added to the text by Hezekiah.
B. 138 more verses for a total of 513.
VI. \\#30:1-33\\ - Agur’s Proverbs
VII. \\#31:1-31\\ - King Lemuel’s Proverbs
Although the book is very difficult to study through, it is very
consistent in two things:
1. It is all the inspired Word of God.
2. It was all written by the wise with the thought of helping the
unwise.
I. \\#Pro 1:1-9\\ Introduction
A. \\#Pro 1:1\\ Author
1. The primary writer of the book is Solomon
\\#Pro 1:1, 10:, 25:1\\, although two other writers are
given credit Agur, \\#Pro 30:1\\ and King Lemuel
\\#Pro 31:1\\).
2. Hezekiah will gather more of Solomon’s proverbs and add
them to the collection \\#Pro 25:1\\ some 230 years after
Solomon but Hezekiah clearly credits the proverbs as
being Solomon’s.
3. The wisdom of Solomon is renowned \\#1Kings 4:29-34\\.
Solomon spake over 3,000 proverbs and one writer says only
800 are included in this book.
B. \\#Pro 1:2\\ There are three purposes.
1. \\#2\\ To know wisdom (Strong’s 02450)
a. This is not an ability but a state of being.
b. When used in the secular sense, it means to be skilled,
talented, able, a craftsman.
c. Examples:
Ex 28:3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are
WISE hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit
of WISDOM, that they may make Aaron’s garments to
consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in
the priest’s office.
Ex 35:31 And he hath filled him with the spirit
of God, in WISDOM, in understanding, and in
knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;
d. When used spiritually, it means the individual has
attained a walk with God so that he thinks about
things as God thinks about things.
e. This wise person is "skilled at walking with
the Lord."
f. This individual does not know all things and he does
not have all the answers but he uses godly precepts
and principals to arrive at the proper solution.
g. This is the kind of man, woman, or child this Book can
produce.
h. This is the kind of man mentioned \\#Pro 1:5-6\\.
2. \\#2\\ To know instruction (Strong’s 04148)
a. Instruction is a learned discipline like karate or
yoga.
b. It is more than just a learned lesson or even a series
of lessons learned from a book.
c. These disciplines, like karate or yoga, would involve
the mind, body, and spirit.
d. This instruction would then become life practices.
e. As such, the book of Proverbs offers more than
intellectual stimulation. It is a mastery of
spiritual disciplines which, when learned, shape the
remainder of our lives.
f. The goal of Proverbs is to for us to learn the
discipline of four teachers: wisdom, justice,
judgment, and equity \\#3\\.
3. \\#2\\ To perceive the words of understanding (Strong’s
0998)
a. PERCEIVE and UNDERSTANDING actually come from the same
word.
b. They both have to do with discerning, recognizing, and
comprehending truth and right.
c. This is an function of the spirit not the intellect.
d. One can sense something is right or wrong (spirit)
without being able to explain way (intellect).
C. \\#Pro 1:3\\ There are four instructors.
1. \\#3\\ To be instructed by wisdom (Strong’s 07919)
a. Wisdom is the instructor.
b. This is a different word from the wisdom \\#2\\ and
means "look, learn; and live."
c. It is best explained by the Bible. Here the Bible
tells us how to arrive at this place of wisdom.
Is 40:20 That they may see, and know, and
consider, and UNDERSTAND together, that the hand
of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of
Israel hath created it.
d. This type of wisdom comes by experience, preferably
another’s.
e. LIFE teaches us if we will let it.
2. \\#3\\ To be instructed by justice
a. Justice is the instructor.
b. The word is a legal term which means "to be right."
c. Doing and being right is a great instructor.
3. \\#3\\ To be instructed by judgment
a. Judgment is the instructor.
b. The word means "to judge."
c. The idea is probably CONSEQUENCES. Every action has a
judgment, a consequence.
d. The results of our actions can teach us well!
4. \\#3\\ To be instructed by equity
a. Equity is the instructor.
b. The word means "even, balanced."
c. The idea is FAIR.
d. Everyone complains that life is not fair but we ought
to do what we can to make things BALANCE OUT.
D. \\#Pro 1:4\\ There are three goals.
1. \\#4\\ To give subtilty to the simple
a. The word means SHREWDNESS, PRUDENCE, CRAFTINESS.
b. God’s goal is not that we become tricksters but that
our wisdom and instruction would be thorough enough
to keep us from tricksters.
c. Perhaps we could use the word "DEPTH." The
accomplishment of this goal would keep the learner
from becoming victim to those with evil intent.
2. \\#4\\ To give knowledge to the young man
a. The word for KNOWLEDGE means what you can learn from
observing, thinking, and being told.
b. This would be the full spectrum of knowledge.
3. \\#4\\ To give discretion
a. Strong’s 04209
b. "An understanding of evil" will be given to the young
man.
E. \\#Pro 1:5-9\\ There are three basic principles of learning.
1. \\#Pro 1:5-6\\ The student must be teachable.
a. The man who is wise is the one who is SKILLED AT
WALKING WITH THE LORD. He does not know all things
but knows how to see things as God sees things.
b. The man who has understanding has DISCERNMENT.
c. This man will ATTAIN (ACCEPT) wise counsel.
d. In other words, this person is teachable.
(1) He will understand wisdom (PROVERB).
(2) He will have perception and comprehension
INTERPRETATION).
(3) He will have good advice.
(4) He will even understand the hidden things (DARK
SAYINGS).
2. \\#Pro 1:7\\ The student must start at the beginning.
a. The beginning of all learning is to know God.
b. The knowledge of God is the frame around which all
other knowledge must be hung.
c. How could one learn math without numbers or language
without words or music without notes. So no other
truth can be correctly evaluated without a knowledge
of God.
3. \\#Pro 1:8-9\\ The student must respect his first and most
important teacher.
a. The first and most important teachers are the parents.
b. Without a respect for them and what they teach, no
wisdom is possible.
II. \\#Pro 1:9-9:18\\ A Father’s Exhortation
A. \\#Pro 1:10-21\\ Resist Peer Pressure
1. Some think peer pressure is a new invention. It is not.
a. The influence of peers is greater since we are much
less family oriented and the trouble peers lead our
children into is more pronounced, but the danger has
always been there.
b. The only weapon against bad peer pressure is character.
We must put something into the nature of our youth that
will resist the call of their bad peers.
2. \\#10\\ The command - When they call, do not yet.
3. \\#11-14\\ The example
a. \\#11\\ Their prey is the innocent (i.e. INNOCENT,
WITHOUT CAUSE).
b. \\#11\\ Their attack is cowardly (i.e. LURK
PRIVATELY).
c. \\#11\\ Their need is large numbers (i.e. COME
WITH US).
d. \\#12\\ Their goal is to devour (i.e. SWALLOW THEM
UP).
e. \\#13\\ Their desire is easy money (i.e. PRECIOUS
SUBSTANCE, SPOIL).
f. \\#14\\ Their hook is to split the booty (i.e. ONE
PURSE)
4. \\#15-19\\ The father’s counsel
a. \\#15\\ WHAT - Don’t go with them.
b. \\#16\\ WHY - They are going to do evil and hurt
people.
c. \\#17\\ LESSON - You can’t catch the bird your
aiming for by setting a trap in front of him.
d. \\#18\\ RESULT - These evil men will end up hurting
themselves. (Because God will cause it to happen!)
e. \\#19\\ TRUTH - This is always what happens when
greed is your goal.
5. Other proverbs:
Proverbs 10:23 It is as sport to a fool to do
mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
Proverbs 13:20 He that walketh with wise men
shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall
be destroyed.
Proverbs 14:7 Go from the presence of a foolish
man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of
knowledge.
Proverbs 14:15 The simple believeth every word:
but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
Proverbs 16:29 A violent man enticeth his
neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is
not good.
30 He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things:
moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
Proverbs 19:27 Cease, my son, to hear the
instruction that causeth to err from the words
of knowledge.
Proverbs 20:11 Even a child is known by his
doings, whether his work be pure, and whether
it be right.
Proverbs 21:7 The robbery of the wicked shall
destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.
B. \\#Pro 1:20-33\\ Wisdom Desires You - Many sections in Proverbs
will illustrate the importance of you seeking wisdom but this
one describes wisdom as seeking you.
1. \\#20,21\\ She calls.
2. \\#22\\ She warns.
3. \\#23\\ She reproofs.
4. \\#23\\ She teaches.
5. \\#24-33\\ She rejects. As with all of God’s mercies,
grace rejected becomes grace revoked. Wisdom may flee
from you when you decide you want it.
6. Other Proverbs
a. \\#Pro 8:12-36\\
b. Others
Proverbs 8:1 Doth not wisdom cry? and
understanding put forth her voice?
Proverbs 14:6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and
findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him
that understandeth.
7. Wisdom is the attribute of God, unfeigned and pure; hence,
anything that can be said about wisdom can be said about
God and anything that wisdom says, God says.
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