SIH’s Think On These Things: Proverbs 1:1

He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)

 An Introduction To Our Study: Prov 1:1 

1) The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

INTRODUCTION:
To begin our series from the book of Proverbs, we’ll look at an introduction to this book found in Proverbs 1:1…

EXPOSITION:
King Solomon introduces himself, and the basic content of this book….

The proverbs of …
In this book, we find a series of “proverbs”.  What is a proverb?  Throughout the Bible, a proverb refers to a short common statement that directly, or indirectly, reveals truth to the hearer/reader.  Some examples of Biblical proverbs that are found in books other than the Book of Proverbs are:

2 Pet 2:22 – “…The dog [is] turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”
Luke 4:23 – “… Physician, heal thyself:…”
Hab 2:6 – “…Woe to him that increaseth [that which is] not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!”
Ezek 12:22 – “…The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?”
Ezek 16:44 – “… As [is] the mother, [so is] her daughter.”
Ezek 18:2 – “…The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?”
Isa 14:4 – “… How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!”
1Sam 24:13 – “…Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked:…”
1Sam 10:12 – “… [Is] Saul also among the prophets?”

By looking at this sampling of Biblical proverbs, we can see the shortness of the statements combined with the truths that are being presented by them.  His book contains a series of many, varied, short statements that will teach us Divine truths.  These truths are very practical, being designed to be applied to our day to day living.

…Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
The third king of Israel, Solomon, is the author of the majority of the book of Proverbs.  But, perhaps, the final two chapters of this book were written by other men. The two possible authors are “Agur the son of Jakeh” (30:1) and “Lemuel” (31:1).  It is possible these names are referring to King Solomon…

1. “Agur the son of Jakeh” is translated from the Hebrew phrase “the one of the harvest, the son of the obedient one”, this title could apply to Solomon…
Solomon was “the one of the harvest” , he is the one that had gathered (or harvested) all of this wisdom throughout his lifetime and then compiled it into this book.
He was clearly the son of “the obedient one”, David, who was a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam 13:14).

2.  “Lemuel” is translated from two separate Hebrew words that mean “to, for, or upon ” and “El (the name of God)”.   Being the one separated “to God” and “for God” applies to Solomon in two very unique ways…
First, he was used by Jehovah in the building of the temple (2 Sam 7).
Secondly, he was the one who received, and then handed down, true wisdom in a variety of areas of life (1 Kings 4:29-34) … to rule His people (2 Chron 1:11-12), to explain the purpose of life (Ecclesiastes), and practical wisdom (Proverbs).

Whether these two titles actual refer to Solomon, or are the titles of two other authors of Proverbs, cannot be known with certainty.  But it is possible that Solomon was the author of the entire book of Proverbs.

SUMMARY:
The importance of the book of Proverbs, and this study, cannot be underestimated.  God raised up this man Solomon with a very important purpose, to be used to hand down God-given wisdom to mankind …

“And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that [is] on the sea shore.  And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.  For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.  And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.  And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that [is] in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.  1Kgs 4:29-34 (KJV)

By God’s grace, we have the privilege to study the writings of Solomon.  Our study will be centering on the truths of God that are designed to enhance both the quality and spiritual value of the lives of His people.  This is why the  giving of these proverbs is described as “He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7).

May the Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.

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