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Sometimes the Point is Clear

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Some Biblical authors are very clear about why they wrote their books.  When you study these books, don’t feel the need to be particularly profound.  If you don’t get to the stated point, you’re probably missing something.

  1. Proverbs – to know wisdom, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction, to give prudence, to understand a proverb (Prov 1:1-6).
  2. Luke – to give an orderly account, that we might have certainty concerning the things we have been taught (Luke 1:1-4).
  3. John – so you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, and have life in his name (John 20:30-31).
  4. 1 John – so you may know you have life (1 John 5:13).
  5. Jude – to encourage us to contend for the faith (Jude 3).
  6. Revelation – to reveal Jesus Christ and show his servants the things that must soon take place (Rev 1:1).

Please feel free to comment if I missed any.

Proverbs: Solomon’s Intentions

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Solomon has an agenda for each of the types of people he addresses.

To the simple, he offers a gift: prudence, knowledge and discretion (Prov 1:4).  You can’t stay at the crossroads forever.  Not to make a decision is to make the wrong decision.  Turn to the Lord (trust in his Messiah, Jesus); start moving toward him and becoming like him.  Then you’ll live up to your created potential, and you’ll obtain your redeemed glory.

To the foolish, he offers a challenge: fear the Lord and begin to have knowledge (Prov 1:7).  Be a fool no longer.  Give up what you cannot keep (your own self-satisfied condition and individualistic righteousness) to gain what you cannot lose (entrance into the eternal kingdom, fullness of life, most delightful joy).  It will cost you everything and be the most difficult thing you ever do, but it’s the only way to true freedom and lasting insight.  Jesus died a fool’s death so fools could know the wise life by knowing him.

To the wise, he offers both encouragement and caution: you’re running on the right path, but don’t slow down (Prov 1:5)!  You’re never finished.  You haven’t arrived yet.  Wisdom is not something you are; it is something you are doing.  We can never be wise; we can only become wise.  It’s a journey, not a destination.  The wise person grows closer and closer to the Lord Jesus until the last day.

Proverbs: Three Kinds of People

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We looked at the broad audience of Proverbs last week, but today let’s examine more specifically what types of people Solomon expects to be present in the community.

Various authors in Scripture view people through different frameworks.  The author of Hebrews sees people as either immature or mature.  From one angle, the apostle Paul divides people into Jew or Gentile; from another he considers them to be justified or condemned.  Jesus often distinguishes people as having faith or not, being for him or against him, sheep or goats or wolves.

These differing frameworks are not mutually exclusive; they merely represent different perspectives or intentions on the part of the particular author.

In Proverbs, Solomon organizes people into three categories: the wise, the foolish, and the simple.  These categories are not dependent on age, class, race, gender, or socio-economic status.  Rather, they are determined by one’s direction in reference to the Lord.

1. Those who are moving toward the Lord are called wise.  This person is not a perfect or intelligent person, but rather a person who will gain understanding and change his life based on what he hears in Scripture (Prov 1:5).

2. Those who are moving away from the Lord are called foolish.  This person is not an ignorant or uneducated person, but rather a person who doesn’t want to change anymore.  He thinks he’s doing just fine on his own and doesn’t need any more help, especially not from the Lord (Prov 1:7).

3. Those who are not moving at all with respect to the Lord, on account of age, inexperience, or incapacity of some sort are called simple.  This person is not an unreligious or immoral person (at least not yet), but rather a child or child-like person who is just starting out on the path of life and thus is about to decide whether to move toward the Lord or away from him (Prov 1:4). The crossroads are before you; which fork will you take?  It’s critical to understand, however, that we cannot remain simple forever.  It’s okay for a baby to smear spaghetti in her hair, but by the time she turns 30, more will generally be expected of her.  Or, more elegantly, “one does not stay still: a man who is emptyheaded will end up wrongheaded.”[1]

[1] Kidner, Proverbs: An Introduction & Commentary (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1964), p.13.

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Why We Should Care Who the Audience Is

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In yesterday’s post we considered who the primary audience of Proverbs was.  Why bother?

The main reason is because, although the Bible was written for us (1 Cor 10:11), it was not written to us.  Every book of the Bible was written by a particular person, for a particular group of people, in a particular situation.  We put ourselves in danger of misunderstanding the text if we don’t first understand these historical circumstances.  We must put ourselves in their shoes.

Imagine if I showed you a letter in which I wrote the sentence “You’re making me go crazy.”  How would you read that line if you knew I had written the letter to my child?  To my employee?  My neighbor?  My wife?  My pet snake?  A customer service rep at a store from which I made a significant purchase?

At the office where I work, we maintain a quote board for just this purpose: to catalogue the random statements which, removed from any context, become hilarious.  We have entries on the board like:

  • “Did you forget the pot this morning?”
  • “If you’re gonna die, it’s nice to do it at home.”
  • “I’m going to do number two tomorrow, but it’s going to take me a while, because I haven’t done it in awhile.”
  • “The longer I live, the more I don’t want to.”
  • “I keep trying to say funny things to get on the quote board.”

When it comes to studying the Bible, let’s keep the original audience in mind.  Otherwise, we can miss the point.  For example:

  • Genesis (as a book) was prepared for a nation of people who had just come out of centuries of enslavement and were trying to figure out their identity.  It was not primarily written to people who were examining the origin(s) of all things.
  • Daniel was written to Jewish exiles in Babylon and Persia to help them understand how God could possibly still be in control.  Daniel’s predictions were largely intended to prepare these people, and their converts, for the coming Messiah (King of the Jews).  It worked, since some from that region knew what to look for at just the right time (Matt 2:1-2).
  • Revelation (and it’s rich symbols) was not primarily about 21st century events.  The book would have made sense to believers in churches scattered across Turkey in the 1st century AD (Rev 1:4).  We ought to read it accordingly.

Whenever you approach a book of the Bible, make sure you find out who the original audience was (as much as is possible) and do your best to put yourself in their shoes.

Proverbs: Audience

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F. Gopp (2010), Creative Commons

F. Gopp (2010), Creative Commons

While there is significant agreement about Solomon’s authorship of Proverbs 1-9, the question of his audience is far more difficult to answer.  A popular opinion is that Solomon was writing to his son, which makes sense in light of the frequent repetition of “my son” in these early chapters.  However, there is reason to believe “my son” refers to more than just Solomon’s genetic offspring.

Commentator Bruce Waltke understands that Proverbs “is addressed to gullible youths (Prov 1:4) and wise children (Prov 1:5, 8) to enable them to attain wisdom and be safeguarded against the world-and-life views of the impious and unethical in any age.”[1]  My former Hebrew professor Frederic Clarke Putnam takes it a step further when he argues that the primary audience was likely “young men from relatively wealthy backgrounds.”[2]  The wealth possessed by the desirable wife (Proverbs 31:13-16, 20-24), and the prevalence of proverbs advising one in his relationship with the king (for example Proverbs 16:12-15, 25:1-7) demonstrate that Solomon has an audience in mind more specific than all of Israel’s children yet more broad than one or more of Solomon’s own sons.

I propose that Proverbs as a whole is not intended for young children primarily, but rather for young people among Israel’s nobility who are transitioning to adulthood and preparing to become leaders in society.  They must be of marriageable age, if they are being given significant advice on choosing a partner (Proverbs 31:10-31).  They are expected to use their wealth and influence for the causes of goodness and justice in the land (for example Proverbs 16:23, 18:5, 22:16, 29:3, 29:26).  They are growing up and preparing to leave their parents’ homes and enter the world of more independent responsibility.[3]

In our generation, Proverbs has significant application to anyone who currently has or hopes to obtain a leadership role in society.  Are you a parent?  Would you like to lead others to Christ?  Do you hope to see the world become a better place?  Do you have a bank account that God wants you to steward for the building of his kingdom?  Do you interact with other people at any time?  If you answer yes to any of these questions, then you have a significant responsibility from the Lord: do it wisely.  And Proverbs can help.

[1] Waltke, The Book of Proverbs Chapters 1-15, NICOT (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2004), p.37.

[2] The Complete Biblical Library: The Old Testament Study Bible: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (Springfield, MO: World Library Press, 1998), p.450.

[3] See Proverbs 6:20-23, where the parents expect the commands themselves to take over the teaching role that the father and mother have held to this point in the young person’s life.

How’d You Do That? (6/17/12)

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We just finished examining a bit of Solomon’s biography and credentials for authoring the book of Proverbs.  We saw that God’s wisdom, God’s promise, and great wealth qualified him for this task.

How did I come up with these principles?

The main idea here is that the narrative books of the Bible often give us key information to help us interpret the didactic (teaching) books.  We learn about Solomon’s story from the books that chronicle his life.  As I studied those sections, I began to draw connections to the Proverbs.  Especially helpful was 1 Kings 3:1-15, where Solomon asks for wisdom, and 1 Kings 4:20-34, where Solomon demonstrates his wisdom.

We can follow this same procedure for other parts of the Bible.

  • When reading Paul’s letters, first check out the biographical information on Paul in the book of Acts.  The most helpful parts are the sections where he ministers in the cities he later wrote letters to.  For example, study Acts 16:11-40 for background on the book of Philippians, Acts 17:1-9 for background on 1 & 2 Thessalonians, and Acts 18:1-18 for background on 1 & 2 Corinthians.
  • Consider Acts 14:8-23 and Acts 16:1-3 for information to help you interpret 1 & 2 Timothy.
  • Certain Psalms are connected with events in David’s life.  Psalm 3:1-8 makes sense after you understand 2 Samuel 15:1-37, and Psalm 51:1-19 should be read in connection with 2 Samuel 11:1-12:25.

I’m sure you get the idea.  When you study books of the Bible, first try to understand the author’s life situation and character.  The Bible itself can help you do this.

Proverbs: Author, Part 3

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Solomon was qualified to compose Proverbs, not only because of God’s wisdom and God’s promise, but also because he had:

3. Great Wealth.

King Solomon had an annual income of 666 talents of gold (1 Kings 10:14).  (This amount only takes into account his base salary; adding in tax revenue and investment income would push the figure even higher.  See 1 Kings 10:15.)  Translated into modern American currency, Solomon’s annual income was in excess of $1 billion.[1]  To put this figure into perspective, note that Tiger Woods (the world’s highest paid athlete) made only $75 million in 2010 (down from $125 million in 2009).  It would be difficult to find anyone in our generation comparable to Solomon in his wealth.

The point of this little economics lesson is this: what could you do with all that capital?  If Solomon lacked for anything, he could acquire it.  If he wanted to try something out, it was his.  He had access to the best technology, education, public safety, athletics, arts & entertainment, food, hobbies, and service that the world could offer him.  Whatever his eyes desired, he did not keep from them.[2]  Solomon explored every aspect of the created world with his wisdom, and he carefully examined it for every ounce of value.  He now provides his experience (both positive and negative) of every delightful thing in a collection of wise sayings.

In conclusion, Solomon was abundantly qualified to take on the role of the sage of Israel and of the world.  He had every possible resource at his disposal, and God gave him both the insight and the power to evaluate it wisely.  His credentials are sufficient to the task of imparting wisdom.

[1] Some readers won’t be able to hear anything else I write until they know how I arrived at this figure.  This footnote is just for you.  The New Bible Dictionary (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 1962), p.1234 states that 1 ancient talent equals approximately 30 modern kilograms.  Therefore, 666 talents = 19,980kg = 19,980,000g.  In June 2012, 24 karat gold was worth about $52/gram.  Therefore, 19,980,000g of 24 karat gold = $1.04 billion.

[2] Ecclesiastes 2:10.  Even if, as some claim, Solomon were not “the Preacher” of Ecclesiastes, it would appear that the Preacher at least aims to connect his spiritual authority with Solomon’s reputation (see Ecclesiastes 1:1).

Proverbs: Author, Part 2

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Yesterday, we saw how God’s wisdom qualified Solomon to compose Proverbs.  Today, we’ll examine the second of his credentials.

2. God’s Promise.

The Lord himself promised to build up and sustain Solomon in his wisdom.  First, he promised him a kingdom.  Speaking to Solomon’s father David, God said, “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom” (2 Samuel 7:12, ESV).  Second, he promised to have a special relationship with Solomon: “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son.  When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him” (2 Samuel 7:14, ESV).  Third, he promised to love him to the end: “My steadfast love will not depart from him” (2 Samuel 7:15, ESV).

Notice how these first two resources (God’s wisdom and God’s promise) are connected.  Solomon could have all the wisdom in the world, but without the promise of God to sustain him, it would all be for naught.  Imagine studying for a test.  You can learn every fact and formula.  You could even memorize a transcript of every word your teacher spoke in class.  These actions might impart wisdom to you.  But if you get no sleep the night before the exam, you will have no power or ability to recall and apply everything you learned.  So God’s wisdom gave Solomon the raw insight he needed, and God’s promise gave Solomon the beautiful power of follow-through.

Proverbs: Author, Part 1

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Proverbs 1:1, ESV: “The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel”

Who better to comment on the details of earthly existence than Solomon, the son of David, the king of Israel?  As the man Solomon, he had exceptional God-given insight and understanding.  As the son of David, he had the promise of a kingdom for God, a special relationship with God, and steadfast love from God.  As the king of Israel, he had both power and unparalleled wealth.  These three resources – God’s wisdom, God’s promise, and great wealth – made Solomon uniquely qualified to compose proverbs.  Let’s examine them in order in the next few posts.

1. God’s Wisdom.

Solomon asked God for “an understanding mind to govern” God’s people so he could “discern between good and evil” (1 Kings 3:9),and the Lord promised to honor Solomon’s request (1 Kings 3:12).  On account of his wise judgment, all Israel “stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him to do justice” (1 Kings 3:28).

Solomon’s God-given wisdom surpassed that of all the sages of the East and of Egypt (1 Kings 4:29-31).  This means he was smarter than Confucius and cleverer than the Buddha.  He spoke 3,000 proverbs (about 900 of which are in the book of Proverbs), and his songs were 1,005 (1 Kings 4:32).  (The best one – The Song of Songs – is also memorialized in scripture.)  He spoke of many details of life, such as trees, birds, reptiles, and fish (1 Kings 4:33).  International students from every corner of the globe competed for a seat in his classroom (1 Kings 4:34).  Solomon was both more prolific and more elegant than any other scholar of his day because he had direct access to the mind of the Lord of heaven and earth.

Proverbs: Genre

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Proverbs 1:1: “The proverbs of Solomon…”

This first phrase of Proverbs is the title for the entire book.  Note first that the goal of the author is not to provide black and white “laws” to govern all behavior.  He does not aim to form a comprehensive code of “prophecies” or “ethics” by which we can measure our progress in obedience.  Rather, he writes “proverbs.”  As Derek Kidner puts it, “there are details of character small enough to escape the mesh of the law and the broadsides of the prophets, and yet decisive in personal dealings.”[1]  In other words, while God’s law addresses the foundational principles undergirding all godly virtue, and while the prophecies shock people into returning from their sin back to these core moral principles, the proverbs address issues like “what should I do when I wake up tomorrow morning?”

Dictionary.com defines a proverb as “a short popular saying, usually of unknown and ancient origin, that expresses effectively some commonplace truth or useful thought.”  That’s how native English speakers use the word “proverb,” and most translators find it adequate to represent the original Hebrew term.

What’s the point?  Simply that the compiler of Proverbs reveals commonplace truths in short, memorable sayings.  He’s describing principles of everyday living.  He wants us to know the Lord in the messy and disorganized details of life.

Photo Credit: “gas pump” Copyright 2009 by Korina Skiada, used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.

Proverbs help address questions such as: should you buy a house or continue renting?  When is your child old enough to become romantically involved with someone?  When your friend sins, should you confront him or cover it over in love?  Should you take that new job offer?  How soon should you pay off your debt? Which octane gasoline should you put in your tank?  What could you say to your non-Christian neighbor that would be both bold and winsome?

Biblical proverbs are high-mileage statements with suped-up verbal turbines.  They contain nuggets of truth crafted attractively and concisely to provoke consideration.  They arise from the daily experience of those who, like Solomon, live life with their eyes open.

[1] Proverbs: An Introduction & Commentary (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1964), p.13.