Every culture has it's set of wise sayings or proverbs. What makes the Book of Proverbs in the Bible different is that it contains wisdom from God Himself. The Proverbs are based on the moral and ethical teaching of the Law. The wisdom contained in this book is worth more than anything else in the world.
1. Journey Through The Bible
The Book of Proverbs:
The Way of Wisdom
Bible Readings:
Proverbs 4:1-27 (Page 451)
Matthew 7:13-23 (Page 685)
1
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
2. Human wisdom
Wise sayings
•“If a man is righteous, people will follow him with out
being told; but if he is not, then no amount of orders
will make them follow.” Confucius
2
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
3. Human wisdom
Wise sayings
•“How can a swallow know the aspirations of a swan?”
Chen Sheng 208 BC
(Qin Dynasty)
3
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
4. Wise sayings in the
Bible
•Proverbs are based on the
ethical and moral teaching
of God’s law.
•The book of proverbs
doesn’t contain human
wisdom but wisdom from
God the creator of all
things.
•They have an authority
and application for all
people for all times.4
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
5. Wise sayings in the
Bible
•The book of Proverbs is a
compilation of 5
collections of proverbs.
•From King Solomon’s
reign 950 BC until the
restoration of the kingdom
around 450 BC.
•Originally written in
Hebrew poetry with verses
of two lines.
5
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
6. Parallel Lines
•“A wise son brings joy to his
father,
but a foolish son grief to his
mother.” 10:1
•The first line makes a statement
and the second states an
opposite the contrast adds
meaning.
•“The heart of the righteous
weighs its answers,
but the mouth of the wicked
gushes evil.” 15:286
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
7. Parallel Lines
•The pictures and words are very
compact and hard hitting.
•The reader has to stop and
think about the meaning and
how to apply it.
•“Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman who
shows no discretion.” 11:22
(discretion = reason,
taste,understanding)
7
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
8. Use different translations to help understanding
• Proverbs 16:28 (NIV84)
A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates
close friends.
8
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
9. Use different translations to help understanding
• Proverbs 16:28 (NIV84)
A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates
close friends.
• Proverbs 16:28 (NKJV)
A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best
of friends.
8
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
10. Use different translations to help understanding
• Proverbs 16:28 (NIV84)
A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates
close friends.
• Proverbs 16:28 (NKJV)
A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best
of friends.
• Proverbs 16:28 (NLT)
A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best
of friends.
8
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
11. Use different translations to help understanding
• Proverbs 16:28 (NIV84)
A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates
close friends.
• Proverbs 16:28 (NKJV)
A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best
of friends.
• Proverbs 16:28 (NLT)
A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best
of friends.
• Proverbs 16:28 (NIrV)
A twisted person stirs up fights. Anyone who talks about others
comes between close friends. 8
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
12. Wisdom in Five Areas
of Life
1. Wisdom
2. Work
3. Family
4. Friendship
5. Words
9
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
13. Wisdom and Folly
•God teaches us to
understand what a wise
man does by showing us
how to recognize the
opposite of wisdom, the
fool.
•Psalm 14:1 “The fool has
said in his heart “There is
no God”.
•In the Bible a fool acts as
though there is no God.10
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
14. Seek Wisdom
•The first 9 chapters are a
passionate plea urging
people to seek wisdom
with all their heart and
mind and leave behind
foolish i.e. ungodly ways
of thinking.
•Wisdom is pictured as a
beautiful woman crying
out in the streets urging
people to take the gifts
that she offers.11
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
15. Seek Wisdom
Proverbs 8:1–6 (NIV84)
1 Does not wisdom call out?
Does not understanding raise her
voice?
On the heights along the way,
where the paths meet, she takes her
stand; beside the gates leading into the
city, at the entrances, she cries aloud:
“To you, O men, I call out;
I raise my voice to all mankind.
You who are simple, gain prudence;
you who are foolish, gain
understanding.
Listen, for I have worthy things to say;
I open my lips to speak what is right.
12
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
16. What Wisdom Offers
Proverbs 8:18–21 (NIV84)
With me are riches and honor,
enduring wealth and prosperity.
My fruit is better than fine gold;
what I yield surpasses choice
silver.
I walk in the way of
righteousness,
along the paths of justice,
bestowing wealth on those who
love me
and making their treasuries full.
13
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
17. Wisdom is worth more than gold
• Wisdom is worth more
than anything else in the
world.
• Proverbs 1:7 (NIV84)
“The fear of the Lord is
the beginning of
knowledge, but fools
despise wisdom and
discipline.”
• A fool is recognised by
the fact they don’t like
discipline and lack self
control and don’t seek
God’s wisdom.14
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
18. The nobility of work
• The Suggard.
• Proverbs 26:15 (NIV84
The sluggard buries his hand
in the dish; he is too lazy to
bring it back to his mouth.
• The picture is of someone
who starts something but
never finishes.
• A sluggard always has
excuses for why he or she
can’t do something.
• Proverbs is not saying we
should be workaholics.
• The deeper issue the attitude
to work.15
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
19. Why Work?
• Work is part of God’s
character.
• God displayed His
wisdom by His work in
creation.
• God gave Adam and
Eve work to do; they
had to care for God’s
creation in the garden.
16
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
20. Why Work?
• Proverbs 18:9 (NIV84)
One who is slack in his
work is brother to one
who destroys.
• Proverbs 22:29 (NIV84)
Do you see a man
skilled in his work.
He will serve before
kings; he will not serve
before obscure men.
17
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
21. The Importance of Family
• Proverbs begins and
ends with two portraits:
the foolish woman and
the wise wife.
• The woman who ignores
God is a curse to her
family and husband.
• Proverbs 7:27 (NIV84)
Her house is a highway
to the grave, leading
down to the chambers
of death.
18
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
22. The Importance of Family
• At the end of the book
chapter 31:10-21 is
poem which praises the
wise wife and shows
what a blessing she is to
her whole household
and community.
• Proverbs 31:31 (NIV84)
Give her the reward she
has earned,
and let her works bring
her praise at the city
gate.19
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
23. Faithfulness in Marriage
• Proverbs 5:18–23 (NIV84)
May your fountain be blessed, and may you
rejoice in the wife of your youth.
A loving doe, a graceful deer—
may her breasts satisfy you always, may
you ever be captivated by her love.
Why be captivated, my son, by an
adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of
another man’s wife?
For a man’s ways are in full view of the
Lord, and he examines all his paths.
The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare
him; the cords of his sin hold him fast. He
will die for lack of discipline, led astray by
his own great folly.20
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
24. Faithfulness in Friendship
• Proverbs teaches us that good
friendship is to be valued like
wisdom itself. But good friendship
is not always effortless and
natural. We have to work at being
good friends.
• Proverbs 17:17 (NIV84)
A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
• Proverbs 27:6 (NIV84)
Wounds from a friend can be
trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses.
21
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
25. Faithfulness in Friendship
• Proverbs 18:24 (NKJV)
A man who has friends must
himself be friendly,
But there is a friend who sticks
closer than a brother.
• Proverbs 27:9 (NKJV)
Ointment and perfume delight
the heart,
And the sweetness of a man’s
friend gives delight by hearty
counsel.
22
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
26. Faithfulness in Friendship
• Good friendship
requires sensitivity.
• Proverbs 27:14
(NKJV)
He who blesses his
friend with a loud
voice, rising early in
the morning,
It will be counted a
curse to him.
23
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
27. The Power of Words
• Proverbs teaches us just
how powerful words can
be.
24
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
28. The Power of Words
• Proverbs teaches us just
how powerful words can
be.
• God used words to create
all things.
24
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
29. The Power of Words
• Proverbs teaches us just
how powerful words can
be.
• God used words to create
all things.
• Words have power to
create or destroy lives,
friendships, love, wealth,
happiness, kingdoms and
even our eternal destiny.
24
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
30. The Power of Words
• Proverbs teaches us just
how powerful words can
be.
• God used words to create
all things.
• Words have power to
create or destroy lives,
friendships, love, wealth,
happiness, kingdoms and
even our eternal destiny.
• We need to possess
wisdom before we open
our mouths.
24
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
31. The Power of Words
• Proverbs 10:19 (TNIV)
Sin is not ended by multiplying
words, but the prudent hold
their tongues.
25
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
32. The Power of Words
• Proverbs 10:19 (TNIV)
Sin is not ended by multiplying
words, but the prudent hold
their tongues.
• Proverbs 15:23 (TNIV)
A person finds joy in giving an
apt reply— and how good is a
timely word!
25
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
33. The Power of Words
• Proverbs 10:19 (TNIV)
Sin is not ended by multiplying
words, but the prudent hold
their tongues.
• Proverbs 15:23 (TNIV)
A person finds joy in giving an
apt reply— and how good is a
timely word!
• Proverbs 16:23–24 (TNIV)
The hearts of the wise make
their mouths prudent, and their
lips promote instruction.
Gracious words are a
honeycomb, sweet to the soul
and healing to the bones.25
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
34. The Power of Words
• Proverbs 29:20 (TNIV)
Do you see someone who
speaks in haste?
There is more hope for a fool
than for them.
26
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
35. The Power of Words
• Proverbs 29:20 (TNIV)
Do you see someone who
speaks in haste?
There is more hope for a fool
than for them.
• Proverbs 12:18 (TNIV)
The words of the reckless
pierce like swords, but the
tongue of the wise brings
healing.
26
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
36. The Power of Words
• Proverbs 29:20 (TNIV)
Do you see someone who
speaks in haste?
There is more hope for a fool
than for them.
• Proverbs 12:18 (TNIV)
The words of the reckless
pierce like swords, but the
tongue of the wise brings
healing.
• Proverbs 18:21 (NIrV)
Your tongue has the power of
life and death. Those who love
to talk will eat the fruit of their
words.26
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
38. The Power of Words
• Proverbs 4:5–7 (NIrV)
Get wisdom. Get
understanding.
27
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
39. The Power of Words
• Proverbs 4:5–7 (NIrV)
Get wisdom. Get
understanding.
• Don’t forget my words.
Don’t turn away from them.
27
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
40. The Power of Words
• Proverbs 4:5–7 (NIrV)
Get wisdom. Get
understanding.
• Don’t forget my words.
Don’t turn away from them.
• Stay close to wisdom, and
she will keep you safe.
Love her, and she will
watch over you.
27
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
41. The Power of Words
• Proverbs 4:5–7 (NIrV)
Get wisdom. Get
understanding.
• Don’t forget my words.
Don’t turn away from them.
• Stay close to wisdom, and
she will keep you safe.
Love her, and she will
watch over you.
• Wisdom is best. So get
wisdom. No matter what it
costs, get understanding.
27
Tuesday, 5 August 2014