“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out knowledge and discretion.”

What does the Book of Proverbs teaches us?

The Poetic Books set before us essential and blessed aspects of life in Christ as it is experienced by God’s saints in this world. Job displays the necessity of self-denial, of dying to self that we may live unto God. The Psalms set before us the blessedness of worshipping our God in resurrection life. Ecclesiastes displays the utter vanity of all earthly things, the complete inability of finding satisfaction for our souls in this perishing world of woe. The Song of Solomon displays Christ as that One in whom alone our souls find satisfaction. Lamentations teaches us to set our hearts upon our God and Savior, finding contentment and satisfaction in him. Proverbs shows us the blessed wisdom of faith in Christ, wisdom with which to live for God’s glory in this present evil world.

The first nine chapters of proverbs are instructions by Solomon to his son, a series of parental admonitions to his son to seek wisdom and shun folly; but there is more here than Solomon’s instructions to his son. In this Book, we have before us God’s instructions to his sons and daughters, teaching us to seek wisdom and shun folly. In the remaining chapters (10-31), we are given 374 proverbs that touch every phase of life in this world.

The purpose of proverbs is set before us in the opening verses of chapter one. “…..To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings” Proverbs 1:1-6.

The Key to the Book is found in verse seven. Here we are told plainly what wisdom is. —”The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” Proverbs 1:7.

There are many books written by men to teach wisdom. The thing that sets the book of Proverbs apart from all others is that it does not teach us about wisdom. It teaches us wisdom. It teaches and reveals Christ who is Wisdom. That distinguishes this book from all of the wisdom literature of the world. There is no wisdom without truth; and there can be no discovery of truth apart from revelation, the revelation of Christ who is the Truth and the Wisdom of God. All the philosophical wisdom of the world (all of it) is utter foolishness, because “there is no fear of God before their eyes” (Rom. 3:18; 1 Cor. 1:17-25).

Christ is Wisdom. He alone is Wisdom. He alone can make us wise. That is the message of this inspired Book of Wisdom. In chapter eight, wisdom is personified. It is obvious that the personification of wisdom spoken of in that chapter is Christ.

I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out knowledge and discretion, Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength. By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, All the judges of the earth. I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me. Riches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness. For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the Lord;” Proverbs 8:12, 14-18, 35.

TAKE AWAY

Proverbs teaches us that the Lord Jesus Christ, our incarnate God, our crucified Substitute, our risen and exalted Lord, our omnipotent Savior is the very wisdom of God. “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths” Pro. 3:6.