Introduction
This is the first of three books that Solomon wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. In his 30’s, God appeared to him and asked Solomon what he wanted. Solomon had not been really challenged as one of seventy (70) sons of King David. Now that he was king of Israel, He felt overwhelmed. He was king of thirteen different groups of people. How was he to decide in ruling them?
He asked God to give him wisdom so he might know how to rule properly. God answered his request. Solomon in fact became the wisest ruler perhaps the world has ever known, at least until his old age. Proverbs is a book of wisdom.
In The Living Bible his purpose is translated this way: “He wrote them (these proverbs) to teach his people how to live – how to act in every circumstance, for he wanted them to be understanding, just, and fair in everything they did.” He said he wanted people to explore “the depths of meaning in these nuggets of truth.”
No, this is not a book of philosophy. These are small nuggets. Why? Well nuggets are easier to comprehend than long discourses.
Solomon begins this book with his basic principle for wisdom. “How does a man become wise? The first step is to trust and reverence the Lord!”
Beginning in Chapter 1, I began to wonder why God inspired Solomon to express Wisdom in the feminine gender. In the Garden of Eden, “The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him’.” (Gen 2:18) Then in verses 21-22, God took a rib and some flesh from Adam and made a woman who was just right for him. Then in Genesis 3 after Adam and Eve sinned, God told Eve, “And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.” And ever since then, women have been telling their husbands, “you have no common sense”.
At a time when little attention was given to women’s thoughts, maybe God was giving a clue to men. I think God has a wonderful sense of humor!
The translation used for this study is The Living Bible, 1971 Ed.