The Christ of Wisdom

A Redemptive-Historical Exploration of the Wisdom Books of the Old Testament

O. Palmer Robertson

• Publisher: P Publishing
• Year: 2017
• ISBN:
  9781629952925
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Systematic Theology & Ethics

Robertson's redemptive-historical analysis of the Old Testament's wisdom books offers insight into every major realm of human existence—showing wisdom literature's significance in the contemporary life of God's people.

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PROVERBS
HOW TO WALK IN WISDOM'S WAY

CHAPTER OUTLINE

Introduction

I. The Origin and Development of the Book of Proverbs

II. The Relation of Proverbs to Other Ancient Wisdom Materials

III. The Form, Substance, and Structure of the Book of Proverbs

A. Basic Outline

B. Elements of Form and Substance

C. Introductory Section: The Worth of Wisdom’s Way (Proverbs 1–9)

1. The Commendation of Wisdom (Ten Passages)

a. Proverbs 1:1–7

b. Proverbs 1:8–9

c. Proverbs 1:10–19

d. Proverbs 2:1–22

e. Proverbs 3:1–12

f. Proverbs 3:21–35

g. Proverbs 4:1–4

h. Proverbs 4:10–19

i. Proverbs 4:20–27

j. Proverbs 6:1–19

2. The Personification of Wisdom (Five Passages)

a. Proverbs 1:20–33

b. Proverbs 3:13–20

c. Proverbs 4:5–9

d. Proverbs 8:1–36

e. Additional Note: The Interpretation of Proverbs 8:22 by Athanasius as the Champion of the Opponents of Arianism

f. Proverbs 9:1–18

3. A Special Warning to a Son: Avoid Adultery (Five Passages)

a. Proverbs 2:16–22

b. Proverbs 5:1–23

c. Proverbs 6:20–35

d. Proverbs 7:1–27

e. Proverbs 9:13–18

D. The Proverbs of Solomon (Proverbs 10:1–22:16)

1. Proverbs with a Contrast (Proverbs 10–15)

2. Proverbs without a Contrast (Proverbs 16:1–22:16)

E. The Words of the Wise Ones (Proverbs 22:17–24:34)

1. First Collection from the Wise Ones
(Proverbs 22:17–24:22)

2. Second Collection from the Wise Ones
(Proverbs 24:23–34)

F. The Hezekian Arrangement of Solomonic Proverbs (Proverbs 25–29)

G. The Words of Certain Wise Men (Proverbs 30:1–31:9)

1. Agur (Proverbs 30:1–33)

2. King Lemuel (Proverbs 31:1–9)

H. An Acrostic Poem Celebrating the Godly Woman (Proverbs 31:10–31)

1. Her Price (Proverbs 31:10–12)

2. Her Product (Proverbs 31:13–25)

3. Her Piety (Proverbs 31:26–27)

4. Her Praise (Proverbs 31:28–31)

5. Summary

IV. Theological Perspectives on the Book of Proverbs

A. A Secularistic Perspective

B. A Covenantal Perspective

1. The Fear of the COVENANT LORD

2. Trust in the COVENANT LORD

3. Instruction from the COVENANT LORD

a. Regarding Creation

b. Regarding the Family

c. Regarding Work

Conclusion

Selected Bibliography for Proverbs

INTRODUCTION

If any book of the Bible is given over to the practicalities of life, it is the book of Proverbs. “How to walk in wisdom’s way” summarizes the message of this book that provides “down-to-earth” advice. But this advice is like no other available in this world. It is advice inspired by God, sent from heaven. This book contains the divinely inspired wisdom by which a father may prepare his son for the many different challenges that he must face in life. How to respond to wealth, to work, to words. What to expect from the constant scheming of wicked people. How to understand calamities. But most of all, how to keep God, the LORD of Creation and Covenant, central throughout your entire life.

This wisdom for the walk of a lifetime does not come in the form of a theological treatise or a collection of lessons from history. It comes instead in the form of poetic proverbs—short, practical summaries of truth that anticipate just about every situation that a person will face. Indeed, longer, more elaborate warnings and counsels also appear in the book. But typically these proverbs may be characterized as “God’s existentialism.” You may plan out the details of your schedule before you step out into today’s world. But how can you anticipate the variety of circumstances that will confront you throughout the day? You bump into an old friend, you receive an unexpected message, you miss your appointment. You stumble on a slippery walkway, you have a serious disagreement with your boss, your child’s school principal calls for an appointment to discuss a problem that has arisen.

What can possibly prepare you for all these different situations? They arise unannounced without a moment’s notice. Where can you turn for the practical advice that will tell you what to do? You need instant insight so that you can know how to react.

That’s what the book of Proverbs is all about. It’s the LORD’s wisdom condensed into short, pithy, memorable sayings that address the concrete challenges his people face every day.

Every human culture creates its own storage bank of wise words. So it should not be surprising that proverbial sayings had a long history among the people of God under the old covenant. Anonymous sayings embodying wisdom are scattered throughout the Old Testament books of history and prophecy:

That is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the LORD.” (Gen. 10:9 NIV)

As the proverb of the ancients says, “Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness.” (1 Sam. 24:13 NASB)

Let not the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off. (1 Kings 20:11)

Does the ax raise itself
above him who swings it,
or the saw boast
against him who uses it? (Isa. 10:15 NIV)

The fathers have eaten sour grapes and the children’s teeth are set on edge. (Jer. 31:29; cf. Ezek. 18:2)

Everyone who quotes proverbs will quote this proverb about you: “Like mother, like daughter.” (Ezek. 16:44 NIV)

Not only in the Old Testament literature of history and prophecy. The psalmist also indicates his intent to preserve the treasures of wisdom with a proverb:

My mouth
will speak words of wisdom;
The utterance from my heart
will give understanding.
I will turn my ear
to a proverb:
With the harp
I will expound my riddle. (Ps. 49:3-4 NIV)

Becoming the object of a proverbial saying could indicate a blessing or a curse. For a wise saying is capable of cutting both ways. The LORD warns King Solomon that if the people of Israel violate his commands, they will become “a byword [proverb—

] and an object of ridicule among all peoples” (1 Kings 9:7 NIV; cf. Deut. 28:37). Having witnessed the devastations of God’s judgments on his nation, the psalmist declares: “You have made us a byword [proverb—

] among the nations; the peoples shake their heads at us” (Ps. 44:14 NIV; cf. 69:12). In the words of the prophet Jeremiah, to be a reproach and a proverb, an object of ridicule and cursing, are essentially the same thing (Jer. 24:9).

These biblical aphorisms should not be regarded merely as “timeless truths” that manifest no sensitivity to the progress of redemptive history. Though rooted in concrete circumstances of a specific time and place, these Old Testament proverbs contain an element that anticipates the pattern of a spiral moving across history toward its climax. In ever-increasing intensity, through every age, “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” (Prov. 1:7). This central theme of life is manifest across the various periods of redemptive history. So the search for wisdom by the patriarch Job underscores the significance of the “fear of the Lord” (Job 28:28). In facing the prospect of the dark days of the exile, the prophet Isaiah declares that those who live by “fear of the LORD” are set over against those who “light fires” in honor of false gods and who will eventually lie down in torment (Isa. 50:10–11; cf. 59:19). As the era of the old covenant moves toward its conclusion, the prophet Malachi anticipates the climactic day in which God will act in judgment to distinguish the righteous from the wicked. At that critical moment, the prophet promises that those who “fear the LORD” will be his treasured possession and will be spared (Mal. 3:16–17). From 2000 B.C. to 1000 B.C. to 700 B.C. to 500 B.C., the proverbial truth that the “fear of the LORD” is the beginning of wisdom manifests its reality across the ages.

Even in the context of the new covenant, the ever-increasing significance of this proverbial word about the “fear of the LORD” finds its place. When the climactic hour of the Son of God’s incarnation draws near, Mary declares that the Lord’s mercy extends to all those who “fear him” from generation to generation (Luke 1:50). Subsequently, as the apostle Peter acknowledges God’s gift of salvation to the Roman centurion, he affirms that God accepts from every nation those who “fear him,” anticipating the worldwide spread of the Christian gospel across nations (Acts 10:35). Other instances of this enlargement of a proverbial principle across redemptive history may be traced in the application of particular proverbs to new situations brought about by the progress of redemption.¹ True in every age, these proverbial sayings increase in their significance as redemptive history progresses toward its climax.

In considering the role of Proverbs throughout the life of God’s people, the present study will consider the following topics:

• The Origin and Development of the Book of Proverbs
• The Relation of Proverbs to Other Ancient Wisdom Materials
• The Form, Substance, and Structure of the Book of Proverbs
• Theological Perspectives on the Book of Proverbs

THE ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE BOOK OF PROVERBS

The opening verse of Proverbs traces the book’s origin to King Solomon, the quintessence of wisdom in Israel’s history:

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of ...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Foreword by Walter C. Kaiser Jr.
• Editor’s Preface
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Abbreviations
• Introduction to Wisdom Literature
• 1. Proverbs How to Walk in Wisdom’s Way
• 2. Job How to Puzzle
• 3. Ecclesiastes How to Cope with Life’s Frustrations
• 4. Lamentations How to Weep
• 5. The Song of Songs How to Love
• Index of Scripture
• Index of Subjects and Names