A. Introduction

•Solomon is the writer of the next three books of the bible: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. Proverbs is the book on wisdom, Ecclesiastes is the book on love. Proverbs opens with the word, "The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel" (1:1). Although the book begins with its title ascribing the proverbs to Solomon, it is clear from later chapters that he was not the only Author of the book. Proverbs 22:17 refers to the "sayings of the wise" and 24:23 mentions additional "sayings of the wise". The presence of an introduction in 22:17-21 further shows that these sections stem from a circle of wise men, not from Solomon himself.

•Chapter 30 is attributed to Agur, son of Takeh, and 31:1-9 to King Lemuel, neither of whom is mentioned elsewhere. Most of the book, however is closely linked with Solomon. The headings in chapter 10:1 and in 25:1 include his name, though 25:1 states that these proverbs were "compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah". This indicates that a group of wise men or scribes compiled these proverbs as editors and added chapters 25-29 to the earlier collections. Solomon's ability to produce proverbs is specified in 1kings 4:32 where 3000 proverbs and 1005 songs are attributed to him. Since most of the proverbs were written by Solomon, they would have been written during his reign from 970-930BC. Proverbs receives its name from the nature of the content. It is a book of wisdom that was written in proverbs. The book of Proverbs can also be called the book of wisdom.

B. What are proverbs?

• "A proverb is a saying that conveys a specific truth in a pointed, pithy way" Proverbs are short sentences, drawn from long experience, or proverbs are moral truths or statements of wisdom that are written in a concise arrangement of one or two lines.
The book of Proverbs has wise sayings for everyone to read and follow. These sayings deal with many different problems and situations. Most of the proverbs are very short and easy to remember. The proverbs are not organised in a way that puts all the sayings on one topic together, Instead, almost every verse causes a new and important Idea.

The purpose of Solomon's proverbs (Proverbs 1:2-6).

We are informed by Solomon himself what was designed in writing the proverbs. It was:

• To know wisdom and instructions.
• To discern the words of understanding.
• To enable those who read them to receive instructions in wise dealing.
• To give prudence to the simple.
• To give young men knowledge and instructions, so that the wise might hear and increase in learning, and those who understand might attain sound counsel.

The "wisdom" to which the wise man alluded included not only that knowledge which enables one to discover what is best in life but also that which directs to truth, enabling one to prepare for eternity. This is what the writer says: "The fear of the lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Proverbs 1:7). He then proceeds to give hundreds of practical examples of how to love according to godly wisdom.

The classes addressed to:

It is noted that there are three classes involved in Solomon"s design, each of which is provided with instructions adaptable to the need.

• 1. To give prudence to the simple.
• 2. To young men knowledge and discretion.
• 3. To the men of understanding sound counsel.

The "simple" are those unlearned and inexperienced but willing to learn "
The "young" are those who by reason of youth are without training and self-control;

...and those of understanding - are men who, despite their nature, and attainment are still in need of instructions to effectively instruct orders. All of us, however wise and experienced, must refresh our stores of wisdom and learning from the only true source of wisdom - the Bible. In Proverbs 1:7-9, the wise man pointed out the way of wisdom. The first step of which is the fear of the Lord, this, it is said is the beginning of knowledge. The fear designated here is not terror, but such reverence for Jehovah that the one possessed shrinks from any deliberate disobedience of God's will and sinks ever to worship and serve God.

The second way to wisdom is by obedience to parents (prov1:8). "My son, hear the instructions of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother". The pairing of the father's instructions and the mother's teaching alludes to the family as the place where wisdom and instructions first take place. The assumption is that parents with all the wisdom they possess will instruct their children and with all the authority they have control them for their good.

Waltke's chiasm in Proverbs 1-8 (Adopted)

• A. 1:8-19, two invitations from the father and from sinners
• B. 1:20-33 wisdom crying aloud in the street.
• C. 2:1-22, Father's warning: devious men and the forbidden women
• D. 3:1-4: 27 Fathers' command to heed parental teaching, 3:1-21, parental instructions. 3:27-35, dealing with neighbours. 4:1-27, parental instructions
• E. 5:1-6:35, Father's command to be faithful in marriage. 5:1-23, flee the forbidden women and enjoy your wife. 6:1-19 Three mistakes: security for a neighbour, cloth and thuggery. 6:20-35, Avoid adultery.
• F. 7:1-27, Father warns: the fool who flirts with the forbidden woman.
• G. 8:1-36, Wisdom crying loud in the street
• H. 9:1-18, Two invitations: from Lady Wisdom and Madame Folly. From this overview of the structure it can be seen that Proverbs 1-9 focuses on

Exhorting a young man to listen to his parents as they warn him against devious men and their foolish ways.

The lure of sexual immorality with a forbidden woman.

This parental teaching calls you, young men, to be saved through judgment for the glory of God. The parental Instructions announced the punishment that devious men who pursue foolish ways will meet with destruction. "They lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives (Prov 1:18).

Wisdom is personified as crying out in the streets, and her verdict is that: " The simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroy them (prov1:38). The father teaches his son(2:1) that "no who go to the forbidden woman (2:16) come back, nor do they regain the path of life" (2:19), and as for devious men, the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it" (2: 22). These punishment come from Jehovah himself, " for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord " (3:32-33). The father teaches his son that the forbidden woman is - " bitter and wormwood, Sharp has a two-edged sword her feet go down to death her steps follow the path to the steel" (Prov 5:4-5).

Those who go to the forbidden will not escape judgment.

Jehovah hates the practice of the wicked (prov6:16).

Inexorable is the judgment against adulterers (6:27-35)

The fool who flirts with the forbidden woman (7:5-9) will pay.

" For many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are mighty throng, her house is the way to street, going down to the chambers of death" (7:26-27).

Wisdom should not be neglected but should be taught by parents

She is personified as crying aloud in the street (1:20;21,8:1-3,9:3)

Even the lord delighted in wisdom as he created the world (8:30).

He who fails to find wisdom injures himself; all who hate wisdom love death(8:36)

The book of Proverbs exists "to give prudence to the simple" (1:4), which is to say, to keep the simple from the punishment the book announces against wickedness.

Advice and counsel :

• The wise, through study, can attain unto "sound counsel" by which Solomon meant such learning as is conducive to man, best interest here and hereafter. Such a study leads to an understanding of the proverbs and to the good life they offer.

• There was much wisdom wrapped up in the proverbs, and Solomon would have his readers apply themselves so that they might learn these lessons and profit from them. The beginning and end of wisdom is to fear God and avoid evil (1:7,8:13,9:10,15:33). The world is a battleground between wisdom and folly, righteousness and wickedness, good and evil

• Proverbs are designed to make one wise, but they require wisdom to be used correctly.

• Proverbs are true, but their truth is realised only when they are first applied in the right situation.

• Proverbs generally operate on the principle that consequences follow acts: you reap what you sow.

• The way of wisdom is the way to enjoy God's presence.

The word of wisdom is the path embracing Jehovah's fatherly discipline 3:11-12, and this path leads to incomparable blessings, better treasure than gold, silver and precious stones (3:14-15).