A stitch in time saves nine

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• A stitch in time saves nine
• --(American truism)
• A heart at peace gives life to the body, but
  envy rots the bones
• --(Proverbs 1430)
• Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses
• --(Ancient Chinese saying)

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This Mornings Goals

• Become more familiar with the book
• Understand its purpose and use
• Learn some tools to assist in studying it

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• Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
  but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant
  harvest. (144)

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Background

• Solomon collected most of the proverbs
• 950 BC to 650 BC
• Wisdom Literature
• Structure Chapters 1-9, 10-29, 30-31
• Purpose of the book 11-7

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• Proverbs 21-6
• My son, if you accept my words and store up my
  commandments within you,
• Turning your ear to wisdom and applying your
  heart to understanding,

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• And if you cry out for insight and cry aloud for
  understanding,
• And if you look for it as for silver and search
  for it as for hidden treasure,

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• Then you will understand the fear of the Lord
  and find the knowledge of God.
• For the Lord gives wisdom from his mouth come
  knowledge and understanding.

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Understanding the book of Proverbs in light of

• I. The Nature of a Proverb

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I. The Nature of a Proverb

• A proverb is a practical truth that is memorably
  expressed in as brief a form as possible, usually
  as a short, pithy saying.
• --An observation about life
• --Gains credence through frequent use
• --Uses literary devices and striking imagery

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I. The Nature of a Proverb

• 2. Proverbs are observations about the world that
  are generally true.
• Kings take pleasure in honest lips they value a
  man who speaks the truth. (1613)
• Train a child in the way he should go, and when
  he is old he will not turn from it. (226)

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I. The Nature of a Proverb

• 3. It takes thought and insight to apply a
  proverb correctly.
• A man finds joy in giving an apt reply and how
  good is a timely word! (1523)
• Like a lame man's legs that hang limp is a
  proverb in the mouth of a fool. (267)
• Like a thorn bush in a drunkard's hand is a
  proverb in the mouth of a fool. (269)

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I. The Nature of a Proverb

• Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or
  you will be like him yourself. (264)
• Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will
  be wise in his own eyes. (265)

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Understanding the book of Proverbs in light of

• II. Its Composition

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II. Its Composition

• The book of Proverbs represents the best of the
  common, practical wisdom of the day.
• They were probably collected over time and from
  all around Israel.
• God preserved them and included them in the
  Scriptures.

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Why Study Proverbs?

• God is interested in us living wisely
• Adam and Eve were commanded to rule and subdue
  the earth.
• Christ grew in wisdom and stature
• We are commanded and urged to be wise.
• Proverbs itself teaches the importance of
  obtaining wisdom.

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Understanding the book of Proverbs in light of

• III. Its Cultural Origins

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III. Its Cultural Origins

• It reflects life in the Middle East almost three
  thousand years ago.
• Although the book of Proverbs includes the
  subjects of farming, hunting and the like, its
  principles are true and can be understood today.

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Understanding the book of Proverbs in light of

• IV. The Use of Symbolic Language

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IV. The Use of Symbolic Language

• Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful
  woman who shows no discretion. (1122)
• Simile a comparison between two unlike things
  using like or as.

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IV. The Use of Symbolic Language

• Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the
  soul and healing to the bones. (1624)
• Metaphor an implied comparison between two
  unlike things.

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IV. The Use of Symbolic Language

• Wisdom calls aloud in the street she raises her
  voice in the public squares. (120)
• Personification giving human qualities to
  inanimate objects or abstractions.

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IV. The Use of Symbolic Language

• If they say, Come along with us let's lie in
  wait for someone's blood, let's waylay some
  harmless soul (111)
• Synecdoche a substitution of the part for the
  whole or vice versa.

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IV. The Use of Symbolic Language

• In what ways are the two compared items similar?
• What images come to mind as you read the figure
  of speech?
• Why does it appear that this particular symbol
  was chosen?
• What emotion does the writer seem to want the
  reader to feel?

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Understanding the book of Proverbs in light of

• I. The Nature of a Proverb
• II. Its Composition
• III. Its Cultural Origins
• IV. The Use of Symbolic Language

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The Fool
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You might be a fool if . . .
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. . .You can be spotted as one the minute you
open your mouth.
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• The mouth of a fool gushes folly (152).
• He who spreads slander is a fool (1018).
• Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent,
  and discerning if he holds his tongue (1728).

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You might be a fool if . . .
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. . . You are easily annoyed or angered.
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• A fool gives vent to his anger (2911)
• A fools anger is known at once (1216)

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You might be a fool if . . .
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. . . You will not accept instruction.
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• The way of a fool seems right to him (1215).
• The wise in heart accept commands, but a fool
  comes to ruin (108).
• The discipline of fools is folly (1622).
• A rebuke goes deeper into one who has
  understanding, than a hundred blows into a fool
  (1710).

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You might be a fool if . . .
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. . . You dont think before you leap.
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• A fool is hot headed and reckless (1416).
• The heart of fools blurts out folly (1223).
• The companion of fools will suffer harm (1320).

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You might be a fool if . . .
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. . . You are always dreaming rather than doing.
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• A foolish man devours all he has (2120).
• The eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the
  earth (1724).

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The Values of a Fool
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1. A fool despises wisdom and discipline.
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• A fool rejects his fathers discipline (155).
• Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he
  will despise the wisdom of your words (239).
• The mouth of a fool feeds on folly (1514).

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2. A fool finds enjoyment in evil.
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• A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct (1023).
• It is an abomination to fools to turn away from
  evil (1319).

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3. A fool delights in the sound of his own voice.
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• He who trusts in himself is a fool (2628).
• A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but
  delights in airing his own opinions (182).
• Every fool is quick to quarrel (203).

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• Stay away from a foolish man, for you will not
  find knowledge on his lips (147).
• When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish
  man, the foolish man either rages or laughs, and
  there is no rest (299).

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4. A fool holds little value toward his family
members.
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• To have a fool for a son brings grief there is
  no joy for the father of a fool. (1721).
• A foolish man despises his mother (1520).
• The foolish woman tears her house down with her
  own hands (141).

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Beware of the fool! Warnings from Proverbs
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• Whoever ignores correction leads others astray
  (1017).
• A companion of fools suffers harm (1320).
• The mouth of a fool invites ruin (1013).

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The End of Fools Foretold
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• Poverty and shame will come to him who neglects
  discipline (1318).
• He who brings trouble on his family will inherit
  only wind, and the fool will be servant to the
  wise (1129).
• Fools die for lack of judgment (1021).

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Where Foolishness Originates
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• Folly is bound up in the heart of a child
  (2215).
• Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding him
  like grain with a pestle, you will not remove his
  folly from him (2722).

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What foolishness remains in your heart?
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