Davis Proverbs Revisited

Wisdom for Today
1. Auflage 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4835-5619-2
Verlag: BookBaby
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 650 Seiten

The Biblical book of Proverbs has fallen into disinterest and disuse, because it addresses issues from 3,000 years ago which may not seem relevant for today. But PROVERBS REVISITED: WISDOM FOR TODAY brings them back to life by exploring their messages and principles, and reapplying them to present-day living. All 628 proverbs and passages are explored in the light of wisdom garnered through Pastor Davis's 50 years of Christian ministry, each containing discussion questions for use in small groups.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Davis, Gary

Leseproben

CHAPTER 1 1. The Wisest Man Proverbs 1: 1 See the New Living Translation [NLT] which is printed in subsequent sections by permission from Tyndale House Publishers, 351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188. Solomon, third king of Israel, reigned in the 10th century BC (971-931) during the most prosperous days of Old Testament Israel. His father, David, had taken the broken kingdom of King Saul and transformed it into a unified power, having subdued both internal enemies and rival kingdoms within its borders. He expanded Israel’s boundaries to the north, east and south, leaving his son Solomon with a large, strong, wealthy and relatively peaceful nation. David’s son would add his own organizational and administrative prowess to make his reign a glorious heyday in Israel’s significant history. Solomon was given the task of fulfilling David’s vision of building a temple which would bring the nation together in their faith and worship of Yahweh (the LORD). Because of Solomon’s commitment to God from the very beginning of his illustrious reign, God granted his solemn request to be endowed with an exceptional wisdom to rule the nation effectively under Yahweh (1Kings 3:5-14). Solomon became known far and wide for his wisdom. The Queen of Sheba visited Solomon to verify the reports of his wisdom and wealth (1Kings 10:1-9) and left in amazement. Solomon’s wisdom began with a vigorous education, even from childhood. He developed a deep understanding of the physical world in which he lived. He was a probing intellectual and an astute observer of human behavior. His brilliance and education laid a foundation for his wisdom, but he saw wisdom as something beyond mere knowledge. Wisdom, to Solomon, was the application of knowledge in life, insight into life circumstances which one faces daily. Wisdom is thinking smart, but more – wisdom has a moral content. It is about right and wrong. Wisdom is measured by outcomes, consequences, byproducts. Most of all, wisdom is theological – it is about finding the will of God from nature and His revelation, and then shaping one’s thinking and behavior and attitudes thereby. Thus, the fear (reverence and worship) of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10; 15:33). Solomon introduced a new form of literature – wise sayings. These encapsulate profound observations valuable for growth in wisdom. For the children (both young and old) of his day and ours, they provide an education beyond knowledge. It is that journey upon which we are embarking. DISCUSSION: How would you describe wisdom in your own words? What was Solomon’s attitude toward wisdom? How could such an attitude help you to acquire wisdom? 2. The Power of Proverbs Proverbs 1:2-4: Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. If wisdom is to guide our lives, there must be a way to absorb its truths through our heads and into our hearts and hands. Wise insights are the possession of those whom we esteem as wise. You have “balcony people” whom you look up to, whom you would describe as “wise.” Some are parents. Others are teachers. Yet others are pastors, mentors or counselors. We turn to the wise when we are confounded by problems for which we don’t have experience or answers. We hang on their words and their views. We give their thoughts great weight in our choices. God’s desire is not for wisdom and understanding to be the possession of a select few who pass on their wisdom to be acted upon by others. God wants all of his people to possess wisdom, to have such a deep reservoir of understanding that they can do the wise thing instinctively. The purpose of Proverbs is to provide us capsules of truth, helping us to make right choices throughout the day. Most proverbs are brief and memorable. Who has not heard the proverb: “Spare the rod and spoil the child”? It helps us remember the price to be paid for not disciplining our children. The young parent may not have experience that informs him of the consequences of not correcting his children, but this proverb fills in the blanks that his experience lacks. The Proverbs are based upon God’s view of “what is right, just and fair.” When we digest Proverbs, we are seeing the mind of God. He becomes our mentor, our teacher, our guide through both simple and complex moral issues. We need such a “wonderful Counselor.” Proverbs effect us not only by teaching us wisdom but also by teaching us discipline. Wisdom is not just a matter of the mind. One is not wise who knows the right thing to do but does not do it. The Proverbs are calls to action. They are motivational in their tone. When you look to the ant and see his work ethic, you are shamed if you lie around in front of the TV all day and don’t get your chores done. Proverb 11:10 spurs us to godliness by reminding us of the crowd that celebrates our lives when we run the race of righteousness. Proverbs are worthless if they are merely subjects of conversation and debate. This was the trap of the New Testament Pharisees – endless debates that did not change conduct. Proverbs challenge us to think, feel and act in ways that will honor the Lord whom we worship. DISCUSSION: What is the purpose of the book of Proverbs? With such help as God gives us in this book, why do you think many Christians are failing to live wisely? 3. No One is Wise Enough Proverbs 1:5-6: Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles. Wisdom is a goal that is never to be achieved. It is a race in which one never reaches the finish line. It is “the impossible dream.” It is “chasing after stars.” There are many events in life where we never intend to finish – in these things it is the pursuit that counts. The astronomer may search the heavens, all the time understanding that he will never touch the boundaries of space. When Job insisted on understanding why he must suffer as he did, God scolded him soundly by comparing Job’s finite knowledge to God’s omniscience. God’s message to Job was, “Be content to know a little of my plans and purposes and understanding, but never presume that you must know all that I know. That is not possible for mankind.” Proverbs are not merely for fools, for the ignorant, for children, for novices. Proverbs have something to offer to the wisest person on earth as well as to the beginner. All can profit by exploring the meaning of these inspired words. As each exploration of space takes us further into understanding the unknown, as each expedition to the ocean bottom unlocks new mysteries of the deep, so each time we contemplate the Proverbs we are exposed to new insights that give us understanding and guidance in right living. Of course, the same is true of all the Word of God. Each time you read a passage, something new pops out at you, and you wonder why you missed that on the previous reading. The preacher could preach a dozen sermons on the same passage of scripture and never repeat himself. Like a precious jewel, you might look at a Proverb in a different light and its beauty will shine in a new and inspiring way. Solomon equates Proverbs with “parables.” Many of the Proverbs are indeed “mini-parables.” When you read them, they tell a story. Sometimes the story is hidden, so the reader must dig below the surface and ask, “What is the story here?” Proverb 10:5 says, “A wise youth harvests in the summer, but one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace.” Can you not picture the story of farmer’s son who has been given charge of a field, his to manage and learn the business? It is under his care, but when the county fair begins just at the time of the harvest, he opts to enjoy the fair, telling himself, “I’ll get to the harvest when the fair is over.” But following the fair the rains come and the crop is lost. That Proverb is a mini-parable which reminds us to be diligent while opportunities knock, or we will be left with shame and regret. Dig deep into each Proverb and you will grow in wisdom. DISCUSSION: How does one go about looking for deeper meanings in a Proverb, or any other passage of scripture for that matter? 4. Wisdom’s Foundation Proverbs 1:7: Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Lord Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington, rose to prominence in British military history by defeating Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815. Before his death in 1852, Wellington exerted great political and moral influence in the United Kingdom. Among his most famous observations is the much-quoted line: ‘Educate people without religion and you make them but clever devils.” President Theodore Roosevelt picked up the theme to declare: “To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.” Knowledge is good to attain, but it is a dangerous thing in the hands of an evil person. Fire cooks our dinners, but in the hands of an arsonist, fire...