January 2017
The Book of Proverbs
January Dates to Note:
MEETING WILL BE HELD:
Date:
___________________ Time: ____________________________________________
Place: ______________________________________________________________________
Person to Contact with Questions: ________________________________________________
INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS:
Monday, January 9, 7:00 p.m., Room 482-86, Minneapolis Campus
NOTE: Due to the New Year’s holiday, the introduction this month is on the second
Monday.
BEFORE YOUR SMALL GROUP MEETING
1. Read Proverbs.
a) We suggest you read through Theme and Purpose on page 4 and “Who or What Is .
. . ? on page 5 before you begin your reading.
b) Use the “To Guide Your Reading” section on pages 6 - 8 to help you think through
what you read, paying particular attention to the questions in boldface.
c) If possible, attend or listen online to Pastor Cornils’ presentation on Proverbs.
2. Read and recite this month’s memory verse often! It is:
Trust in the LORD with your whole heart and do not rely on your own insights. – Proverbs 3:5
Our goal and prayer is that you will walk away from each study having had at least one
important insight that informs your faith and your knowledge of God’s Word. In other
words, we hope you will discover a “message” just for you!
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AT YOUR SMALL GROUP MEETING
Welcome
Welcome to the January meeting of your Living the Message Bible discovery group. In order to
keep to your agreed-upon time frame, place a clock where it is clearly visible or ask someone to
be “timekeeper” and let the group know when 15 minutes remain for discussion and closing.
Opening Prayer
Pause to quiet your hearts and minds with a few moments of silent prayer. Then have someone
open with his or her own prayer or pray the following together:
Dear God and Father, we thank you for your infinite goodness and love to us. You do
continually keep us in your word, in faith, and in prayer. By this we know how to walk before you
in humility and in fear. To you be praise and thanks in eternity. Amen. – Martin Luther
This Month’s Memory Verse
Recite this month’s memory verse (including the book, chapter, and verse) together as a group.
Trust in the LORD with your whole heart and do not rely on your own insights. – Proverbs 3:5
Getting Under Way
Share a biblical or other proverb that you have tried to live by or one that a parent or
grandparent was always quick to offer as a guide for behavior.
Setting the Scene
Before beginning discussion, invite your small group facilitator and anyone else who attended or
listened to Pastor Cornils’ introduction to Proverbs to share what they learned.
Discuss Together
Go to “To Guide Your Reading” on pages 6 – 8. Discuss together the questions in boldface
and/or others of the questions that particularly struck members of your group. Remember, a
good discussion on fewer questions is better than rushing through all the questions. If you wish,
ask if any of the questions (boldface or not) were of particular interest to someone and begin
there.
Following your discussion, go to “For Next Month” on the next page for reminders about
your next meeting and closing prayer.
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FOR NEXT MONTH
Our next meeting will be in February:
Date:
___________________ Time: ____________________________________________
Place: ______________________________________________________________________
Person to Contact with Questions: ________________________________________________
February’s Reading Assignment: The Song of Solomon
February’s Memory Verse:
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. – Song of Solomon 8:7a
Save the date! Pastor’s Introduction to Song of Solomon with Pastor Stephen Cornils.
Monday, February 6, 7:00 p.m., Room 482-86, Minneapolis Campus
CLOSING PRAYER
Gather requests for prayers, encouraging both things for which God’s help and guidance is
needed and things for which people are grateful. If someone is comfortable doing so, ask that
person to pray aloud a prayer bringing these concerns to God, or take time for silent prayer
during which these concerns can be brought to God. End with a prayer of your own, by reciting
the Lord’s Prayer, or by praying the following together:
Almighty and everlasting God, may we commend to you all who govern and have authority
throughout all Christendom. Enlighten their hearts by your word and your Holy Spirit, so that
your word and glory may be upheld and not hindered. And so may we lead a quiet and
peaceable life among them by being godly and honest. Amen. – Martin Luther
FOLLOWING YOUR SMALL GROUP MEETING
Ponder
What are you plans for success? Is God’s will the basis of your plans, or is it an afterthought?
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Proverbs Theme and Purpose
Martin Luther himself offers excellent insight into the theme and purpose of this book. From his
“Preface to the Old Testament,” we read:
Because this book deals especially with fools and wise men and everywhere praises wisdom
and rebukes folly, it is necessary to consider its language and its words, to see what [Solomon]
means by fools and wise men. . . .It is the way of King David, in the Psalter, and especially of
King Solomon (and perhaps it was the manner of speaking in their time) to give the name of fool
not to those whom the world calls fools, or who are born fools, but to all kinds of loose, frivolous,
heedless people, most of all to those who live without God’s Word and act and speak according
to their own reason or purposes; though usually these are, before the world, the greatest,
wisest, mightiest, richest, and holiest.
That which Solomon here calls wisdom is nothing else than the wisdom of God, which is
taught in God’s words and works; therefore he is constantly citing God’s commandments and
works. Besides, no proverbs have their origin anywhere else than in God’s words and works,
since all human proposals are vain and deceptive. . . Men have to see and learn that men’s
proposals and hopes constantly fail and turn out otherwise than they intend, and they have at
last to observe that another turns the wheel. . . . A wise man is one who guides himself by God’s
Word and works; a fool one who presumptuously guides himself by his own mind and notions.
. . ..Amid so many royal duties, [Solomon] undertook to be a teacher, and especially a
teacher of the most necessary thing of all, teaching and training the young people how they
should act blessedly before God. . . [and] the world with body and goods. . . . This book,
therefore, ought early be impressed on the young people throughout the world and put into daily
use and practice; undoubtedly it was for this purpose that it was made and written by King
Solomon, as an example to all kings and lords to take an interest in the young people. To this
may God give His grace. Amen.
In addition to being a tool for teaching youth, Luther also considered Proverbs a necessary
guide for rulers and governors, “for it contains lessons touching God’s anger, wherein governors
and rulers should exercise themselves.” (From Luther’s Table Talk) Furthermore, in evaluating
its place in the biblical canon, Luther wrote:
That the Proverbs are not all authored by Solomon (see Proverbs 30:1 and 31:1, for
instance) has caused some concern in the past, but authorship is not an adequate criterion for
canonicity. It must be admitted that some inferior ideas are expounded in this book. Women are
generally pictured as seductive and brainless gossips. Shrewd business deals are lauded.
Prosperity is in some passages the reward of righteousness, but in other verses it is the
privileged status held by oppressors of the poor. Lawsuits are described wholly apart from
religious considerations. Happiness is often the result of a full belly, instead of being the
beatitude of living in God’s will. Also, since they are assembled in a helter-skelter fashion rather
than being grouped as to subject matter, it is possible to spot contradictory sayings. . . . But
despite these faults, Proverbs does have an overall redeeming value. Its praise of wisdom is
prophetic, because it prepares for the coming of Christ, our Wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30).
Proverbs extols righteousness, justice, mercy, truth, harmony, family obligations,
industriousness, and humility. The Bible would be poorer if it were excluded.
(http://www.atkinslightquest.com/Documents/Religion/Bible-Exegesis/DoubtfulCanonicity.htm)
Note: See also the entry “Proverbs” on the next page.
Who or What Is . . . ?
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Fear of the LORD. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge" (Proverbs 1:7) is a
theme that runs through most of Proverbs. Fear here does not mean to be afraid of God, but to
have honor and respect for God. It is to stand in awe of the mighty creative power of God, to
reverently acknowledge that God’s ways often are not our ways, and to gratefully accept that
this supreme power desires relationship with us.
Proverbs. This book belongs to those books of the Bible known as wisdom literature. (See
entry below.) Though traditionally said to be written by Solomon, it actually is a collection
reflecting the wisdom of ancient Israel based on writings, poems, and sayings authored by
respected sages through the ages whose names are unknown, and some of whom came from
other nations. Some may indeed have originated with Solomon. James Limburg, Professor
Emeritus of Old Testament at Luther Seminary, notes on enterthebible.org that, “Much of it
originated in folk wisdom of the sort found in all cultures at all times. Other parts were composed
as essays or poems (chapters 1-9, 31). . . . One does not need to deal with the big questions
each day, like the meaning of life or the problem of evil or why bad things happen to good
people. In day by day living there are all sorts of smaller questions: How should I handle my
financial affairs? How should I relate to friends and colleagues? What about falling in love?
What can I do to maintain a healthy marriage? How can I responsibly help the poor? These are
the sorts of things that the book of Proverbs can help with. If the major theme in the Psalms is
the praise of God in heaven, the chief concern of Proverbs is the pursuit of a happy and good
life on earth.”
Solomon. The son of David and Bathsheba, Solomon was the third king of Israel. When God
asked him what he most desired, Solomon requested wisdom, and that trait continues to be
associated with him to this day. Unfortunately, like most of the kings of Israel, Solomon did not
live up to his early promise as a faithful, wise king. Attempting to solidify his power, he married
foreign women which eventually led to the Israelites worshipping foreign gods.
Wisdom Literature. The goal of Wisdom literature is quite simply to impart wisdom to the
reader. “Wisdom” in this case deals with those attitudes and behaviors that make for a happy,
fulfilling life. While much of it falls into the category of common sense based on life experience,
it also is founded on a right and faithful relationship with God, as Proverbs clearly states on
more than one occasion: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge/wisdom” (1:7;
9:10; 15:33). The goal of Wisdom literature is character formation. One does well by doing
good. A good life is achieved through hard work, honesty, self-control, generosity, and other
virtues, most especially, fear of the LORD.
Women in Proverbs. Readers may question the way in which women are presented in
Proverbs, particularly in chapters 5 and 7, which warn against “loose” women. It is helpful to
remember that the book was written primarily for the instruction of young men. It is more
appropriate for today’s reader to put the warnings in a more general context of sexual
responsibility and proper behavior for both men and women.
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To Guide Your Reading
Use the following questions to guide your reading and personal reflection, jotting down your
thoughts in the space between each question. For those who wish, we have suggested a twoweek schedule to help you in your reading and reflection.
Questions in boldface are the ones we suggest you consider at your small group
meeting. Groups are free, however, to focus on whatever questions are of most interest and
concern to the group. Let the Spirit lead!
WEEK 1 – Proverbs 1:1 – 9:18
In general, these chapters can be classified as instructional essays.
1. Reread the purpose of the book in 1:2-7. Are there experiences you have had or
examples you can give that show how the fear of the LORD helps to accomplish one or
more of the goals stated in verses 2-6?
2. After reading these chapters, how would you describe what it means to have
“wisdom”? (See 3:1-35 in particular.) How is this the same or different from how
you would have used that term before?
3. What chapters or verses in this section of reading were most meaningful to you and
why?
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WEEK 2 – Proverbs 10:1 – 22:16
These primarily short, pithy sayings on a variety of topics are the proverbs scholars feel are
most likely associated with Solomon. Interestingly, there are 375 verses in this section—the
numerical value of Solomon’s name.
1. In this section are several proverbs regarding friendship: 14:20-21; 16:28; 17:9; 17:17;
18:24; 19:4l 19:6. Which are particularly meaningful to you and why? (Because they
describe someone you know? Because they contain a lesson you have learned about
friendship? Because they lift up the kind of friend you hope to be? Or???)
2. Also in this section are a number of proverbs dealing with being careful about
what we say as well as when it is best to be silent: 11:13; 13:3; 14:7; 17:28; 18:2,
21; 21:23. As you did in the previous question, consider which of these proverbs
are most meaningful to you and why.
3. Running through several proverbs in this section are thoughts on God as creator, guide
and sustainer. In general, they argue that God has not abandoned his creation to run on
its own, but continues to work out his purposes in, with, and under earthly events: 16:3;
16:9; 19:21; 20:24; 21:30-31. What questions do these proverbs raise for you?
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WEEK 3 – Proverbs 22:17 – 31:31
Dr. James Limburg, Professor Emeritus, Luther Seminary, points out that within this portion of
Proverbs are two unique sections: Proverbs 30:1-33, which includes a series of numerical
sayings, and Proverbs 31:10-31, an acrostic in which each verse begins with a successive letter
of the Hebrew alphabet. Both devices most likely were meant as aids to learning and
memorization.
1. Israel’s wisdom writers did not limit themselves in writing and compiling material to
sources and experiences that came only out of Israel. Proverbs 22:17—24:22, for
example, parallels writings from The Wisdom of Amenemope, while Chapter 30 is
credited (30:1) to the Agur son of Jakeh, both Egyptian collections of wisdom writings.
How might this indicate an inclusiveness—a belief that God is the God of all peoples?
What might it tell us of the commonality of human behavior and experience?
2. The numerical sayings we find in in 30:15b-16; 18-19; 21-23; 24-28; 29-31 were most
likely written as a learning aid. Using this form, try writing your own numerical saying on
a subject of importance to you—or just for fun!
3. Martin Luther, along with other active leaders of the Reformation, encouraged the setting
up of schools for public education—a model still followed today in many countries,
including the United States. Speaking of the need for education, Luther is said to have
told parents, “You parents can provide your children with no greater gift than an
education in the liberal arts.” How does this echo Prov. 23:23? What arguments would
you have for why portions of Proverbs would or would not be valuable reading as part of
a liberal arts education?
4. Many biblical proverbs speak to parent-child relationships. In your upbringing,
which had the most effect: punishment and discipline, or verbal instruction and
encouragement?
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