Here’s how the study works: Read the chapters mentioned in the heading during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for several chapters creates the opportunity to revisit them and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
Proverbs 1-5
1:1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2 for gaining wisdom and instruction;
for understanding words of insight;
3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
doing what is right and just and fair;
4 for giving prudence to those who are simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young—
(Constable Commentary) “How can we tell if a proverb is a promise as well as a proverb?” “A proverb is by definition a saying that accurately represents what is usually true not what is true without exception” “If a proverb expresses a truth promised elsewhere in Scripture we know that we can rely on it being absolutely true.”
1:1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2 for gaining wisdom and instruction;
for understanding words of insight;
3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
doing what is right and just and fair;
4 for giving prudence to those who are simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young—
(Constable Commentary) “How can we tell if a proverb is a promise as well as a proverb?” “A proverb is by definition a saying that accurately represents what is usually true not what is true without exception” “If a proverb expresses a truth promised elsewhere in Scripture we know that we can rely on it being absolutely true.”
2:6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
But this wisdom, knowledge and understanding comes by turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding (v. 2) by calling out for insight and crying aloud for understanding (v. 3) by looking for it as silver and searching for it as hidden treasure (v. 4).
2:6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
But this wisdom, knowledge and understanding comes by turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding (v. 2) by calling out for insight and crying aloud for understanding (v. 3) by looking for it as silver and searching for it as hidden treasure (v. 4).
3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
3:9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
(From Constable’s Commentary) “Trusting means to put yourself wholly at the mercy of another… leaning is not just reclining against something but relying on it totally for support. … The most significant tell-tale symptom of this lack of trust is that they never get around to honouring the Lord with their substance. We’ve got to make sure the family has security; and we don’t add to the security by whooping off a hunk of it and putting it in the offering plate, unless we really believe that God is our security.”
3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
3:9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
(From Constable’s Commentary) “Trusting means to put yourself wholly at the mercy of another… leaning is not just reclining against something but relying on it totally for support. … The most significant tell-tale symptom of this lack of trust is that they never get around to honouring the Lord with their substance. We’ve got to make sure the family has security; and we don’t add to the security by whooping off a hunk of it and putting it in the offering plate, unless we really believe that God is our security.”
4: 3 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
“Heart” generally refers to mind, but may also include emotions and will. When you guard what you think about, it keeps control of your emotions.
4: 3 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
“Heart” generally refers to mind, but may also include emotions and will. When you guard what you think about, it keeps control of your emotions.
5:23 For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly.
People don’t ‘die’ for lack on instruction, generally people know the right thing to do, but they ‘die’ from a lack of discipline. They don’t do what they know is right. We need God’s enabling.
5:23 For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly.
People don’t ‘die’ for lack on instruction, generally people know the right thing to do, but they ‘die’ from a lack of discipline. They don’t do what they know is right. We need God’s enabling.