Proverb 1.1
“The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction …”
Today we begin a new study: the book of Proverbs.
A proverb (Hebrew masal) is a vivid, thought-provoking saying that communicates a message of truth in a few words. Proverbs are neither absolute commands nor unlimited promises. Because it is a partial statement, a proverb often needs to be understood alongside other proverbs on the same subject in order to get the full picture. The purpose of a proverb, then, is to get you to stop and think. In modern terms, the style of a proverb is perfectly designed for Twitter — a short, stimulating observation about how life works.
The opening verse of Proverbs tells us that the purpose of the book is “to know wisdom.” The word for wisdom is the Hebrew hokma, which is the most general term for wisdom. It refers to the skill of living well in the midst of the many different situations and challenges of life. In the Old Testament, hokma often refers to the practical, operational skill of craftsmen, singers and musicians, sailors, counselors, military leaders, farmers, and others. To be hokma is to know and be skillful at the methods and mechanics of your craft. In Proverbs, hokma also refers to the practical application of moral principles to everyday life. In other words, wisdom is the ability to “live skillfully.”
This is an enormously important truth for the followers of Christ in the 21st century. Wisdom is a learned, operational skill. The Holy Spirit plays a central and powerful role in the Christian gaining wisdom, but scripture is clear that wisdom is not simply granted or bestowed. It isn’t mystical or magical. It is learned like any other skill. Proverbs will guide us in how to seek and learn the skill of wisdom.
In the book of Proverbs, the key to a wise and skillful life is the recognition that God has created moral and practical principles that govern his universe. I call this “the physics” of God’s creation. It is the architecture of reality.
Wisdom is three-dimensional, which corresponds to the three-part nature of the image of God in man:
- Moral wisdom. Instruction on God’s standards of ethical behavior. How to be wise and skillful in ethics and morals. This is about character.
- Functional wisdom. Instruction on how to go about your daily work. How to be highly skillful in the mechanics of your job. This is about competence.
- Relational wisdom. Instruction on how to interact with each other. How to be wise and skillful in personal and professional relationships. This is about connection.
Proverbs says that observing and following the Creator’s moral, functional, and relational principles is wisdom. Proverbs also says that failure to observe and follow God’s principles is the way of a fool.
Here is a critically important point: Your contribution to and impact on society is determined by the combination of your character, competence, and connection. Another way to say this is that your impact as an agent of the kingdom of God is determined by your wisdom/skill in all three dimensions: moral, functional, and relational.
The wisdom in Proverbs is practical knowledge that helps us know how to respond to the many different situations we experience in life. In that regard, the entire book of Proverbs is teaching and instruction on how to apply E+R=O. Wisdom is the ability to manage your R Factor skillfully. It is not about intelligence or talent. In specific places Proverbs attributes wisdom to certain animals, not because animals have great intelligence, but because they know how to navigate life well.
The wisdom described in the book of Proverbs is essential for an effective and fruitful Christian life. But it works the other direction, also. A deep relationship with Jesus is necessary for access to the wisdom of God. Colossians 2:3 tells us that in Jesus “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.” Paul prays for our wisdom in Philippians: “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.” (Philippians 1:9-10)
Welcome, then, to a journey through the book of Proverbs, where we will learn how to live wisely and skillfully.
