A Stonebriar Fellowship
It is very interesting that the book begins with the instruction of a father (1:8-9:18) to a son, it concludes with the instruction of a mother for her son (31:1-9). It begins with the wisdom of wise men, but it ends with the extolling of the wisdom of a wise woman (31:10-31), a lady that is a model of wisdom, grit, and valor.
Thus far in our brief study, we have looked at a variety of wise sayings by Solomon and others, grouped together by topic. Today, we will look at two samples of the sayings of one man, Agur.
This short study functions to draw our attention to the meaning of living our lives well. Once again, the topics today concern several additional character qualities that are congruous with Christian profession. Lives built on the reverence for the God revealed in the Holy Scriptures.
This short study functions to draw our attention to the meaning of living our life well. The topic today concerns several additional character qualities that are congruous with Christian profession. The Bible frequently addresses these issues both positively and negatively.
The topic today concerns personal character qualities that are congruous with the Christian profession. The Bible frequently addresses the issue both positively and negatively. Job has rendered quite a verdict when he speaks of the origin of wisdom.
“But where can wisdom be found?
And where is the place of understanding?
Man does not know its value,
Nor is it found in the land of the living.”
(Job 28:12)
The topic today is that, not so much speech, as the use of words in speech. The Bible frequently addresses the issue both positively and negatively, using the word tongue metaphorically for speech.
So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!
(James 3:5)
We increasingly find ourselves in a world that is characterized by anxiety and instability. It is easy in a world of-too-much-coming-at-us through the media, and other sources, to find tranquility in that we have more than we can handle. The net result can be anxiety manifested and rooted in uncertainty, fears, and insecurity. The answer, at least in part, is focus. What we put in our minds is what we involuntarily think. We all need good input in what Dr. Swindoll calls, “a world that has lost its way.” How do we do that? The answer is simple but we are complex. We need to fill our minds with good thoughts that lift us above our fears. What brings us happy, wholesome thoughts “that allows us to lie down in green pastures [peacefulness] leads us beside quiet waters [contentedness], and restores our soul leading us in the path of righteousness for His name’s sake (Ps. 23:1-2].” There are times when we all need to be quiet and refocus.
The title of the book, which comes to us from the Latin Vulgate, reflects to some degree its content. The root of the noun in Hebrew means “parallel,” “comparison,” or “a saying.” The comparison is often between folly and wisdom in everyday life. A proverb teaches through graphic contrasts. It is “Wisdom Literature.” In essence a proverb is an ethical maxim or a saying that describes human behavior. The function of such literature is to instruct the people of God in practical living.
