Themes of Wisdom
We will now dive into the text of Proverbs after spending some time in overview mode.
Approaching Proverbs
Is it possible to understand a book that was written thousands of years ago in a completely different cultural setting? Is it possible that it has a relevant message for us?
Behind that question lurks a more general one: Are there principles that never change? How about that, what do you think?
Proverbs does not have an apparent structure or order. However, as you read it, you find that there are recurring themes, lines of thought that turn up now and again with varying perspectives. This post will call attention to some of them.
Personalities in Proverbs
Proverbs depicts a number of archetypal personalities. Here are the most important ones.
The wise/the prudent adjust their lives according to the natural laws of human behaviour (see the previous post), continually striving to grasp more of them.
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
Proverbs 9:9
The fool disregards natural laws of human behaviour and refuses to accept wisdom.
Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Proverbs 26:9
Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.
Proverbs 26:11
The simple have no solid foundation, neither wisdom nor folly, and are easily led here and there.
The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
Proverbs 14:15
The above personalities focus on horizontal relationships, relating to other people. Other personalities involve the relationship to God.
The righteous take the relationship to God seriously, revere him, and desire to live according to God’s will.
The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked walks into it instead.
Proverbs 11:8
The wicked/the evildoers/the godless/the scoffers neglect God’s will, putting their own foremost.
An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
Proverbs 17:4
The personalities should not be taken as individuals, but as patterns or types. The purpose of patterns is to provide calibration for our own behaviour, a scale for our self-assessment. Today I may behave wisely, but unfortunately it does not stop me from acting foolishly the next day.
Themes of Proverbs
The number of personalities in Proverbs is manageable, but the number of themes is overwhelming. We can only highlight a selection here.
The themes of Proverbs are down-to-earth, dealing with everyday situations.
Spoken Words
Handling our speech may be the most frequent theme in Proverbs. Here is a sample.
Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
Proverbs 17:27-28
Avoiding idle talk is continuing advice in Proverbs. Our speech matters. Words may be charged with power to hurt or power to heal.
There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Proverbs 12:18
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
Proverbs 25:11
Words may cause quarrels and conflict, especially when spoken behind the backs of those affected.
For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
Proverbs 26:20
Work and Diligence
Proverbs recommends that we earn our living by plain old work.
Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.
Proverbs 6:6-8
In our days, fewer people live off agriculture than during the days of Proverbs, but some principles easily carry over to our time. Life has seasons of preparation and sowing as well as seasons of harvest.
The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
Proverbs 20:4
Those who drag their feet get roasted by Proverbs.
As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.
Proverbs 26:14
The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!”
Proverbs 22:13
Sincere Friendship
Proverbs keeps repeating that a faithful friend does not hesitate to intervene and reprove, if necessary. Similarly, the wise know how to accept correction and avoid getting trapped by flattery.
Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.
Proverbs 27:5-6 SFB
Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue.
Proverbs 28:23
Sincere friendship helps us mature.
Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17
The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Proverbs 20:5
Friendship deserves to be cultivated.
Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.
Proverbs 27:10
People in high-ranking positions seek those who are sincere.
He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.
Proverbs 22:11
Generosity
Proverbs encourages generosity.
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
Proverbs 3:27
The generous suffer no loss.
One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
Proverbs 11:24
This is a striking parallel to the teaching of Jesus in the New Testament many centuries later,
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Luke 6:38
The Bible is consistent.
Arrogance and Humility
Proverbs contains several warnings against haughtiness.
Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.
Proverbs 18:12
Humility, what is it, really? Not commending yourself, among other things.
Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great, for it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.
Proverbs 25:6-7
Exactly this example is taught by Jesus in Luke 14:10-11.
Humility is also to accept one’s limitations and trust God.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5
Another aspect of humility is to actively seek the advice of others when making plans.
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.
Proverbs 18:2
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
Proverbs 12:15
Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.
Proverbs 15:22
Summary
Proverbs highlights virtues that we sometimes (a bit carelessly) refer to as typically Lutheran. Responsibility. Honesty. Integrity. Order. Cherish your friends and be sincere with them. Do not think too highly of yourself. And so on.
Proverbs has a good reason for this: it works.