Introduction

Types of proverbs:

Contrast – Proverbs 13:20

Comparison – Proverbs 26:9

Straight-forward advice – Proverbs 18:13

Extended (parable-like) – Proverbs 24:30

Writers:

Solomon – Proverbs 1:1; 10:1; 25:1

I Kings 3:5-12; 4:29, 32; 10:6-7; Ecclesiastes 12:9

“Transcribed” by men of Hezekiah, Proverbs 25:1

Wise men otherwise unknown

Agur – Proverbs 30:1

King Lemuel (his mother) – Proverbs 31:1

We need more wisdom in this world!

Why aren’t these wise sayings always true?

These are general truths with exceptions.

God created humans with the ability to choose (Joshua 24:15).

Time and chance affect everything (Ecclesiastes 9:11).

Some passages may pertain to promises unique to Old Covenant Israel.

Different circumstances call for different applications of wisdom. (Proverbs 6:4-5; Proverbs 18:22 vs Proverbs 21:9)

Proverbs 1:2 – The purpose of Proverbs: to know wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:4 – Proverbs are for helping the young and naïve so they don’t have to learn everything the hard way.

Proverbs 1:5-7 – Pride works against wisdom!

Proverbs 1:10-19 – Peer pressure is not a new problem!

Proverbs 1:17-18 – Even a bird has enough sense to not enter an obvious trap, but people that run to evil set a trap for themselves!