Our Footsteps: An Introductory Look at Proverbs

Sunday, January 3, 2010

An Introductory Look at Proverbs

In coming weeks, I'll be posting some of my notes from my study in Proverbs. The commentaries I'm looking at include works by Charles Bridges, Warren Wiersbe, Derek Kidner, H.A. Ironside and other miscellaneous sources. Here are some introductory notes that I'll be eventually sharing in my Sunday School class:

Although there are many subthemes, the main theme of the book of Proverbs is 'being wise'. Gaining wisdom vs. remaining foolish.

Wisdom - means being skillful in one’s relationships and responsibilities... observing and following the Creator’s principles of order in the moral universe.

Who wrote the book of Proverbs (and when)?

Solomon is credited with creating and compiling most of the Proverbs (1:1; 10:1).
Agur and Lemuel also wrote Proverbs 30 and 31 respectively.
Approximately 971 to 686 B.C.

What is a proverb? An online dictionary defines a proverb to be “a wise saying or precept; a didactic sentence”. Pastor and teacher Dr. John MacArthur defines proverbs as “simple, moral statements or illustrations that highlight and teach fundamental truths and tendencies in life”.

Why study the book of Proverbs? The first verses of the first chapter give several good reasons. I will look at those in the coming days.

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1). I believe that there is one God. I believe God consists of three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
2). I believe that God is holy, righteous, loving, and just.
3). I believe that mankind is separated from God by sin; that sin entered the world through Adam and death through sin.
4). I believe that, because of sin, man is condemned. Because of God’s utter hatred for sin, there is an eternal conscious punishment in hell for all those who do not come to God on His terms, dealing with their sin.
5). I believe that confessing our sins and confessing Jesus Christ as Lord is the only way to properly deal with the sin that has infected everyone. Jesus Christ paid our sin debt on the cross; reconciliation by substitution. There is nothing we can do to add to the finished work of Christ.
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7). I believe that upon the death of a true believer in Christ, that he is ushered immediately into the presence of the Lord, where he will live in everlasting joy in Heaven, experiencing eternal fellowship with God.
8). I believe in believer’s baptism by immersion. I don’t believe baptism is necessary for salvation, but it is a beautiful outward profession of an inward possession.
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10). I believe that the words written in the Bible are truth. I believe that the Bible is inerrant in its parts and in its whole. I believe that the 66 books that make up the canon of scripture make the Bible complete and that God inspired the words written therein. The things that were written down in the Bible are sufficient for every need we have. Not only is God’s Word sufficient, but it is far superior to any other method of handling the problems that man faces, since He has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness.