Category: Daily Studies

These daily studies are intended to provide insight into the various books of the Old Testament. The Pentateuch has not been forgotten. I began this endeavor after my studies of the Torah. I will return to them later.
If you have comments, suggestions, or insights, feel free to post them.

Principles of Proverbs

Proverbs discusses the wise man in his various relationships. A few of the major ones are mentioned below. What is man’s relationship to God? Since the fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom, many of the proverbs discuss man’s relationship to God. Two areas the book of Proverbs deal with are divine guidance (3.5-6, 11.14, 15.22, and 16.9), which states that to depend exclusively on one’s own understanding may lead to tragic results and that God gives guidance through godly counselors. And, the avoidance of sin (6.16-19). These proverbs catalog seven sins that God especially hates. The wise man will take note and avoid these.

Another relationship mentioned is man’s relationship to his nation. God has advice regarding two possible relationships of a man to his nation. The first is to the leaders of the nation. Leaders are chosen and controlled by the sovereign God (8.15-16 and 21.1-2). They are to rule with equity (29.4) and are to be especially wary of the snares laid by strong drink and strange women (31.1-9). The second is to the citizenry of the nation. The people who are governed are to remember that God honors righteousness and punishes sin in the nation as a whole (11:11 and 14.34).

A third relationship is man’s relationship to his business. There are two lines of thought that are emphasized in relation to everyday business affairs. The first is having honesty and integrity. These principles are to guide the wise man’s dealings. False weights and balances are condemned (11.1, 16.11, and 20.10). The businessman who cheats his customers cannot expect the blessing of God. The second is to be cautious. In loaning money, the wise man will be especially cautious (6.1-2, 11.15, 17.18, 22.26, and 27.13). To loan money with no security is foolishness, not generosity.

The fourth relationship is man’s relationship to his friends. The author of these proverbs stresses two thoughts in regard to friends. The first is that friendships are valuable, and it is important to remember that a man wins friends by being friendly himself (18.24). Friendships can be of great spiritual benefit. The right kind of friend is faithful (18.24), tactful (27.14), and helpful (27.6). The second is that friendships are vulnerable. People who entice to sin are to be shunned (1.10-19). Some friendships are based on wrong things, such as money (19.4). Like any other good thing, friendships may be misused (16.28 and 17.9).

The fifth relationship is man’s relationship to his family. This involves both his wife and children. A wife is a gift and blessing from God (18.22). This is true only if she is a good wife, i.e., sensible (19.14), capable (31.10), and a stabilizing influence in the home (14.1). The wrong kind of wife is quarrelsome and nagging (21.19, 25.24, and 27.15-16). It is the responsibility of parents to provide direction for the child (22.6) and also to administer discipline (13.4, 22.15, and 23.13-14).

The sixth and final relationship presented here is a man’s relationship to himself. The book of Proverbs discusses personal habits. it contains a series of contrasting personality traits which are accompanied be a description in which the virtues or limitations are clearly stated. Some of the more significant ones are: diligence and laziness (20.13 and 24.33-34), speech and silence (15.1-2, 20.19, and 26.20), pride and humility (15.25, 16.18-19, and 21.4), joy and sorrow (17.22), drunkenness and sobriety (23.29-32).

Approaching Proverbs

Two critical approaches to the book will be discussed. The one not taken by this author is the liberal approach and the other, which is held by this author, is the conservative approach. Liberals take the evolutionary approach to Proverbs. That is, the late model. In so doing they deny most, if not all, proverbs as ascribed to Solomon as his. They date the writing to be around 800 BC. To refute this we point to Date and Authorship.

Conservatives say the style of Proverbs agrees with Ugaritic epics. There are at least forty word parallels between Proverbs and these epics. One such is I Aqht I,1:13 when compared to Proverbs 27.2. The liberals also say that the author of Proverbs copied from The Wisdom of Amenemope. However, recent studies prove this to be reversed.

Dating and Authorship of Proverbs

Solomon is the chief author as stated in 1.1, 10.1, and 25.1. First Kings 4:32 gives more insight into this. The verse explains that Solomon was the author of more than 3,000 proverbs and 1,500 songs. If he was famous for all these proverbs, he must have written a few. Proverbs contains 915 verses and at least as many proverbs.

Other authors include Agur who is the author of the chapter thirty. While 31.1-9 was authored by Lemuel and 31.10-31 was by an unknown author.

Introduction to Proverbs

The name of the book of Proverbs is a play on words with the author of many of the proverbs the book contains. The word “Proverb” is משל (taken from mashal meaning “parable or proverb”). Solomon’s name is שלמה (shelomah, i.e. Proverbs of Solomon).

The main purpose of Proverbs is to instruct in principles of wisdom. There are three “types” of wisdom mentioned in the book. The basic word “wisdom” means to grasp the basic issues of life, which is to discern between good and evil. As we look across America today, we see little of this. We are more concerned with people feeling accepted than with actual good and evil. The word “understanding” is discerning between what appears to be real and what actually is real. The third word or phrase is “abiding success,” which is insight into spiritual or psychological truths.

The book of Proverbs contains a balanced antithesis. That is the two sides of a truth are presented in clearest opposition for didactic purposes. This leaves the reader with a clear-cut choice with no possible compromise. It is not a philosophy of life which is circular and man-centered, which is the philosophy of ancient Greece. It is linear and God centered, which is more Hebraic. It prepares those who desire wisdom and not philosophy for day to day living.

Be definition, a proverb is universal in that it applies to all times and all places. It has little historical background in Israel. Historical situations do not occur in the book of Proverbs. All proverbs are not applicable to all situations. Different circumstances require a different proverb.

Song of Solomon 5.2-6.13

Song of Solomon 5.2-6.13

Act IV: After the Honeymoon

This portion presents an “agony-ecstasy” contrast as the couple settles into a marriage routine. There is still plenty of passion, but tempered against the reality of the difficulties of life: absence, the joy of his return, routine, unpleasant treatment from others, etc. The summary statement, however, is 6.3a, “I am my lover’s and he is mine.”

An interesting commentary is a playful custom of “hide and seek” presented in .:2-6, where the husband knocks at the door and calls to his wife. He then unlatches the door and places a bouquet inside. Quickly, he runs to hide. As the new wife comes to the door, she panics at his absence and races out to find him. Normally, he would be ready to jump from his den to surprise her. On this night, it is likely that he had been drawn away, after all he is the king, thus leaving her unprotected when found by the watchmen. Finally, she discovers him again in 6.2-3.

Song of Solomon 1.2-3.5

Song of Solomon 1.2-3.5

Act I: The Courtship

Solomon owns a vineyard in the land of Ephraim which he placed under the care of family consisting of a mother, two brothers, an older daughter (a Shulamite, who is the heroine), and her younger sister. The Shulamite works in the vineyards and cares for flocks. She is the epitome of Proverbs 31. Although she is beautiful, she had little time for personal care and has become quite tanned by the sun.

Some have proposed this beautiful young woman is none other than Abishag. Abishag was a beautiful young woman who spent her youth working in the fields and vineyards. From our studies of 1 Kings 1, we remember she was chosen to lie beside the elderly King David to keep him warm and to be his nursemaid as he lay dying. The text is clear that her virginity was not taken away by the elderly King David (1 Kings 1:4). Her ministry to him was completely a matter of physical care, not sexual pleasure.

She came from an area called Shunam, which is thought to be in Galilee. It seems as though Solomon, who was part of the household at that time, became deeply attached to her. When his brother Adonijah tried to get his mother’s approval for taking Abishag to be his wife, Solomon was enraged that he was attempting to use Abishag to usurp the throne. He then had Benaiah, his executioner, kill Adonijah (1 Kings 2:21-25).

Abishag was not a lady of the courts, but she was a country girl (much like Esther). She worked in the fields under the hot sun, was not used to expensive clothes, and the extravagances of nobility. She was beautiful in character, charm, and looks.

One day, a handsome young man visits the vineyard and wins the heart of the young maiden. He leaves, but promises to return some day. She dreams of the young man, not knowing he is Solomon.