Reading: Proverbs 1-3, Psalm 148

“By understanding many things I have accomplished nothing”
-purported last words of Hugo Grotius

In a similar way to the Psalms, the book of Proverb is often broken up into daily readings throughout the year in Bible reading programs. Unlike the Psalms, I think this is a huge mistake. While some parts of the book of Proverbs are a list of wise sayings, much of it is longer poetic sayings that are organized in a particular way for a particular reason. The opening statement and first large section, which continues through chapter 9, really should not be broken down into single verse chunks. Okay, enough of a rant about that.

Today we read the opening of the book, an introductory statement by Solomon, who we remember from the book of Kings to be regarded the wisest man who ever lived. In these seven opening verses, Solomon actually says something pretty radical. Solomon sets up this collection of wise sayings by telling the reader that if they want understand, prudence, good judgment, equity, justice- all the things Solomon in his wisdom was known for- it begins not with long study or even with listening to such a wise teacher as Solomon, but by the fear of the God of the Israel. Verse 7 of chapter 1 is a bit of an assassination of the usefulness of learning. Right at the onset, the book of Proverbs warns the one studying it that it will be of no use in and of itself. Without the fear of the Lord, all wisdom is foolishness.

With that heartening introduction, Solomon continues into a long poem of instruction for his son. Given the placement in the Hebrew Scriptures and the fact that we have read the book of Kings, we should read this as Solomon instructing a young Rehoboam. It’s worth taking a minute to recall the story of Rehoboam, under whose watch the kingdom of Israel split in two. Rehoboam is presented in Kings as impulsive, heavy handed, and resistant to wise counsel. Readers of Proverbs were assumed to know this. It is also worth noting that while Solomon was considered very wise, he was a character marked by bad behavior and a lack of self control when it came to women, money, and power. Despite direct instruction otherwise in the books of Moses, Solomon acquires a whole bunch of wives, enormous piles of wealth, and a great deal of political and economic power. Both the instructor and the student have questionable character.

All that said, let’s look at what Solomon has to say to his son. First, there is a warning not to forget the instruction of his parents. Probably a universe desire of parents. Then there is a warning not to join a crew of bandits who lay in wait by the road to murder and rob people.
Huh?
Is this a likely activity for the son of a king? Is it something Solomon was really worried about the heir to the throne doing? I guess we don’t really know, but it seems unlikely. It is more likely a metaphor for greedy people. In fact, Solomon tells us so at in verse 19: Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy, who seeks after unjust gain. Solomon is using elaborate word pictures as a warning against greed, something both he and his son were very much vulnerable to.

Next we are introduced to Wisdom as a personal character. Solomon presents wisdom as a woman calling in the streets. She isn’t keeping secrets, but proclaiming aloud her promises and her threats. Yeah, threats. In fact, more threats than promises. Wisdom announces that she will abandon those who refused to fear the God of Israel, and that despite their calling to her, she will ignore them. Solomon is again pointing his son away from seeking understanding apart from the proper fear of the Lord. The next two chapters continue this pattern. Solomon warns his son to listen to his words as they point him to the the words of God. The wisest king who every lived makes his chief instruction to his son in chapter 3: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. This will hold as the chief lesson of the book of Proverbs.

There are many great statements of wisdom in the book of Proverbs. Pithy sayings like one who loves discipline love knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid, or apparently self proving statements like a faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies. Some of these little statements seem more useful than others, but they all made it into this Hebrew wisdom book. What is most important to the author and collector of these wise sayings, though, it what he puts at the beginning of the book. All the collected wisdom that it put into this book is meant to be read in light of the opening paragraph and it’s conclusion: The fear of the God of Israel is the beginning of knowledge. Reading the book of Proverbs well means knowing the books that come before it. It means knowing the proper fear of the Lord. It means considering the knowledge of God before the knowledge of even the wisest human.