Tag Archives: wisdom literature

Proverbs 8

Posted on April 10, 2015 by ehurst

On the one hand, this chapter stands on its own. The soaring poetry and utterly accessible metaphor of Lady Wisdom calling to humanity is hard to miss. Every major English translation fails to do it justice, yet even with these … Continue reading →

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Proverbs 7

Posted on April 2, 2015 by ehurst

Solomon has seen it all. While at her pinnacle the Kingdom of Israel was never large enough to be called an empire, she was the single most stable and prosperous nation in a sea of instability. Previous empires had already … Continue reading →

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Proverbs 6

Posted on March 26, 2015 by ehurst

It’s going to sound like Solomon is beating the same drums over and over. However, it is our cultural insensitivity that keeps us from recognizing that this is a different song. There is a subtle shift in emphasis that is … Continue reading →

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Proverbs 5

Posted on March 24, 2015 by ehurst

Sometimes wisdom is the result of many painful lessons over a long life. Notice that Solomon doesn’t demand that his readers obey simple edicts, but offers his own experience. We happen to know that Solomon did have long experience with … Continue reading →

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Proverbs 4

Posted on March 19, 2015 by ehurst

While we know that Solomon received his unprecedented wisdom as a gift from God at his first wedding (1 Kings 3), Solomon insists a part of his inclination for it came from his father, David. Thus, he reaffirms the critical … Continue reading →

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Proverbs 3

Posted on March 17, 2015 by ehurst

What good does it do? What comes from committing your heart to God? First, Solomon describes what it means to genuinely enter into the Covenant with God. We can be amused at the vast popularity of verses 5 and 6 … Continue reading →

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Proverbs 2

Posted on March 16, 2015 by ehurst

To the untrained eye, this chapter seems almost pedantic. Solomon piles up the overlapping phrases again, trying to convince his readers that God is the source of all wisdom. Our problem in Western society is that we are so utterly … Continue reading →

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Proverbs 1

Posted on March 15, 2015 by ehurst

(Yeah, I’m a busy boy working on two books at once.) The first verse served as the ancient title of the entire book. The next five verses explain the reason for the book. It appears this would serve as a … Continue reading →

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Introduction to Proverbs

Posted on March 12, 2015 by ehurst

(This is a formal draft of the study itself.) It would be impossible to characterize just why God decided He wanted to create a world populated with humans. Nothing in revelation provides a hint in that direction. However, we do … Continue reading →

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Preparatory Notes on Proverbs

Posted on February 22, 2015 by ehurst

Outline: There are three sections. 1. Chapters 1-9: Solomon’s Introduction — He calls for his own younger kin to be wise, and uses the image of wisdom as a good woman who is seldom sought, and has to go forth … Continue reading →

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