GOD’S WORD FOR DECEMBER 14 ~ ~ *Psalm 78:1 ~ ~ “Give ear, O my people, to my law;

Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.”

Continuing with Dr. Michael Youssef’s book, “How to Read the Bible.”

Chapter 9 ~ Wisdom of Solomon: The Books of Solomon

Section:  Proverbs:  Kingdom and Covenant Themes

Beginning with Proverbs 22:17, Solomon records a series of “sayings of the wise” on several subjects:  do not oppress the needy,  avoid hot-tempered people, don’t overextend yourself with debt, be diligent and skilled in your work, avoid the trap of power and greed, and so forth – advice as timely today as it was three thousand years ago.

Proverbs 25 through 29 contain sayings of Solomon collected by the officials of Hezekiah, king of Judah.

Though it may not be obvious, the themes of the Kingdom of God and His New Covenant with humanity are woven throughout this book.  Proverbs is all about living according to the precepts and principles of the Kingdom of God.  It instructs us in such Kingdom values as wisdom, justice, integrity, and righteous living.

For example, Proverbs 14:34 sets forth this Kingdom principle: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people,” And Proverbs 16:11 reminds us: “Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord; all the weights in the bag are of His making.”

The New Covenant theme in Proverbs can be found in verses that emphasize God’s love, grace and forgiveness.  For example, Solomon tells us, “Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided” (Proverbs 16:6).  And he says, “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). This Old Testament wisdom resonates with the New Testament assurance of 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Proverbs 30 contains the proverbs of the unknown writer Agur, who writes in a distinctly different style from Solomon.  Here is one of my favorite passages from this chapter:

“Two things I ask of you, Lord: do not refuse me before I die:  Keep falsehood and lies far from me:  give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.  Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, “Who is the Lord?”  Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”  (Proverbs 30:7-9)

Chapter 31 is called “the sayings of King Lemuel – an inspired utterance his mother taught him.”  There is no mention of a king names Lemuel in the Bible or in secular history.  The meaning of the name is uncertain, though some Hebrew scholars believe it could mean “belonging to God.”  Some have suggested that “Lemuel” was a term of endearment that Solomon’s mother, Bathsheba, affectionately gave him.  Because of the style of the writing, and because no “King Lemuel” is known in history, many Bible scholars believe that Lemuel was a pseudonym for Solomon.  I agree with this view.

She says, “Listen, son of my womb!  Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers”  In other words, this  mother calls her son an answer to her prayers, suggesting the special spiritual relationship she has with both God and her son.  She then gives him a series of instructions and warnings against promiscuity, drunkenness, and ruling unjustly and oppressively.

In Proverbs 31:10, the writer draws a clear word-picture of what the Jews call the “Eshet Hayill” or “Woman of valor.”  I like to think of this woman as the “Marvelous mom.”

I have a theory that Solomon may have composed this section late in life, after he made the mistake of marrying many princesses of other nations in order to form political alliances.  The result was that these princesses brought their own pagan idols and beliefs into the marriages – and Solomon compromised his faithfulness to God by permitting and participating in idolatry.

Perhaps Solomon, in his remorse over his sins and failings, remembered the sterling example of his great-great-grandmother, Ruth.  As Boaz said to Ruth, “All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character” (Ruth 3:11).  I think it is more than coincidental that Boaz’s description of Ruth – “a woman of noble character” – is echoed in Proverbs 31:10:  “A wife of noble character who can find?  She is worth far more than rubies.”

The book of Ruth tells us that Solomon’s great-great-grandmother was a Gentile (a non-Jew) from the land of Moab, yet she had rejected the false gods of the Moabites and had fed upon the godly teaching of her Israelite mother-in-law, Naomi.  Ruth obeyed the God of Israel, and she became part of the lineage of King David, Solomon, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Verses 11-27 describe such a woman as being hard-working, dependable, wise in money and real estate matters – a woman who “lacks nothing of value.”  She diligently looks after her family’s material, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.  She is respected in the community (verse 23).  She is generous to the poor (verse 20).

A virtuous woman earns the praise of her husband and children (verses 28-29).  To be a woman of virtue is infinitely more honorable than to be charming or beautiful (verses 30-31).

The book of Proverbs is a great edifice constructed of godly, practical wisdom.  The capstone of this edifice is a beautiful word-picture of a wise, virtuous woman.  A woman who fears the Lord is a role model for every believer.

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*Acts 17:27&28

 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;  for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.

*Ps 149:4

God beautifies the weak with salvation.

Psalm 31:1

In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.

Psalm 33:4

For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth.

Lamentations 3:22&23

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,

Because His compassions fail not.

They are new every morning;  Great is your faithfulness.

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