THE FIRST PART: A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
The Books of Poetry
Message Seven—Proverbs
Scripture Reading: Gen.1:26; Exo. 20:12; Prov. 1:7; 3:5-6; 5:5-6, 15-16; 9:10; Rom. 6:6; 2 Cor. 3:6; Gal. 2:20
I. Proverb,words of wisdom teaching people how to behave and how to build up their character in the human life—Prov. 1:1, footnote 1; Rom. 10:3; Eph. 4:17:
A. What the book of Proverbs is to us and what the entire Bible is to us depend on what kind of person we are—John 5:39-40; Matt. 5:8; 6:22-24.
B. Proverbs is a collection of the words of the wise; the main writers and collectors are Solomon and Hezekiah—1 King 4:32.
C. Proverbs is a subsidiary part of the law, instructing people how to behave and how to build themselves up according to what God is—Prov. 1:1, footnote 1; Rom. 10:3.
D. Proverbs stresses wisdom that man receives of God through his contacting of God and that teaches man how to behave in his human life—Eph. 4:17.
E. We should read Proverbs by being filled with the fullness of God in our spirit—Eph. 5:18; 3:19.
II. We will consider from Proverbs the principles for man to live a proper human life; each of these principles—revering God, needing wisdom, honoring one’s parents, and holding marriage in honor—is a nugget—Prov. 1:7; 9:10:
A. The first principle for man to live a proper human life is revering God—Prov. 3:5-6; 9:10:
1. To revere God is to consider and regard Him in everything, never forgetting that He is the wonderful God who has created us—Gen. 1:26.
2. To revere God is to fear God; the fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding—Prov. 9:10; 15:33a.
3. To revere God is also to trust in Him, trust in Jehovah with all our heart and not to rely on our own understanding, in all our ways we should acknowledge Him, and He will make our paths straight—3:5-6.
B. The second principle, the second nugget, is needing wisdom; we are always in need of the wisdom of God—3:13-14, 21-22; 1 Cor. 1:24:
1. Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, for her profit is better than the profit of silver, and her income is better than gold—Prov. 3:13-14.
2. We should not let wisdom depart from our sight, but we should keep sound wisdom and discretion, the real beauty is wisdom and discretion—3:21-22.
3. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom; and in all your getting, get understanding, prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her, she will give a garland of grace for your head; a crown of beauty will she bestow on you—4:7-9.
4. Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; He established the heavens by understanding—3:19.
5. The personified wisdom of God is Christ as its reality—1 Cor. 1:24.
C. The third nugget, the third principle, is the honoring of one’s parents; after God, we should respect our parents, having regard for them, honoring them, and obeying them; honoring our parents will prolong our days—Exo. 20:12:
1. Revering God and honoring one’s parents are mentioned together in Proverbs, if we revere God, we will honor our parents—Exo. 20:12.
2. We should hear the instruction of our father and not reject the teaching of our mother; for they will be a wreath of grace for our head and ornaments for our neck—Prov. 1:8-9.
3. We should receive our father’s words and treasure up his commandments within us, making our ear attentive to wisdom and inclining our heart to understanding—2:1-2.
D. The fourth nugget is to hold marriage in honor; in order to live a proper human life, we must hold marriage in honor—5:5-6, 15-16:
1. In holding marriage in honor man’s faithfulness is the base; they need to drink waters out of their own cistern (wife) and running water out of their own well—5:5-6.
2. Whereas in holding marriage in honor man’s faithfulness is the base, woman’s virtues are the building up, a gracious woman lays hold of honor—11:16a.
III. We need Proverbs to give us instructions in order to build up our new man—Prov. 8:9; 2 Cor. 3:6; Eph. 4:24:
A. Our need to know the proper way to take the book of Proverbs; Proverbs gives us wisdom to be a proper person and to do the right things—Prov. 8:9.
B. The word in Proverbs will become spirit and life to us, not to cultivate our natural man but to cultivate our regenerated new man—2 Cor. 3:6.
C. In His redemption God’s eyes are always on the new man—Eph. 4:24.
D. Second Corinthians 4 tells us that “though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day”, this indicates that it is not easy for God to renew us, this cannot be accomplished just by our prayer, God needs to use His “therapy” to renew us—2 Cor. 4:16.
IV. To use the book of Proverbs properly, we must know God’s economy; according to His economy Proverbs should not be used to build up the old man; the big proverbs, like nuggets, and the small ones, like gems, are not for us to build up our old man, to cultivate our self and our natural man; rather, they are for us to build up our new man—Rom. 6:6; Gal. 2:20.
Ministry Excerpts:
THE PRINCIPLES FOR MAN TO LIVE A PROPER HUMAN LIFE
What the book of Proverbs is to us and what the entire Bible is to us depend on what kind of person we are. For the apostle Paul every book of the Old Testament was Spirit and life. But for many of today’s Christians the Bible, including the New Testament, is mainly a book of proverbs. Such Christians do not understand a verse like Ephesians 3:8, which speaks of the unsearchable riches of Christ for the producing of the church to fulfill God’s economy. They may have no interest in these matters. However, they may be very interested in what Ephesians 5 says about husbands loving their wives and about wives submitting to their husbands. This illustrates the strong tendency among Christians to try to understand the New Testament according to their ethical mind. They are not interested in anything that cannot be understood in an ethical way. In particular, they do not understand the New Jerusalem and do not seek to understand it. From this we see that the kind of person we are determines what the Bible will be to us.
In this message we will consider from Proverbs the principles for man to live a proper human life. Each of these principles—revering God, needing wisdom, honoring one’s parents, and holding marriage in honor—is a nugget.
Revering God
The first principle for man to live a proper human life is revering God. We should not only worship God but also revere Him. To revere God is to consider and regard Him in everything, never forgetting that He is the wonderful God who has created us. When we are about to lose our temper, we should revere God. Revering God stops us from doing evil. Revering God also causes us to be touched by the sufferings of others and to show mercy and compassion to them.
Even though I was born into Christianity, before I believed in the Lord Jesus I never revered God. But from the day I got saved, I began to revere God. In everything I respected and regarded God. That caused a great change in my life.
Fearing God
To revere God is to fear God. The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding (1:7; 9:10; 15:33a). Knowledge, wisdom, and understanding come from God. If we fear Him, revering Him, these will be our possession. If we seek wisdom like silver and search for her like hidden treasures, then we will understand the fear of Jehovah and find the knowledge of God (2:4-5). The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil (8:13). The fear of Jehovah prolongs days, but the years of the wicked will be shortened (10:27). He who walks in his uprightness fears Jehovah, but he who is perverse in his ways despises Him (14:2). In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence, and his children will have a place of refuge. The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, that one may turn aside from the snares of death (vv. 26-27). Better is a little with the fear of Jehovah, than great treasure and turmoil with it (15:16). If we are rich in the fear of Jehovah, we will have peace.
Trusting in God
To revere God is also to trust in Him. Proverbs 3:5-8 charges us to trust in Jehovah with all our heart and not to rely on our own understanding. In all our ways we should acknowledge Him, and He will make our paths straight. We should not be wise in our own eyes; we should fear Jehovah and depart from evil. This will be healing to our body and refreshment to our bones.
He who gives heed to the word will find good, and blessed is he who trusts in Jehovah (16:20). In my frequent travels by airplane, many times Satan has threatened me within by saying that my plane would crash. At those times I spoke to the Lord, saying, “Lord, I am not in a plane; I am in You. You are my plane.” This is to trust in the Lord.
According to 3:26 Jehovah will be our confidence, and He will keep our foot from being caught. Every word of God is tried; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. We should not add to His words, lest He reprove us and we be found a liar (30:5-6). We must not change His word by adding something to it according to our point of view. This is dangerous.
Honoring God
To revere God means that we also honor God. Proverbs 3:9-10 says that we must honor Jehovah with our substance and with the firstfruits of all our produce. Then our barns will be filled with plenty, and our vats will burst open with new wine. If we make more money to lay up treasure for our future, that is pitiful. At least one tenth, the firstfruit, of our produce must be given to God. We should always be very generous in giving of the things which God has given us. This honors God.
Needing Wisdom
The second principle, the second nugget, is needing wisdom. Notice that I do not say seeking wisdom but needing wisdom. We are always in need of the wisdom of God.
The One Who Finds Wisdom Being Blessed
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, for her profit is better than the profit of silver, and her income is better than gold. She is more precious than corals, and nothing we desire compares with her. Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her, and happy are those who hold her fast (3:13-18; 8:11).
Not Letting Wisdom Depart from Our Sight
We should not let wisdom depart from our sight, but we should keep sound wisdom and discretion. They will be life for our soul and a graceful ornament for our neck (3:21-22). The real beauty is wisdom and discretion.
Getting Wisdom and Not Forsaking Her
We should get wisdom. We should not forsake her, and she will keep us; we should love her, and she will guard us (4:5-6). “The beginning of wisdom is this:/Get wisdom; and in all your getting, get understanding./Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;/She will honor you if you embrace her./She will give a garland of grace for your head;/A crown of beauty will she bestow on you” (vv. 7-9).
Honoring One’s Parents
The third nugget, the third principle, is the honoring of one’s parents. After God, we should respect our parents, having regard for them, honoring them, and obeying them. Honoring our parents will prolong our days.
Revering God and honoring one’s parents are mentioned together in Proverbs. In the Ten Commandments the first four, concerning God, and the fifth, concerning honoring our parents, are on the first of the two tablets. This indicates that our parents are ranked with God. To honor our parents is to remember our source. Ultimately, if we trace back to our source, we will reach God. Therefore, to honor one’s parents is nearly equal to revering God. If we revere God, we will honor our parents.
Receiving Our Father’s Words and Treasuring up His Commandments within Us
We should receive our father’s words and treasure up his commandments within us, making our ear attentive to wisdom and inclining our heart to understanding. Indeed, if we cry out for discernment and lift up our voice for understanding and if we seek her like silver and search for her like hidden treasures, then we will understand the fear of Jehovah and find the knowledge of God. For Jehovah gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Not Forgetting Our Father’s Instruction
Proverbs 3:1 and 2 charge us not to forget our father’s instruction but to let our heart keep his commandments; for length of days and years of life and peace will they add to us. Here longevity and peace are related to honoring our parents. Verse 4 goes on to speak of our finding favor and a reputation for fine understanding in the sight of God and man. In verse 5 we are told to trust in Jehovah with all our heart and not to rely on our own understanding. We should not despise the chastening of Jehovah, nor be weary of His discipline; for whom Jehovah loves He disciplines (vv. 11-12). Verses 21 and 22 say, “My son, do not let them depart from your sight;/Keep sound wisdom and discretion;/And they will be life for your soul/And a graceful ornament for your neck.”
Holding Marriage in Honor
The fourth nugget is to hold marriage in honor. In order to live a proper human life, we must hold marriage in honor.
I love America, but the marriage life in America bothers me very much. In American society the contact between males and females is too loose, without restriction. In this sense, the United States today is like Sodom. I am concerned about this because it offends God to the uttermost.
Marriage produces not only children but also parents. So that man can exist on earth to continue God’s economy, honoring parents and holding marriage in honor are necessary. I hope that all the saints in the Lord’s recovery will bear a strong testimony of honoring their parents and of holding marriage in honor.
Females should always be restricted by a sense of honorable shame. Today in America young women have physical contact with young men without shame. This kind of loose contact can easily lead to fornication. The co-workers who serve the Lord and often contact people must be careful. Many useful servants of the Lord have been spoiled because of their careless contact with the opposite sex. Revering God, honoring our parents, and holding marriage in honor are a real protection to us.
Man’s Faithfulness Being the Base
In holding marriage in honor man’s faithfulness is the base. Regarding this, Proverbs 5:5-19 gives us a warning about the “strange woman,” whose feet go down to death and whose steps hold fast to Sheol. She does not make straight the path of life. Her ways wander, and she does not know it (vv. 5-6). Verses 7 through 14 are a charge to young men to keep their way far from her and not to go near the door of her house; lest they give their honor to others, and their years to the cruel; lest strangers be filled with their wealth, and their labors go to the house of a foreigner, and they mourn at their end, when their flesh and body are consumed, and they say, “How I have hated instruction,/And my heart has despised reproof!/And I have not listened to the voice of my teachers/Nor inclined my ear to my instructors;/I was almost into every evil/In the midst of the congregation and assembly.” Verses 15 through 19 conclude with a charge to married men to drink waters out of their own cistern (wife) and running water out of their own well. Their springs should not be shed forth like streams of water in the streets but should be theirs alone and not for strangers. Verses 18 and 19 say, “Let your fountain be blessed,/And rejoice in the wife of your youth,/A lovely hind and a graceful doe./Let her breasts satisfy you at all times./May you be ravished with her love always.”
Woman’s Virtues Being the Building Up
Whereas in holding marriage in honor man’s faithfulness is the base, woman’s virtues are the building up. A gracious woman lays hold of honor (11:16a). A worthy woman is the crown of her husband (12:4a). The wise woman builds her house—14:1a. Regarding woman’s virtues, we need to read 31:10-31. (Life-Study of Proverbs, msg. 2)
THE OUTER MAN DECAYING AND THE INNER MAN
BEING RENEWED DAY BY DAY
Second Corinthians 4 tells us that “though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day” (v. 16). Day after day our outer man is decaying, being consumed, and our inner man is being renewed. This indicates that it is not easy for God to renew us. This cannot be accomplished just by our prayer. God needs to use His “therapy” to renew us.
THE PLACE OF THE BOOK OF PROVERBS IN GOD’S ECONOMY
Now we can see the place of the book of Proverbs in God’s economy. According to His economy Proverbs should not be used to build up the old man. The big proverbs, like nuggets, and the small ones, like gems, are not for us to build up our old man, to cultivate our self and our natural man. Rather, they are for us to build up our new man. It is for this purpose that they are useful. While we are still living in this body, we need Proverbs to give us instructions on how to live rightly in so many aspects, in order to build up our new man. (Life-Study of Proverbs, msg. 8)