The Doctrine of God in Proverbs

By -

All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16). That means the Book of Proverbs is God-breathed and profitable for doctrine.

I’ve been particularly interested in the doctrine of God in Proverbs over the last several years. With this post I’m beginning what I hope to be a series on the doctrine of God in Proverbs.

The word “God” shows up six times (Prov. 2:5, 17; 3:4; 25:2; 30:5, 9) and God’s personal name, Yahweh (usually LORD in English translations), shows up 86 times.

Looking first at the six places where “God” occurs, what can we learn about God from these verses?

The first occurrence of “God” is in Proverbs 2:5, “Then you will discern the fear of Yahweh And discover the knowledge of God.”

1. Right off the bat, it is easy to see that knowledge of God is discoverable, and thus that God is knowable. This may seem hum-drum. However, both in the Ancient Near East and in much of modern society a personal relationship with God was and is regarded as impossible. As I'll point out in upcoming post, the NT confirms that Proverbs  invites us not only to know about God, but also to know Him. But more on that later ....

2. The paralleling of God and Yahweh in Prov. 2:5 indicates that they refer to the same person and strengthens the conclusion that God is knowable. God tells us in Exod. 6:3-8 that His name Yahweh signals that He is the God who enters into personal relationships with people to whom He makes and keeps promises and covenants.

3. Prov. 2:5 is the “then” part of an extended “if-then” clause (Proverbs 2:1-5) The “if-then” clause can be summed as “If you search diligently for wisdom ... then what you find is the fear of Yahweh and the knowledge of God.” The following verse gives the reason this is what you find: wisdom comes from Yahweh (2:6).

The search for wisdom leads you to God, whose name is Yahweh, for all wisdom comes from God. Further, it is only in relationship with Yahweh (knowing Him) that wisdom is properly oriented and applied.

Would you like to be wiser in the new year? Pursue a whole-life relationship with the all-wise, only-wise God who gives generously and without upbraiding to those who ask for wisdom (1 Tim. 1:17; Jam. 1:5). This is precisely what we are commanded to do in Proverbs 3:6, “in all your ways know Him, and he will direct your paths.”

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Pursue Peace and Holiness (Heb. 12:14)

By -
Hebrews 12:14 says, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” To know how to follow peace and holiness, we need to understand several things about this verse: (1) what it means to “follow,” (2) what peace is, (3) what holiness means in this context, and (4) how Hebrews 12:14 ties into the previous thirteen verses of chapter 12. Although the verb “follow” sounds passive and lackadaisical, that is the opposite of its actual meaning. The Greek word translated “follow” means “to seek or pursue aggressively.” In other words, this verse teaches us that we must be passionate and fervent in our pursuit of both peace and holiness. The word “peace” refers to a state of harmony and tranquility in one’s relationships. Negatively, peace is a relational state in which there is no unresolved conflict or trouble. Notice that the writer of Hebrews said to pursue peace “with all men.” It might sound odd, but God wants us to be aggressive pursuers of peace in
Read more

Remove not the ancient landmark ... what does that mean?

By -
KJV   Proverbs 22:28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set. What were the “ancient landmarks?” and why weren’t they to be moved? I have on various occasions read or heard this text referenced when talking about traditional practices created by the fathers of a particular group of people. The context in which this phrase is referenced generally is admonishing people not to make changes to such traditional practices. For example, Nathan Bangs in 1850 speaks of the Methodist Episcopal Church’s “ancient landmarks” of “doctrine, discipline, or practical piety.” Similarly, I find a sermon published in 1886 in which the “ancient landmarks” were “noble patriotism, religion, and learning.” As recently as this semester, a college student asked me, “But what about the verse that says we aren’t to remove the ancient landmarks?” He had heard that verse quoted often in defense of the traditional lifestyle practices of his background. A quick look at a dictiona
Read more

Red Wine! Don't Look! (Proverbs 23:31)

By -
‎    אַל־תֵּ֥רֶא יַיִן֘ כִּ֪י יִתְאַ֫דָּ֥ם כִּֽי־יִתֵּ֣ן (בַּכִּיס) [בַּכּ֣וֹס] עֵינ֑וֹ יִ֜תְהַלֵּ֗ךְ בְּמֵישָׁרִֽים׃ Proverbs 23:31 Do not look at wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it goes down smoothly; What does this prohibition mean? Solomon gives three features that qualify the prohibition “Do not look [at] wine”:  when (a) it is red, (b) it sparkles in the cup [lit: when it gives its eye in the cup], and (c) it goes down smoothly [lit. it walks about in straightness]. The key question is do these three qualifiers indicate something about the nature of the wine or something about the purpose for the drinking? The LXX translates/interprets “don’t be drunk with wine” (μὴ μεθύσκεσθε οἴνῳ), which appears to be quoted by Paul in Eph. 5:18 where the exact same phrase occurs. My best understanding of “do not look upon wine when it is red” is as follows. Contextually, the son is being warned against the destructive consequences that attend drunkenness,
Read more