# 463 The Proverbs – ‘A manual for living’ (MSG). Proverbs 22 (4). Thirty Sayings of the Wise.

At this stage in our study of Proverbs it is a good time to reflect. I wonder, are we any wiser having now studied the first twenty two and a half chapters of Proverbs? Are we living our lives just that little bit better or more productively because of some of the things we have learnt from this book and have then applied to our lives? Do our friends or family come to us for advice, counsel or suggestions? Listen again to the words of James:

²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³ Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. (James 1:22-25)

True wisdom means to learn new things from God and about God and then do them! This is also the way of blessing – not only for ourselves but for others around us.

So how are we doing in the areas we have covered so far, e.g., the fear of the Lord; pride and humility; making good choices; sexual temptation and right relationships with the opposite sex; marriage and family life; gluttony; justice and treatment of the poor; use of our words constructively and avoiding lies, gossip, etc; and so the list goes on?

For me, one area which God has been speaking to us (my wife and I) concerning is found in the words of Proverbs 3:5-7. Over the last 3-4 months we have had to make important decisions concerning the house we have owned for the last 30 years. Should we sell it? If so, what do we need to do in order to sell it? If we sell it, where do we live next? Should be downsize? And other such questions. And so, in these circumstances, the Lord has challenged us to ⁵ Trust in the Lord with all [our] heart and lean not on [our] own understanding; ⁶ in all [our] ways submit to him, and he will make [our] paths straight. ⁷ Do not be wise in [our] own eyes; fear the Lord…

Has it proved the right thing to have done? Sure has! We have now sold our house for just the right amount required to be able to buy a very good unit in a very good location and environment. Not that we didn’t have our moments of doubt and stress, but we endeavoured to trust the Lord in every aspect of the sale and purchase and He certainly was faithful to his word.

And so we now move on in our study of Proverbs into a new section with the heading Thirty Sayings of the Wise (22:17-24:34). This being different (although with obvious similarities)  to what we have studied so far which according to 1:1 were the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel.

In the way of introduction let me share with you a few thoughts from some commentators.

So, I guess the question is, just who are “the wise” mentioned here. No name is given, which is different to future chapters where it mentions the names of the person who was the source of the wisdom, e.g., 25:1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah; 30:1 The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh—an inspired utterance; and 31:1 The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.

Nielson comments: “Many of these proverbs [22:17-24:34] are closely related to an earlier Egyption wisdom collection titled ‘Instructions of Amenemope’; evidence suggests that Solomon (or wise men under Solomon’s direction) may have borrowed and adapted sections from this Egyption source (Wilson, Proverbs: An Introduction and Commentary, page 4)” Neilson then asks the question, “Should it make us uncomfortable that these inspired writings overlap with secular ones?” and concludes that “No, it should make us even more mindful of the one source of truth, the Lord who is maker of us all.” She suggests that “Solomon was able to discuss wisdom with non-Israelites in the ancient world – as he did, for instance, with the Queen of Sheba… [see 1 Kings 10:1-10].” Also, that “Scripture tells us that the wisdom God gave Solomon surpassed the wisdom of all people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt (1 Kings 4:29-30).” (# 55)

Goldsworthy does add that “this opinion [connecting these chapters to ‘Instructions of Amenemope’] is not without its critics who suggest that the evidence for such a relationship is slim.” But he also says that whatever the situation, “is there a legitimate area of common wisdom that is [actually] valid for all people? [which Solomon’s] … meaningful contact with the pagan Queen of Sheba’s wisdom… show some common ground.” He continues, “An illustration may help us to appreciate the distinctives of Israelite wisdom within a common human wisdom. Much wisdom, as we have seen, operates at the everyday and practical level. In modern society the law says, in effect, ‘You shall not drive through a red traffic light.’ … Wisdom would make an observation such as, ‘The wise person stops at red lights and thus avoids injury in a collision.’ … One does not have to be a Christian to accept the common wisdom of [this]… Christian, Jewish, Muslim, pagan and atheistic societies would all agree on the validity of this wisdom. A modern book of Proverbs might easily contain similar observations borrowed from non-Israelite or non-Christian contexts… In the end, facts are facts only because God is the Creator and establishes the meaning of all circumstances.” (# 53)

With these thoughts in mind, in the next Post we will begin to consider these Thirty Sayings of the Wise… and by the way, until then, watch out for red traffic lights, because, as Goldsworthy also writes, “The fool ignores the red lights and so brings himself and the innocent to destruction.” (# 53)