Bible Commentaries
Proverbs 4

Verses 1-27

XX

THE INSTRUCTION OF WISDOM (CONTINUED)

Proverbs 4:1-7:27.

The addresses found in Proverbs 4:1-9:18 are fatherly admonitions. The main thought, or theme, of Proverbs 4:1-9 is, "Wisdom the principal thing." There is an interesting bid of autobiography in this section. Solomon gives here the relation he sustained to his father and mother, and also the parental source of his instruction. It is the picture of parents with the children gathered about them for instruction. On this Wordsworth has beautifully said, "Wisdom doth live with children round her knees."

"Sons" in verse I, means the pupils of the teacher who commends wisdom to them as his children, by the example of his own early education. Verse 3 suggests that Solomon was a true son, i.e., he was true in filial reverence and obedience; that he stood alone in the choice of God for the messianic line, and therefore he was first in the estimation of his father. Compare 1 Chronicles 29:1 and note the bearing of this statement on the authorship of this part of the book. The things here promised to those who possess wisdom are found in Proverbs 4:6; Proverbs 4:8-9 and are preservation, promotion, and honor. The parallelism in these verses is synonymous, the second line in each repeating in different words the meaning of the first. The theme of Proverbs 4:10-19 is, "The ways of wisdom and folly," or the ways of righteousness and wickedness contrasted. Proverbs 4:12 refers to the widening of the steps, an Oriental figure, for the bold and free movements of one in prosperity, versus the straightening of one in adversity, the straightening of them which represents the strained and timid actions of one in adversity. Compare Proverbs 4:12 and Psalms 18:36. Proverbs 4:17, taken literally, means that evil men procure their bread and wine by wickedness and violence or, taken figuratively, means that wickedness and violence are to them as meat and drink. Compare Job 15:16; Job 34:7; John 4:34.

There is a special contrast in Proverbs 4:18-19 between the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked; one is light and the other is darkness. The parallelism here is integral, or progressive.

The theme of 4:20-27 is, "Keeping the heart and the life and looking straight ahead." The key verse of this passage is Proverbs 4:23: Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life; which reminds us of Matthew 15:19: "For out of the heart cometh evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witnesses, railings."

"Thou shalt not commit adultery" or the seventh commandment, would be a good title for Proverbs 5, and there are two parts of this chapter, viz: The unholy passion to be shunned (Proverbs 5:1-14) in contrast with the holy love to be cherished (Proverbs 5:15-23). There are some most striking figures of speech in Proverbs 5:3-4, and Proverbs 5:15-21 of this chapter. In Proverbs 5:3-4, we have pictured the seductions of the harlot and the bitter end of those who are caught by her wiles; in Proverbs 5:15-21 we have pictured the folly of free love over against the love for the one woman, with a fatherly exhortation to faithfulness in the marriage relation.

The picture of the latter end of an unfaithful life is seen in Proverbs 5:9-14; Proverbs 5:22-23. Then come regrets, heartaches, slavery to sin, and final destruction.

The various evils against which there is found warning in Proverbs 6 are as follows: (1) surety (Proverbs 6:1-5); (2) the sluggard (Proverbs 6:6-11); (3) the worthless man (Proverbs 6:12-19); (4) the evil woman (Proverbs 6:20-35).

On Proverbs 6:1-5 Perowne says,

The frequent mention of suretyship in this book, and the strong terms of warning and reprobation in which it is invariably spoken of, accord well with what we should suppose to be the condition of society in the reign of Solomon. In earlier and simpler times it was enough for the Law to forbid usury of interest for a loan of money to be exacted by one Israelite from another; and raiment given as a pledge or security for a debt was to be returned before night-fall to be the owner’s covering in his sleep (Exodus 22:25-27; Leviticus 25:35-38). With the development, however, of commerce and the growth of luxury under Solomon, money-lending transactions, whether for speculation in trade, or for personal gratification, had come to be among the grave dangers that beset the path of youth. Accordingly, though the writer of Ecclessiasticus contents himself with laying down restrictions to the exercise of suretyship, and even goes the length of telling us that "An honest man is surety for his neighbor" (Sirach 8:13; Sirach 29:14-20), our writer here, with a truer insight, has no quarter for it, but condemns it unsparingly on every mention of it (Proverbs 7:1-5; Proverbs 11:15; Proverbs 17:18; Proverbs 22:26-27; Proverbs 27:13). Even the generous impulse of youth to incur risk at the call of friendship must yield to the dictates, cold and calculating though they seem, of bitter experience.

There is a warning here, as elsewhere in this book, against all kinds of suretyship. (Compare Proverbs 11:15; Proverbs 17:18; Proverbs 20:16; Proverbs 22:26-27; Proverbs 27:13). The method of escape here seems to be that the surety is to use all diligence to get a release from his obligation before it comes due, otherwise there would be no mercy for him. He would have to pay it.

There are advice and warning to the sluggard in Proverbs 6:6-11. He is advised to go to the ant and learn of her ways so he might take the wise course. He is warned of his coming poverty if he gives over to the sluggard’s habits of sleeping when he should be at his work early and late. This reminds us of another well-known proverb: Early to bed and early to rise, Makes one healthy, wealthy, and wise.

In Proverbs 6:12-19 we have a description of the worthless man, his end and what God abominates in him. He is here described as having a perverse mouth, winking with his eyes, speaking (or shuffling) with his feet, making signs with his fingers, devising evil, and sowing discord. His end is sudden destruction and that without remedy. There are seven things which God abominates in him, Proverbs 6:16-19, as follows: There are six things which Jehovah hateth; Yea, seven which are an abomination unto him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood; A heart that deviseth wicked purposes, Feet that are swift in running to mischief, A false witness that uttereth lies, And he that soweth discord among brethren.

The section on the evil woman (Proverbs 6:20-35) is introduced by an appeal to the holy memories and sanctions of the family in order to give weight to an earnest warning against the sin which destroys the purity and saps the foundations of family life. There is a reference here, most likely, to the passage found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, which was construed literally by the Jews and therefore gave rise to the formal exhibition of the law in their phylacteries (see "phylactery" in Bible dictionary). Of course, the meaning here, just as in the Deuteronomy passage, is that they should use all diligence in teaching and keeping the law.

The tricks of the evil woman are described in this section (Proverbs 6:24-35), the effect of her life upon her dupes is given, the sin of adultery is compared with stealing and the wound upon the husband is also described. Her tricks are flattery, artificial beauty and, like Jezebel trying to captivate Jehu, she paints her eyelids (2 Kings 9:30). The effect of her life upon her dupes is want in temporal life and loss of manhood, which is here called "precious life." Like a man with fire in his bosom or coals of fire under his feet, the man who commits adultery shall not be unpunished. Stealing to satisfy hunger is regarded as a light offense, compared to this awful sin which always inflicts an incurable wound upon the husband. This they now call "The Eternal Triangle," but it seems more correct to call it "The Infemal Triangle." No greater offense can be committed against God and the home than the sin dealt with in this paragraph.

The subject of Proverbs 7 is the same as that of the preceding section, "The Evil Woman," and is introduced by an earnest call to obedient attention which is followed by a graphic description of the tempter and her victims, as a drama enacted before the eyes.

The description of this woman here fits modern instances, and there are the most solemn warnings here against this sin. This description of her wiles and the final results of such a course are so clear that there is hardly any need for comment. A simple, attentive reading of this chapter is sufficient on each point suggested.

QUESTIONS

1. What is the style and tone of the addresses found in Proverbs 4:1-9:18?

2. What is the main thought, or theme, of Proverbs 4:1-9?

3. What is interesting bit of autobiography in this section, and what the words of Wordsworth in point?

4. What is the meaning of "eons" in Proverbs 4:1, what is the meaning of Proverbs 4:3, and what does wisdom here promise to them that possess her?

5. What is the theme of Proverbs 4:10-19?

6. What is the force of the figure in Proverbs 4:12, what is the interpretation of Proverbs 4:17, and what is the special contrast of Proverbs 4:18-19?

7. What is the theme of Proverbs 4:20-27, and what is the key verse of this passage?

8. What commandment might be the title of Proverbs 5, and what are the two sections of this chapter with their respective themes?

9. What are some of the most striking figures of speech in this chapter, and what is the picture here given of old age when such an evil course of life is pursued?

10. What are the various evils against which there is found warning in Proverbs 6?

11. What biblical times does the passage, Proverbs 6:1-5, portray, what is the warning here against security debts, and, according to this passage, when once involved, how to escape?

12. What is the advice and warning to the sluggard in Proverbs 6:6-11?

13. What is the description of the worthless man, what is his end and what does God abominate in him?

14. How is the section on the evil woman (Proverbs 6:20-35) introduced and what is the reference in Proverbs 6:20-22?

15. What are the tricks of the evil woman described in this section (Proverbs 6:24-35), what is the effect of her life upon her dupes, how does the sin of adultery compare with stealing and how is the wound upon the husband here described?

16. What is the subject of Proverbs 7 and how is it introduced?

17. How does the description of this woman here fit modern instances and what are the most solemn warnings of this chapter against this sins? (Proverbs 8:1-9-18).