Proverbs Overview for tomorrow

New Book tomorrow!!! EASY SPOT TO JUMP IN!

I feel like we are in hyper-speed compared to the days of Leviticus!

Proverbs!!

  • Psalms were about our relationship with God.
  • Proverbs is about our relationship with people.

  • Psalms were about our private life.
  • Proverbs is about our public life.

Months ago I said there were 5 Poetic or Wisdom books- I scratched off the ones we have read already

  1. Job
  2. Psalms
  3. Proverbs
  4. Ecclesiastes
  5. Song of Songs

We know that Solomon wrote over 3000 proverbs.   A proverb is like a “short saying based on a long experience”.  They are designed for teaching purposes.  The Hebrew word for Wisdom is Chokhmah-meaning “to be skilled at”.  The deal is we can all sit here and absorb all 66 books of the Bible, but putting it into application brings Wisdom.

The word WISE or WISDOM is used in Proverbs 125 times!!  Not just applying any wisdom…applying God’s wisdom

The Proverbs can be split into 3 “P”s.

  • Principles:1-9 the word “my son” is used 10 times so we can conclude this is written for the “young” to learn
  • Proverbs: 10-24 righteous verse wicked
  • Precepts:25-29 completed works possibly from other writers
  • (I don’t have them in a category) but then we have Proverbs 30-31 written by Agur and King Lemuel.

The Proverbs will talk about: scoffers (I know a few),  friends, fools, wise men, righteousness, fear of God, knowledge, morality, chastity, diligence, self-control, trust in God, proper use of money, consideration to the poor, control of the tongue (I can skip that one, I am good 😂), kindness towards enemies, choice of relationships, raising children, honesty, laziness, justice, common sense…and others. (Need advice from God on ANY of those?)

This Book is NOT to be read.  This book is to be APPLIED.   There are 31 Proverbs; I read somewhere that one should be read each day for a month

So for about a week, you will read THREE chapters a day.  Easy to remember.

Jun 3: Prov 1-3
Jun 4: Prov 4-6
Jun 5: Prov 7-9
Jun 6: Prov 10-12
Jun 7: Prov 13-15
Jun 8: Prov 16-18
Jun 9: Prov 19-21
Jun 10: Prov 22-24

and then we will hop back into Kings for a bit:

Jun 11: 1King 5-6; 2Chron 2-3
Jun 12: 1King 7; 2Chron 4
Jun 13: 1King 8; 2Chron 5

Song of Songs

Mercy!  I am a mess! I wrote this and never finalized!  (It’s really not worth reading) Just move on to Proverbs!

The book reads like a drama manuscript (is that the word I am looking for? Manucritpt?  Anyway…_let’s Begin:)

Engagement (1:1-3:5)

Chapter 1:

SHE: The Shulamite woman professes her love through sight, smell, and longs to be touched.

Friends: Her posse of friends, or as Beyonce would call them: All the single ladies 🎶🎶

Verse 5 and 6 are interesting:  She is tan (that was not a positive thing like it is today) because her brothers were mad at her and forced her to work in the fields!  (Sounds like a bunch of losers if you ask me!!)

Verse 7: Does she think Solomon is a shepherd?? I love that!  She loves him NOT because he is the king.  She thinks he is a commoner!  “Veiled women” were prostitutes.  She is stating I am not one of “those girls”.

Verse 8: Friends say: “Go get him, girlfriend!! (If he likes it he should have put a ring on it)

Verse 9: Remember Solomon collected horses…so this is a major compliment! (Todd, if you tell me I look like a horse tonight I am going to throat punch you )

The chapter continues….as they sit outside:

  • And our bed is verdant (sitting on green grass)
  • The beams of our house are cedars (next to the trees)
  • our rafters are firs (in the shade)

Chapters 2 and 3 (the courtship): The woman describes herself as plain -a Rose of Sharon, BUT Solomon sees her as a lily among thorns (I guess her friends are not that attractive!  Just kidding)  These chapters are beautiful.  Trues Love.


Wedding (including the wedding night) 3:6-5:1

Solomon admires every detail of his bride at the wedding.


Reality Check: Now the hard part…Marriage

Marriage (5:2-8:14)

This stage of love is not without its share of problems. However, the king and his bride worked through them, and these chapters provide insight into dealing effectively with basic marriage difficulties.

Chapter 5 could have MANY different meanings, ones that I am reluctant to talk about.  Please read them or research them if you are curious.

So I am literally sitting here with every commentary I own and every single one from chapters 5-8 is completely different.  I have to be at work at 8:00 (yes, teachers actually have to attend training in the summer 🤐 ) I will try to read more tonight, HOWEVER, If anyone is comfortable writing in comments please go ahead.  This might be your first time reading it, or your 100th, give it a try.

Tough Book! (for me anyway)

If you need more:

Solomon (also called Song of Songs) Overview

Song of Songs: Advice on Love from Solomon - Sermon Series & Sermon Graphics - Ministry Pass

I am sorry this wasn’t posted earlier…New Book Tomorrow!  I call it Song of Songs, some call it Solomon.

There is much debate over this book.  Actually, when the council of Jamnia in 90 A.D. was affirming the Old Testament books as inspired by God they questioned 5 of them:

  1. The book of Esther does not contain the name God at all
  2. Some passages in Proverbs appeared controversial (hmm wonder if it was 31..haha, just kidding, a little!)
  3. Ezekiel chapters 40-48 appears to conflict with Moses Law
  4. Ecclesiastes was too pessimistic
  5. Song of Solomon for its sexual nature

Song of Songs: Think about the name, it is like the saying: the King of Kings or the best of the best!  Solomon wrote 1,005 songs and this is the one that God chose to put in the Bible as the “best”.   This book can be read as an allegory of God’s love for His church. It can also be read as poetic drama explaining:

  1. Engagement (1:1-3:5)
  2. Wedding (including the wedding night) 3:6-5:1
  3. Marriage (5:2-8:14)

(Some say it is both.)

This book is about Sex, Love, Commitment, Beauty, and Problems.

There are 3 Characters in this book.

  • Beloved (Shulamite girl)
  • Lover (Solomon)
  • Friends (Friends)

This Poem was written probably while Solomon was still young.  He fell in love with the most beautiful woman in the land (in his eyes).   Some say it is Abishag the Shulammite (the woman who cared for David on his deathbed),  but we truly do not know.

Solomon eventually will have over 700 wives and 300 concubines. (Bless their hearts). But we assume this poem is about his first wedding.

Poetry is a language of imagery, using similes and metaphors.  I will post a blog tomorrow trying to break down some of them, but if you don’t need it-just go on with your day.   I will be reading in NIV (creature of habit), but just like we did for Job, feel free to pick another version if you think it might help.  I am not strong on poetry and I make no bones about it.