Solomon's Advice To Sons, Or Is It the Book of Proverbs
Unless pastors accept the Bible as perfect & complete, they are likely not Bible-Christians.Yet, the hardest challenge for my faith in the Bible is the Book of Proverbs. We are not listing proverbs we learned in school like, “birds of a feather flock together,” or a “stitch in time saves nine.” Proverbs, in the Bible, are all over the place. Contradictory proverbs are also everywhere! Sometimes, in a chapter, one set of advice cancels out an earlier proverb.
Verse 1 of Proverb 1 suggests Solomon is the “author.” Purposes of the 31 Proverbs come in 1:8, “My son, hear the instruction of thy father … forsake not the law of thy mother.” Historical, qualification & practical problems arise! Solomon married 700 women, had 300 concubines, & his sons failed to benefit from this book. Solomon’s wives had their own “wisdom,” “law,” & “religion.” Which “son” & which mother” are intended? In fact, when Solomon's reign ended his "divided" the Kingdom into Samaria (north) & Judah (south), with different altars! Israel would never be united as under Solomon, even after 1948. What about faith in the Bible? I do celebrate the poetry, witty diction, & truth - and Truth is possible.If we examine Prov 1:7, it's a saving grace: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” I can attest that wisdom in my life came from biblical precepts, as in following Matthew 18 to resolve conflict/s.
Prov 2: 4-5 says, “If thou seekest after knowledge as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD” and benefit greatly. I do agree that “awe” or a respectful fear of God is a sine qua non. My point is that advice from Solomon is not needed. Prov 2:2 is another big problem: “My son, if thou wilt receive my words ... hide my commandments with thee,” wisdom & discretion will obtain! Are we imparting man’s Commandments? If we "receive" earthly fathers' words with awe is there need to “fear" God? Unless, the inspiration behind Proverbs -the Holy Spirit– intended it for others, not Solomon's?
Advice against “strange woman … that flattereth” & whose “house inclineth toward death,” Prov 2:16&18. Except Solomon enjoyed strange women too much! Prov 1 & 2 advises avoiding, “sinners who entice thee” (1:10) & “When wisdom entereth thy heart" you'll avoid "evil" men (2:10&12). The big crit is we're unsure how real wisdom is gained. And the terms remain a mish-mash: understanding, discretion, knowledge, wisdom. Each is distinct.
Copyright © Anil Deo | Year Posted 2020
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