The very first verse in the book of the Proverbs reads, “The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel (KJV).” Most of us at least know who King Solomon was. God blessed him with exceptional wisdom. In his day, he was the wisest man on earth.
Solomon lived thousands of years before our time. But one thing I love about writing is that it empowers writers to impact future generations. Accordingly, through Solomon’s writings in the book of the Proverbs, you and I can benefit from his incomparable wisdom. That’s one of the reasons we should value the book of the Proverbs.
So what are the benefits of reading this book?
“To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion” (Proverbs 1:2-4).
Though we live in the New Testament era, I often stress the importance of Christians reading the Old Testament. Failure to do so can result in a misunderstanding of the proper context of New Testament teachings. As for the book of the Proverbs, however, that’s not the issue. Rather, we should value it because of the verses quoted above.
Wisdom, understanding, sound judgment, equity, and discretion as mentioned above are not incidental to being a Christian. One can be a Christian for 50 years and still lack these. In fact, one of the main reasons we find ourselves in many of the unpleasant situations we do is because of a lack of these attributes. And according to the quote above, the purpose of this book is to help us in that area.
What Makes the Book of the Proverbs Unique
Another plus in the book of the Proverbs is how efficiently Solomon imparts his wisdom in the book. Many of his most powerful proverbs are only one verse long. This is so untypical of the remainder of the Bible. Biblical concepts tend to be presented over a number of verses or chapters of the Bible. But Solomon packs powerful punches in just a few words.
For instance, he warns, “There is a way which seems right unto a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12, NASB). This is one of my favorite proverbs. It’s only one verse long. But it speaks volumes. This verse reminds me of my inability to see things in life as they really are. It underscores my need to acknowledge God in all that I do.
The book of the Proverbs is loaded with similar practical, wise sayings. It constitutes wisdom from God to Solomon to us. Not everyone will heed the voice of wisdom when she speaks. But for those who do, the rewards will be priceless.
Copyright © 2022 by Frank King. All rights reserved.