Read the Bible in 2023 ◊ Week 22: Thursday
The proverbs of Solomon the son of David,king of Israel:
To know wisdom and discipline,
To understand the sayings of understanding,
To receive discipline that leads to insight,
Righteousness, justice, and equity,
To give prudence to the simple,
To the youth knowledge and discretion;
Let the wise man hear
and increase in learning,
And a man of understanding
will acquire guidance,
To understand a proverb and an enigma,
The words of the wise and their riddles.
Thursday’s Bible reading is Proverbs 1. This new book to read is quite a change from Job in tone and purpose. I want to remind you of something Derek Kidner says about the two books when he discusses Job’s comforters:
“There is no denying that Job’s comforters (whose views the book repudiates) rely on the kind of generalizations that abound in Proverbs…But the use that the two [books] make is not the same. While Proverbs treats them as a spur to faith and faithfulness, the comforters of Job make them a rod for his back. The spirit of the former is ‘How reassuring for us!’, but of the latter, ‘How damning for you!’”1
Remember these words as you read through Proverbs.
It’s also important not to fall into legalism as you’re reading Proverbs. As Christians we walk by faith, and it is by God’s power and grace we are able to obey Him.
We must remember we are new creations in Christ.
And as Christians when we confess the times we sin, God forgives us.
We not only need to remember this in our daily lives as Christian, it’s especially important to teach and repeat these things to our children. We want them to obey God without being self-righteous prigs and without being disheartened or falling into rebellion because they have given up hope (cf. Colossians 3:20–21). Go back and read Kidner’s words again.
In 1970 (incidentally, the year I became a Christian), Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young released the song, Teach Your Children. The tune was memorable, and the lyrics were a war protest and lament, and my thoughts and values are certainly different, but Graham Nash’s chorus of teach your children well echoes the note of warning and concern of parents for their children.
Ignorant fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Hear, my son, your father’s discipline
And do not abandon your mother’s instruction;
For they are a garland of grace for your head
And ornaments about your neck.
These are tough times in which to be a parent. We must recognize that passive parenting will not be enough to help our children to grow into adults who are grounded in their Christian faith. We have to anticipate potholes and road blocks and we must put aside our reticence to tackle tough topics. The book of Proverbs gave me guidelines when my children were young, and I also used it for teaching and discussion with my children as they grew into adulthood.
Proverbs gives you a path for your children to learn to think about the world in which we live, and to grow in wisdom in how to live in this world. Rather than having their lives crash and burn because they’re unequipped to navigate their way through life, in the book of Proverbs they can read about the lives of those who walk in wisdom in contrast with those who have smashed up their lives in folly. Kidner writes in The Wisdom of Proverbs, Job & Ecclesiastes:
“Where the bulk of the Old Testament calls us simply to obey and to believe, this part of it (chiefly the books we have mentioned [Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes], although wisdom is a thread that runs through every part) summons us to think hard as well as humbly; to keep our eyes open, to use our conscience and our common sense, and not to shirk the most disturbing questions.
“Simply as a form of teaching, this has something special for us. The lecture or sermon, with its one-way flow, can makes its points tidily and at leisure; but a lesson that draws the hearers into answering and asking, into working of things out painfully, may well get further into the mind than any discourse, even if at times it deliberately leaves many questions unresolved.
“Still more importantly, this demand for thought presupposes a world that answers to thought. Not, to be sure, one which we can hope to master with our finite minds; but that is our limitation, not the world’s; for if it is a creation, and the product of perfect wisdom, it will be in principle intelligible. So even when the arrogance of human thought has to be rebuked…the Old Testament makes no retreat into notions of divine caprice; still less, of ‘a tale told by an idiot’ or by nobody at all. Instead, it sees God’s wisdom expressed and echoed everywhere — except where man, the rebel, has presumed to disagree and to disrupt the pattern. This stamp of reason upon all God’s works is something that the poets sing about with eloquence…
“To put this in more prosaic terms, what is implied here is a single system, a universe; and what is invited is the study of it in a spirit of humility, so that we may take our due place within it willingly and intelligently.”2
In March of 2001, my husband and I heard Tedd Tripp speak at a “Shepherding A Child’s Heart” conference. Dr. Tripp listed three foundations of life from Proverbs 1, to give your teenagers. These are from my notes.
Proverbs 1:7, The fear of the Lord
“Show the greatness and excellence of God.”
Proverbs 1:8-9, Remembering your parents’ words
“Remind them that no one loves them like you do.”
Proverbs 1:10-19, Disassociation from the wicked
“The attraction of association with the wicked is camaraderie—a sense of belonging. Make home a great place to belong.”
Our two children were about 11 and 15 at the time, and I decided to do a Bible study with them in Proverbs. I printed a copy of Proverbs, double-spaced, for each of us and we each had a set of colored pencils to use to mark the text.
I kept the study very straightforward and informal. We read and marked and talked together. We marked key words, using the same colors for the same words to help us see how they were used throughout Proverbs. We noted contrasts, comparisons and conclusions as they came up, and we marked simple lists within the text. Proverbs covers a wealth of topics: relationship with the Lord, benefit of wisdom, results of foolishness, the snare of wicked companions, integrity, sexual purity, money, the tongue, scoffing, respect, anger, work, etc. Dr. Tripp suggested educating your children on dangerous situations and role playing with them, and Proverbs gives you an opportunity to talk over just about everything!
There are key ideas, people and behaviors to note. Throughout the book we marked the key ideas of wisdom, understanding, knowledge and instruction; and key people: wise man, naive, youth, son, mother, father, fool, sinner, scoffer, etc. We marked and discussed the various relationships, good and bad situations, and behaviors, as we read about them. We talked about things my children were going through or situations they might encounter in the future and possible ways to handle different scenarios.
To start the study with your own children, I suggest reading the first seven verses and talking about the author and the purpose of the book. From these verses you can also discuss with your children what God can accomplish in their lives through Proverbs, and why this book is important.
Working through an entire chapter in one sitting can be information overload. After the first chapter, read through a chapter aloud (or a section if the chapter is long) and briefly discuss the main ideas. The next time together start working through it paragraph by paragraph, marking and discussing as you go. In Proverbs 1, I suggest discussing Dr. Tripp’s three foundations of life after you have finished the corresponding section of the first chapter.
I think it is really important as you go through Proverbs to help your children learn to dwell on, think through and meditate on God’s Word. Love and transparency on your part will encourage them. Talk about what is going on in their life and go before the Lord together to ask for and apply His wisdom.
There are sections in James on adversity, temptation, favoritism, tongue, wisdom, and riches that are excellent cross references. In addition to James, there are several passages in Paul’s letters that can be used. Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 1:28–2:26, Romans 1–8 and Galatians are of crucial importance to help your children see that we cannot know God’s wisdom or live wisely without the Holy Spirit enabling us by His power. 1 Timothy 6 discusses money and contentment, and 2 Timothy 2 speaks of fleeing youthful lusts. The Lord knows what your children will be facing and how He wants them to grow in wisdom and knowledge of Him. Pray together with them about what they are learning.
Be in prayer that your children will see and know the greatness and excellence of God in Proverbs and the depth of His love and your love for them. Dr. Tripp stated, “Communication is more than telling my children what I think. The finest art of communication is learning what they think.” Ask Him to enable you draw out your children’s hearts and guide them with love and wisdom. Ask Him for wisdom in knowing the right questions to ask and the right Scripture to use.
Because I was teaching my children at home, we worked on this first thing in the morning and it took us a number of months to go through Proverbs. As an alternative, this study could be done in the afternoons two or three days a week or during summer. Dr. Tripp also suggested reading through the prophets with your teenagers.
Remember that God works through His Word to change hearts!
I love the combination in this passage of the power of God’s Word, our accountability to God and the grace and mercy we find in Jesus Christ. It is a wonderful passage to keep before your children—and to keep before yourself! As you work through Proverbs, discuss sin and God’s forgiveness and grace in our daily lives as Christians. That brings me to another excellent piece of advice I received years ago: if you want your children to improve in a certain area of their lives, work on that area in your own life!
The following suggestions are not exhaustive, but are an example of how I did the study, and to give you some ideas on Proverbs 1:1-7, and beginning the book with your children:
Pray and ask the Lord to teach and give wisdom. Read through the first seven verses together. Talk with your children about what the fear of the Lord is. Proverbs 1:7 is an excellent memory verse.
These are some questions to ask your children. Discuss the questions and answers, and have them underline the answers in the text or in the margin. Finish one set of questions before moving onto the next. The purpose is not to move through the questions and answers, but to have your children think through the questions and answers.
Who wrote the book?
Who else is mentioned?
What form does it take?
What is a proverb?
What is the purpose of the book?
Underline all the times the word ‘to’ is used and the verb that follows.
From these infinitives, what does Solomon want these proverbs to do in a person’s life?
How is their life changed?
What attitude is necessary for life change?
What is the attitude of a fool?
What are some things you’ve seen that were the consequences of wise/foolish actions?
How does knowing Jesus make a difference in how we are to live?
Read through these verses a second time and overview the topics. I’ve marked below the ones that are mentioned in several chapters in the book. I omitted marking equity, prudence, discretion, learning, and guidance because they’re only mentioned a few times, but go ahead and discuss them. Since equity is a word that has become politically charged, make sure you look up the biblical meaning and discuss it and the difference between the biblical meaning and the way the word is used politically.
Here is a sample of marking these verses. Do whatever works best for you and your children. I’ve marked synonyms and pronouns in the same color.
The second time read the entire chapter and overview the topics. The third time, you can begin to read, mark and discuss Proverbs 1, section by section.
Kidner writes of the value of thinking through this world knowing “God’s wisdom [is] expressed and echoed everywhere”:
“the spread of Solomon’s intellectual fame…drew the world to his door. The Queen of Sheba was but one of this stream of learned visitors, intent on trying out his erudition and wit…To engage in these mind-sharpening encounters with all comers was to bring one’s beliefs out into the open. It implied that the truth one lived by was valid through and through, and that its writ ran everywhere.”3
My pastor Mike Braun frequently said God has morally underwritten His universe. Proverbs can give your children confidence to live their lives by the light of God’s Word, confident that its writ runs everywhere.
May the Lord richly bless you and your children through His Word.
For a brief overview of the main divisions of Proverbs see my post, The Book of Proverbs.
Silvesterzug Laterne: Bk muc. (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Picture of Children Ahead Road Sign: FreeFoto.com
Waiting: ChristianPhotos.net – Free High Resolution Photos for Christian Publications. This site has now been deleted.
1,2,3Derek Kidner, The Wisdom of Proverbs, Job & Ecclesiastes (Inter-Varsity Press, Downers Grove IL: 1985) 117, 11–12, 15.
I’m using Michael Coley’s Bible reading plan (one page PDF to print) to read through the Bible in 2023. Each day my posts are on different books because he divides Bible readings into seven categories, one for each day of the week: Epistles, The Law, History, Psalms, Poetry, Prophecy and Gospels. There’s more information on his plan and other ones at Read the Bible in 2023.
Copyright ©2011–2023 Iwana Carpenter
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