Proverbs by their very nature are often paradoxical, and they often
seem to contradict one another. They only do so, however, if we take them
as absolutes which are true in every case. If we take them as stating a
truth of a segment of reality, and not all of reality, we will see there are no
contradictions. This will come up in our study of inspired proverbs as
well, but for now let me give you an example from manmade proverbs.
Aeschylus, the ancient Greek, said, "It is always in season for an old man
to learn." A more modern saying is, "You cant' teach an old dog new
tricks." They appear to be contradictory, but they can both be true if we
apply them to what we know of human life.
We know that once a pattern of life has been established an older
person often resists any change. He is content with his pattern of life and
has no desire to adjust to new way of thought or action. It is when one
meets such persons and finds it impossible to alter their pattern one iota
that he goes away quoting the proverb, "You can't teach an old dog new
tricks." It fits the facts of life, and so it is true, but a thing can be true and
not be the truth. If you make it an absolute truth and apply it to all people
you ignore other facts of life. History is filled with examples of old people
who have broken out of the ruts of the past and become pioneers of new
ideas. The facts of life prove the proverb true that you are never to old to
learn.
John Stuart Blackie says that the Scottish people have a reputation of
being prudent and of having foresight because of their custom of printing
the book of Proverbs in a separate volume so that farmers and
workingmen can carry them in their pocket and read while they rest.
They believed that old dogs could learn new tricks, and they took
deliberate steps to teach them. This is the attitude of Solomon as well, and
we see this brought out in the sixth purpose for the writing of the
Proverbs.
In verse 5 he says, "A wise man will hear and increase learning." He
had just referred to the young men, and now he goes on to say that the
older men can and will go on in their learning by the reading of these
proverbs. They are not only for youth, but for people of all ages because
God knows that old dogs can still learn new tricks. A wise man is one who
has learned to use his knowledge for the glory of God, but he is well aware
of his lack of knowledge. He wants to know more because the more he
knows the more he has to use in serving God.
It is only the ignorant and the superficially educated who think they
know all they need to know, the wise man is well aware of how little he
knows. Someone said, "Knowing is largely a means of discovering the
vastness of one's ignorance." The truly educated man is one who is never
embarrassed by a new idea. He knows that there are thousands of ideas he
has never heard. Many times I have heard Christians say, "I never heard
of that before." They imply that it cannot be valid if they have never
heard of it. This verse tells us that it is God's will that we go on and
increase in learning, and never be content with our present status. Depth
is to be our goal. There is a well-known proverb that is the first line to a
longer poem written by Pope that expresses this point well, that
shallowness leads to folly, but depth will lead to a life pleasing to God and
appealing to man.
A little learning is a dangerous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring,
There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely sobers us again.
Shallowness always leads to folly, but depth, when it is directed by
wisdom, will lead to a life pleasing to God and appealing to man. Very
seldom is a truly wise man proud. He is humbled because he knows so well
how little he really knows. Paul is a good example, for his pattern of life
and philosophy had already been established, and yet, by the grace of God,
he learned some new tricks. His life was changed, and he became the
greatest theologian in Christianity. Right to the end he kept studying and
learning, and God could use him to impart His Word to the world. Who
else but a man of Paul's depth could write letters that would be used of
God to change the course of history and instruct millions down through
history?
Paul never stopped learning, but he was eager to read right up to his
death. He asked Timothy to bring him the books and the parchments
when he was in captivity waiting to be executed. Paul was an intellectual
and revealed it. Festus even thought he was a fanatic and had studied
himself into insanity. In Acts 26:24 he shouted, "You are out of your mind
Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane." It is not believers who
are anti-intellectual, for we believe that depth knowledge in every realm
leads one to God. The unbeliever is almost always superficial in his
understanding of God's revelation. They would be ashamed to speak on
any other subject with so little knowledge, but in their blindness to the
vastness of God's wisdom in His Word they speak against it. This is the
truly anti-intellectual attitude, and God rightly brands them as fools.
Solomon says that the wise man will go on learning and adds, "A man
of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels." The Berkley version
has, "Attain unto leadership." The Hebrew word is used of sailors and
their ability to steer a ship. The idea is that the man of understanding
might learn to apply what is in his head to life, and become more
competent in whatever he does. He has to really know the ropes to become
a leader in his field. This is a very practical goal, and it is God's will for
each of His children to become skillful and competent. It may be that one
will only learn how to be skillful with a needle, but let us not underestimate
any skill, for Dorcus used her skill with a needle for the glory of God, and
she became a marvelous servant. Whatever you do, you are to do your
best and keep striving to do better. Nothing can be too high of a quality
for God.
Verse 6 says, "For understanding proverbs and parables, and sayings
and riddles of the wise." One of the values of the proverbs is that they are
what might be called brain food. They cause you to gain skill in the
understanding of other men's thoughts and wisdom. The Bible becomes a
textbook to train our minds in the understanding of non-biblical sources.
The Bible makes no claim to contain all truth, even though it does contain
the most essential truths, and is the only source of saving truth. There are
many things outside the Bible that are just as true as those in the Bible.
The value of knowing the Bible well, and the proverbs specifically is that it
increases the believer's ability to grasp what is of value in other sources.
In short, Proverbs is a course in the liberal arts. It broadens one's vision
and enables one to reap from many fields.
In the second part of the verse it sounds as if Solomon assumes that
believers are just delighted in going deep into the knowledge and wisdom
of the universe. This does not fit the facts always, for many Christians are
content to look for only that which will entertain them. Erasmas in his
book Praise Of Folly, which was published in 1509, said that Christians
cared not for what was solid. He wrote, "Does anyone need proof of this?
Let him visit the churches, and assuredly he will find it; if solemn truth is
dwelt on, the listeners at once become weary, yawn and sleep, but if the
orator begins some silly tale, they are all attention." Has almost 500 years
changed things? Not if Roger Hazelton's judgment is correct. He writes in
his book Renewing The Mind, "Who can deny that the power of sustained
and searching thought has been all but lost among us? We live, it is
obvious, primarily at the beck of interest and the call of impulse rather
than under the guidance of illuminating ideas. Relentless pressures from
without determine choice and dictate conduct long before there is any
chance to weigh alternatives or foresee results."
If this be true, and, like he says, who can deny it, there are not going to
be too many people who profit from this purpose of the proverbs, which is
that of becoming able to understand the deep and often obscure words of
the wise. The vast majority has already concluded there is nothing to it
anyway. Everything worth knowing is right on the surface is their
conclusion. We do not have to have anything against the virtue of
simplicity to recognize that not all that is of value is simple. There is real
depth of knowledge and wisdom to be gained from God's Word that few
ever find because it costs to much to dig for it. It takes discipline to
descend to the depths.
We have to beware of thinking that confusion is depth, however, for
this is what we see in much theology. It sounds profound, but it does
nothing for the soul. Authentic truth and deep insights will prove
themselves by thrilling the soul and causing the believer to praise God.
The object is not just to go deep, but to strike riches. Many go deep, but
they bring back no gold. Solomon feels that knowing these proverbs will
help the believer not only to go deep, but to strike it rich. They will help
him grasp the deep insights of others, and help him to unravel their
riddles. We have to admit that when Solomon did something he did it big.
He sets a very impressive list of goals for himself to achieve in the lives of
others. He offers great gifts to those who will pay the price of thought and
obedience. As we begin our search in these mines of Solomon I trust that
all of us will be more healthy, wealthy and wise as a result, and thereby
prove again that you can teach and old dog new tricks.
