Walk In Intergrity Series

Walking in Integrity

Proverbs 10-: 1-10

God gave us the Book of Proverbs to help us discern between good and evil (1 Ki 3:9). If we follow the advise given there we will get an understanding mind as we make decisions in our day-to-day life.

In Proverbs, we do not find the simplistic conclusion that poverty is always caused by laziness. Nor do we find the simplistic conclusion that riches are a sign of being righteous. Nor does Proverbs endorse the view that the answer to poverty is to coddle the poor and foster dependency. Neither does it endorse the view that the rich have no responsibility towards the poor.

This second Solomonic collection begins here and goes through (to 22:16). It consists of 375 individual proverbs. Each of which expresses a complete idea. This is one of the few places in Scripture where context is of no help. Each proverb represents in a practical way the choice one must make between the way of Wisdom and the way of Folly. The parallel, two line in proverbs of chapters 10-15 , are mostly contrast or opposites (antithetical), while those of chapters 16-22 , are mostly similarities or comparisons (synthetical).

The first 9 chapters of the book of Proverbs is considered Solomon’s introduction to the book. From chapter 10 onwards we start to get into the traditional proverbs – the short sayings with powerful meanings.

Proverbs are not promises. Let me say that again, proverbs, in the Bible, are not promises that God is required to satisfy for you. The book of Proverbs is written in different literary styles. In the Bible there is narrative, there is poetry, there is wisdom literature, there is apocalyptic literature, there is epistle, and there is gospel. These are all different literary styles the Holy Spirit has inspired human authors to write the Bible in.

Well, each of these different literary styles have their own interpretive principles that you have to be mindful of when you try to understand a text that is written in a particular literary style or technique of writing And if you ignore those interpretive principles, you can misunderstand what’s being communicated. And so when it comes to Proverbs, it’s important to realize that it is Hebrew Poetry and we have to interpret it as such

Proverbs entail probable outcomes, not guaranteed outcomes. Take, for example, a modern proverb like, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Notice, it’s a short, pithy way to capture an idea. And is it true that if you eat fruits, and apples, and vegetables that generally you’ll be a healthy person? But is it a promise? Is it a guarantee that if you eat an apple every day you will never have to see a doctor? Well, of course not. We all know that’s not the case? So, is that a violation of that proverb? No, it just means that, no, generally speaking, if you eat a healthy diet, you’ll generally be healthy, but it’s not a guarantee or a promise.

Now, think of a biblical proverb like Proverbs 16:7. : “If a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, then he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Okay, well let’s think about this. Was the Apostle Paul 's ways pleasing to the Lord? Well, I think we can safely say yes, they were. I mean, here’s a man who proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ faithfully. He also wrote parts of the Bible. Were Paul’s enemies made to be at peace with him? No, not at all, right? I mean, they try to kill him. In fact, they succeeded. We do not know how he died but it was not a natural death. Tradition tells us that he was clubbed to death or crucified. This is hardly peaceful. Well, does that mean that God didn’t satisfy or fulfill His promise to Paul? No, it doesn’t mean that at all. Because remember, proverbs are not promises.

Having said this lets dive in. In chapters 10-16 we find verses that are mostly antithetic; meaning that they contain a parallel arrangement of contrasting ideas. In our text, the first of the antithetic proverbs, Solomon says, “Wise children make their fathers proud of them; foolish ones bring their mothers grief.”

In his introduction (chapters 1-9) Solomon made it painstakingly clear that our lives are a grand-sum-total of our decisions. We are where we are today, in life, because of the decisions we have made. As he goes on to lay out a series of parallel choices, he offers to us opposing truths with opposing consequences. In this text the choice is made by children (sons and daughters) and the consequences are either good or bad for the parents. However, this does imply that the parents did their part. They trained their children in the way that they should go (Prov 22:6), they instructed them in righteousness, and they lived their lives as godly examples before their children. Having done their part, they have every right to believe and expect their children to walk in the way of the Master.