Did God dictate these beautiful
words to Solomon? Wisdom, Love, God, speaks; Solomon (or whoever the
author might be) interprets somewhat. In
my new Bible, Chapter 10 is headed up: “Wise Sayings of Solomon.” It also
states that the proverbs of Solomon are to come. At this point I read the Introduction to The Book
of Proverbs in my new NKVJ Bible, so
I thought I would include it here:
“The key word in Proverbs is wisdom, ‘the ability to live life
skilfully.’ A godly life in an ungodly world, however, is no simple
assignment. Proverbs provides God’s detailed instructions for His people
to deal successfully with the practical affairs of everyday life: how to relate
to God, parents, children, neighbours, and government. Solomon, the principal
author, uses a combination of poetry, parables, pithy questions, short stories,
and wise maxims to give in strikingly memorable form the common sense and
divine perspective necessary to handle life’s issues.
“Because Solomon, the pinnacle of Israel’s wise men, was the principal
contributor, the Hebrew title of this book is Mishle Shelomoh, “Proverbs
of Solomon” (1:1). The Greek title is Paroimiai Salomontos, “Proverbs
of Solomon.” The Latin title Liber Proverbiorum, “Book of
Proverbs,” combines the words pro “for” and verba “words” to
describe the way the proverbs concentrate many words into a few. The
rabbinical writings called Proverbs Sepher Hokhmah, ‘Book of Wisdom.’”
Chapter
10 starts us on the famous parallelism sentences, e.g. verse 1 – the wise and
foolish sons contrasted. This method of instruction finds an echo in some
of the definitions in the Glossary to Science
&Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, e.g.
Jerusalem. Mortal belief and knowledge
obtained from the five corporeal senses; the pride of power and the power of
pride; sensuality, envy; oppression; tyranny. Home, heaven;
Sword. The idea of Truth;
justice. Revenge; anger;
Wine.
inspiration;
understanding. Error; fornication; temptation; passion.
I
am reminded too of Benjamin Franklin. His early years as a printer found
him producing an almanac, Poor Richard, in which he printed proverbs or
wise sayings of his own composition. He said of them that they were
“proverbial sentences, chiefly such as inculcated industry and frugality, as
the means of procuring wealth and thereby securing virtue.” It is very
probable that the book of Proverbs
was Franklin’s inspiration for this business and literary undertaking, although
he borrowed from many other sources including Dryden, Pope, and Swift. He
took wisdom and wit where he could find them, from his prodigious
reading. His famous The Way to Wealth was a compilation from 25
years of almanacs. It can be found on the Internet. [Note: We have printed Franklins 13 Virtues
(aged 20) in a previous blog. See blog Franklin, Eddy, and the
Preface to Spiritual Healing in a
Scientific Age by Robert Peel dated 11.11.2012.]
All
of this emphasises the fact that the best writers through the ages have called
on the Bible for inspiration and instruction.
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