The Fifth Sunday in Lent, commonly called
Passion Sunday.
The
Collect.
|
W
|
E beseech
thee, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon thy people; that by thy great
goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel - Prov 1:1 (KJV)
In modern times, there has been a growing doubt expressed by critical
commentators as to the identity of the author of the Book of Proverbs. These
critics aver that the writing style, the historical context, or internal
narrative evidence suggests either a different author, or an entirely later
composition of the Book. Such speculation of the modern critics, and particularly
the higher critics, begins with false premise in questioning the very validity
and veracity of the Word of God. The cause of their doubt arises, not from
knowledge of God and His Word, but from a doubtful and faithless
pseudo-intellectualism that belongs to the dark chambers of the academy of
Hell. The very title of Proverbs provides us with a profound and
well-defined statement of WHO the author of Proverbs claims to be: "The
proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel."
To begin a study of any Book of the Bible with a question that challenges the
Truth and nature contained therein is not a valid study of the Word of God. We
have a clear statement which claims that "Solomon, the son of David and
King of Israel" is the author of this Book. As its author, Solomon may
make use of and quote from a reservoir of wisdom gleaned over a lifetime from
his experiences and acquaintances, but it is Solomon that remains its author.
As we study this Book of Wisdom (another well-considered label given the Book),
we see through the gossamer veil of that Word a greater Son of David and King
of Israel – in fact King of Kings and Lord of Lords – begin to emerge beneath
the surface of those lovely Words of Wisdom: the Lord Jesus Christ. Wisdom is
the persistent theme of the Book of Proverbs, and Wisdom is a profound
characteristic of Christ. Who on this planet, or the distant Pluto, could ever
claim wisdom without knowing Christ? The wise seeker, just like the Wise Men of
the East who came seeking Christ beneath the brilliant Star, will surely find
Him; for all wisdom points to His very Being. Jesus claimed His legitimacy to
the Royal Line through David, and was THE very Son of David through His legal
descent, "(because he was of the house and lineage of David)
(Luke 2:4) The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of
David, the son of Abraham. / 6 And Jesse begat David the
king; and David the king begat Solomon (Matt 1:1,6) The Holy
Scriptures, at no point, credits Joseph as being the father of Jesus; but the
legal reckoning of the legal and royal lineage of Joseph was passed on (through
the law) to Jesus. Interestingly, Christ was the Word (John 1:1-3) which came
down from heaven and "was made flesh and dwelt among us"
but He was also the RISEN Savior who ascended again to the
Father. The genealogy of Jesus, given in the Gospel of St Matthew, begins with
Abraham and comes DOWN to Jesus; the genealogy of Jesus given in the Gospel of
St Luke begins with Jesus and goes UP to God – "…..which
was the son of Adam, which was the son of God." (Luke 3:38)
Wisdom is the face and character quality of Christ. Pure Wisdom is purely like
Christ! One cannot possess true wisdom that does not admit Christ, and one
cannot know Christ without knowing wisdom. So this Book of Proverb (by another
son of David) is a further revelation of the nature and Mind of Christ. He is
the Word, and He is ALL of the WORD from beginning to end (Alpha and Omega) and
all in between. Instead of beginning a study of any book of the Bible with
doubt, let us begin with faith informed of the veracity of the Word, and with a
mind open to receive wisdom and understanding.
Seeing and understanding is wisdom, and this describes a fundamental essence of
God – omniscience. Was Solomon wise? Yes, but only insofar as he employed and
related the wisdom borrowed from the Mind of God. The eyes of the LORD
are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. (Prov 15:3) If we
observe circumstances through the eyes of God, provided by Holy Scripture, then
we shall see clearly that circumstance we need to know.
Through the coming weeks, we shall be studying this profound Book of Wisdom. There
are at least six divisions that we may easily discern from this wonderful Book
of Wisdom. 1) The General Title which is comprehended in verses 1-7 of chapter
1. Outlined here is not only an approach on how to acquire wisdom
and how to know justice, but also how to understand wisdom when
spoken by those who know it. We must remember that there is a huge gap between
simply knowing a thing and in understanding it. Wisdom is the KEY to
understanding knowledge. 2) This second division (10:1-22:16) is a
clarification of the Proverbs of Solomon and are presented from a more personal
experience of the benefits of wisdom to Solomon himself. 3) In 22:17- through
chapter 24, we see counsel on the importance of hearing the words of the wise.
If we know wisdom, we will recognize it when it is spoken. If we know very well
the Word of God, we will also know its Author and His Mind. If false religion
is taught, we will recognize it as false because we know the Author of all
Truth. 4) This division begins at chapter 25 and extends through 29:27. Though
compiled and copied by the learned scribes of King Hezekiah, they are
nonetheless those proverbs written by Solomon some three hundred years
previous. These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah
king of Judah copied out. (Prov 25:1) This division is closely associated
with the second, in giving certain mannerisms and discreet examples of wisdom,
and provides a historical context to the compilation of the Book. 5) This
division is comprised by Chapter 30 only. It is ascribed to Agur who was either
a scribe in the employ of King Solomon writing on his behalf, or a pseudonym
for Solomon. The style is a bit different from that of the other chapters;
therefore it is reasonable to assume that these words were written by a scribe
in a general manner after the instructions of Solomon. 6) Consists of chapter
31 the first nine verses of which were written down by Lemuel – perhaps another
scribe in the service of Solomon. But the last portion (verses 10 through 31)
seem to come directly from the heart of Solomon after a life of knowing many
women some of whom led his heart at moments away from God. This is most
beautiful and descriptive passage in the Bible that defines the true worth and
virtue of a Godly woman.
Regardless the means by which Proverbs came to be written down for us, let us
always bear in mind the fact that it is truly the Proverbs of Solomon, son of
David and King of Israel. We must never undertake to parse and dissect every
mystery for which we cannot account in Holy Scripture. If it is a mystery in
God's Word and meaning, let it remain so until that same Word resolves the
mystery in our searching hearts. We do not attempt to explain away every
mystery by whatever faulty logic we find at hand. God will not condemn the
moist accomplished theologian for admitting that Scripture does contain certain
mysteries of which he cannot be sure.
Our next devotion will begin with Proverbs, Chapter 1.
__._,_.___
