THE PROVERBS: JUST GENERAL WISDOM OR “ABSOLUTES AND LEGAL GUARANTEES?” [RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD 7]

(NOTE: Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.)

Dear Friends,

After I was first saved in 1987, I met many well meaning believers who had walked with the Lord a long time and insisted the Proverbs in God’s Word were always ironclad promises. I was always troubled by their vehement attitude that screamed no other opinion mattered in their eyes.

The reason I was bothered so by this was that I saw many instances in Proverbs that didn’t add up in real life.

So what gives?

Let’s look at just a few:

Proverbs 16:7 When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

But Jesus’ ways were perfect to the Father, and His enemies killed him.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

But I have personally witnessed and also heard of quite a few grown children that had already departed, and have never or had yet to return.

Proverbs 29:12  If a ruler pays attention to falsehood, All his ministers become wicked.

But so-called and self-proclaimed Christian Presidents like Reagan, Clinton, Bush, and Obama in America have been shown to lie, but not all their cabinet is wicked, are they? Of course not.

Proverbs 21:22  A wise man scales (attacks) the city of the mighty. And brings down the stronghold in which they trust.

But according to the Gospel of King Jesus Christ, LORD of Lords, we’re supposed to not resist evil and do good to those who persecute us. Physical militancy is a heinous sin, for it portrays us as worldly…and living the devil’s commands. So, the man portrayed here is not wise…he is really a fool.

Proverbs 10:4  Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.

This, and the life of Abraham and Solomon (not our Lord Jesus), is the default setting and fall back passage for all those who wish to get, or are already, wealthy. And defending their doctrine of mammon. In so doing, they neglect the uniform report of Scripture regarding money culminating in the New Covenant.

Years later, I found a wonderful resource that concisely explained this and other various Biblical interpretation issues in the Word. Called appropriately How To Read The Bible For All Its Worth, by Gordon Fee and Doug Stuart, this short but excellent book confirmed many of my previous leadings in the Lord.

Please note: this is not the only resource that confirms this true truth. Many other apostles, prophets, teachers, and pastors agree with this Biblical interpretation hermeneutic.

So, from Fee and Stuart’s book, we offer these guidelines.

Proverbs, then…

…are not legal guarantees from God.

…must be read as a collection, that is, not plucked out verse by verse to prove a point.

…are worded to be memorable, not theoretically theological.

…are not designed to support selfish behavior – but just the opposite.

…strongly reflect ancient culture and, thus, may need sensible “translation.”

…give good advice for wise approaches to certain aspects of life, but are not exhaustive in their coverage.

…when wrongly used, can justify a crass, materialistic lifestyle.

We always need to be mindful of the implications of certain literary styles in the day the Word was written. Even in the New Testament record we read…

Mark 15:45-46  And ascertaining this from the centurion, he (Pilate) granted the body to Joseph. Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Him (Jesus) down, wrapped Him in the linen cloth and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.

Now, Joseph of Arimathea was an older man and prominent member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish (Judean) religious ruling body of the time. At a minimum Joseph probably needed two or three other men to take the body down, and most certainly not by himself even if he was involved physically – which I highly doubt.

Have you ever tried to roll any good size stone for any distance? Then you know how difficult even a small one is to maneuver and handle. How did one man roll a enormous stone over the entrance to a tomb, with the stone probably being at least 4 feet in diameter and weighing hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of pounds?

He didn’t.

He had help. Or more likely, being wealthy at the time, he gave orders to others for it to be rolled across the entrance.

We strongly suggest we all pray to the Father, so that Jesus’ Holy Spirit will help interpret our musings in His Word, and keep us from error. And that we seek out others in His body who have a proven and anointed ministry of truth while being open to new truth as He revels it. Why? So we can find the mind of the Lord collectively in these things.

Please buy this book, for its written for us, the average educated reader of the Bible. It is very helpful.

How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth: Gordon Fee, Douglas Stuart

This video teaching sample below is an excellent example of the 10 DVD series we have in our own library. Gordon Fee is a passionate and captivating teacher of God’s Word. It can be ordered from Crown Ministries International (a YWAM ministry).

Video Teaching sample from 10 DVD Series – How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth: Gordon Fee

This companion book is an outstanding resource for an overview and continuity of the entire Scripture:

How to Read the Bible Book by Book – A Guided Tour: Gordon Fee, Douglas Stuart

We love you all, beloved!

Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.

Your friend and brother in fighting the good fight,

Marc

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Saints, we’re one day closer to Home, and Him! Love Him wholeheartedly!

You may view our Archives here: RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD – ARCHIVES;   Complete Archives; feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion. May our Father richly bless you with His grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord, in order to walk worthy of His name.

Please comment on this post right below. Feel free to write and proclaim your leadings in the Spirit in an honorable fashion.