by Paul Apple | May 7, 2024 | Bible-OT
I. (:1-4) 4 TYPES OF FOOLS Lindsay Wilson: Context: Verses 1–4 give examples of the consequences of negative behaviour: becoming unwise, forfeiting one’s life, losing honour and finding no harvest. Verse 1 makes a link with the previous chapter by using the word...
by Paul Apple | May 6, 2024 | Bible-OT
(:1-3) INTRODUCTION – INTEGRITY AND KNOWLEDGE GUARD AGAINST FOOLISHNESS Lindsay Wilson: These verses explore the fundamental stance of the fool compared with that of a person of integrity. A. (:1) Value of Integrity vs. Perverse Speech “Better is a poor man who...
by Paul Apple | May 4, 2024 | Bible-OT
I. (:1-8) SPEECH AND ITS CONSEQUENCES Paul Koptak: The majority of these proverbs are about speech and its effects; all are concerned with the attitudes and actions that destroy relationships and community. . . The proverbs of chapter 18 make it clear that the...
by Paul Apple | May 4, 2024 | Bible-OT
Paul Koptak: Running through a melange of sayings about families (households) and larger communities are the twin themes of strife and unity. Proverbs about speech habits like gossip and quarreling are intertwined with proverbs about handling money (bribes and...
by Paul Apple | May 2, 2024 | Bible-OT
I. (:16-19) MOTIVATIONS FOR ACQUIRING WISDOM – WISDOM BETTER THAN GOLD Lindsay Wilson: The distinctive teaching of these proverbs is about the folly of pride (vv. 18–19), which seems connected to the pursuit of wealth (šālāl, spoil or plunder, v. 19b) but which is...
by Paul Apple | Apr 30, 2024 | Bible-OT
I. (:1-9) YAHWEH SAYINGS – EMPHASIZING DIVINE SOVEREIGNTY Paul Koptak: This outline points up an example of dove-tailing: Verses 1–9 include one non-Yahweh proverb about riches and “injustice” (loʾ mišpaṭ, v. 8), while verses 10–15 have one nonroyal proverb about...
by Paul Apple | Apr 29, 2024 | Bible-OT
(:1-2) INTRODUCTION – WISE SPEECH A. (:1) Soft vs. Harsh Words “A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.” Paul Koptak: The Bible has many examples; Nabal’s inhospitality and Abigail’s appeal is probably the most famous (1 Sam. 25:1–35)....
by Paul Apple | Apr 26, 2024 | Bible-OT
I. (:16-19) REWARDS OF WISDOM A. (:16-17) Avoids Calamity (:16) Cautious vs. Reckless “A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, But a fool is arrogant and careless.” Paul Koptak: Verses 16–17 are linked by images of hair-trigger temper and folly. . ....
by Paul Apple | Apr 25, 2024 | Bible-OT
I. (:8) WISDOM OF THE PRUDENT VS. FOLLY OF FOOLS A. Wisdom of the Prudent = Understanding “The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,” George Mylne: We are travelers to eternity and our wisdom lies in knowing the way which leads to that world of unending...
by Paul Apple | Apr 24, 2024 | Bible-OT
Caleb Nelson: Walk in Wisdom Proposition: To walk in wisdom, be sure to protect yourself, enrich yourself, and to look who’s talking. I. Protect Yourself, vv. 1-3 A. Through Wisdom, v. 1 B. Through Uprightness and the Fear of Yahweh, v. 2 C. Through Wise Lips, v....
by Paul Apple | Apr 23, 2024 | Bible-OT
Peter Wallace: I had originally planned on preaching topically through Proverbs 10-31, but the more I dig through it, the more convinced I am that there really is a structure and pattern in these chapters that gets lost when you bounce around! Right now we are in the...
by Paul Apple | Apr 22, 2024 | Bible-OT
Paul Koptak: We must remind ourselves that our desire to find an outline or rhetorical structure may not catch the spirit of discovery and gamesmanship that the sages required of their readers. We suggest outlines and arrangements to appreciate the recurrence of...
by Paul Apple | Apr 21, 2024 | Bible-OT
I. (:1-3) STABILITY IN LIFE A. (:1) Embrace Discipline “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, But he who hates reproof is stupid.” Paul Koptak: There is a difference between loving discipline — teaching and correction that warn of possible errors —...
by Paul Apple | Apr 20, 2024 | Bible-OT
(:15) TRANSITION “He who is surety for a stranger will surely suffer for it, But he who hates going surety is safe.” Bruce Waltke: This verse is a janus, forming a transition between speech that harms oneself, unlike the safety of counselors (vv. 8–14), and the...
by Paul Apple | Apr 19, 2024 | Bible-OT
I. (:1-3) RIGHTEOUS FUNDAMENTALS Caleb Nelson: Honesty, the Best Policy, vv. 1-2 In Commercial Dealings, v. 1 In Self-Evaluation, v. 2 A. (:1) Honesty in Business “A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, But a just weight is His delight.” Allen Ross: The...
by Paul Apple | Apr 19, 2024 | Bible-OT
(:1a) PROLOGUE A. Genre “The proverbs” B. Author “of Solomon.” Paul Koptak: “Proverbs of Solomon” recalls the opening words of the book as it marks a new major section. We might ask why the superscription is necessary; a first and obvious answer is the change in...
by Paul Apple | Apr 17, 2024 | Bible-OT
The approach to the latter half of the book of Proverbs (starting with chapter 10) is problematic for someone writing a paragraph-by-paragraph commentary based around the Big Idea concept. These individual proverbs (or sentence proverbs) often contrast the righteous...
by Paul Apple | Mar 30, 2024 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THIS LIFE HAS MEANING WHEN WE RISE ABOVE THE FUTILITY OF MAN’S WISDOM TO EMBRACE GOD’S WISDOM = FEAR GOD AND OBEY HIM BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE BECAUSE WE ALL WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE INTRODUCTION: Our culture: Getting older; living longer, more healthcare and...
by Paul Apple | Mar 29, 2024 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: BY OPPORTUNISTIC FAITH AND JOYFUL CONTENTMENT WE CAN LIVE BOTH A PRODUCTIVE AND ENJOYABLE LIFE INTRODUCTION: We need balance in our lives. Some people concentrate so much on being productive and achieving something … they seem to have no enjoyment of life. ...
by Paul Apple | Mar 29, 2024 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: FOLLY ON THE PART OF RULERS PUTS A NATION IN JEOPARDY AND REQUIRES A RESPONSE OF WISDOM – YET WISDOM IS PRECARIOUS AT BEST INTRODUCTION: Most people would find no structure in these proverbs – similar to chap. 7 – Those that try to group the verses in some...
