A critical understanding for the Proverbs is the difference and relationship of temporal (this life) and eternal consequences – rewards or punishments. You will quickly see that Solomon doesn’t seem to differentiate the two all that much. Is he right? Is there a closer relationship to this life and the next than we understand? Is the modern tendency to radically separate the spiritual and temporal an idea gone too far? Might be worth a discussion of its own.
Verses 1-5 – Matt. 6:19-21, 13:9, 44, 19:21-22, Luke 2:19, 11:9-13, Acts 17:11, James 1:5, 1 John 5:20
Verses 6-9 – John 10:28-29, 1 Cor 1:18-31, 2:6-7, 3:18-19, Jude 24
Verses 10-15 – John 3:19-20, Acts 20:30, 1 Cor. 15:33, 2 Cor. 6:17, Rom. 1:21, 32, Col 3:19, Eph 5:15, 1 John 2:19,
Verses 16-19 – 1 Cor 6:9-11, Gal 5:19-21, Eph 5:5, Rev 21:8
Verses 20-22 – 3 John 11,
It would be good to know the full story of Solomon, from his great start as he requested wisdom from God, to his great fall when he followed the false religions of his many foreign wives (Neh 13:26). Many believe that Solomon wrote The Song of Solomon in his youth, The Proverbs before he fell so far, and Ecclesiastes at the end of his life, when he recovered his belief in God.
Words to clarify.
Sections/proverbs to discuss. (16-19)
How are the rewards of wisdom and the end result of evil pictured?
Did you notice any new word pictures for wisdom or foolishness?
What have you heard about Solomon?
The first few chapters are trying to convince you that wisdom is worth pursuing and foolishness worth avoiding. Have they succeeded?
Copyright Rick Henderson, Th.M. 2026, SouthBeachHope@gmail.com