3-Day Commentary Challenge - Proverbs 1-2Sample

God’s Invitation to the Lost, 1:20–33

Here in the early stanzas of Proverbs appears the gospel of God’s love to sinners, in His invitation to choose Him as their Lord.

Call to Repentance, 1:20–22

At verse 20, Wisdom may be viewed as personifying the person Jesus, Savior and Lord. He agonizes, persistently calling out (“shouts,” “lifts her voice,” “cries out,” “utters”) the message, “How long . . .will you love simplicity?” (1:22). The words are addressed to “you who are simple,” scoffers and fools, who refuse wisdom — and the Lord.

Sinners’ Rejection of God, 1:23–25

Here the Savior’s love is spurned in every way. In six of the seven lines, there is a reference to a ministry of the Lord reaching out to sinners: “My reproof,” “spirit,” “words,” “hand,” “counsel,” and “reproof.” The central line is a key: “I called and you refused” (1:24).

Recompense for Rejection, 1:26–27

The Savior (“Wisdom”—1:20) is still speaking. Now He talks of the just recompense that comes to all who reject Him. Calamity and anguish will be their eternal judgment. Sinners laugh now at the entreaties of Wisdom; in eternal judgment the spurned Wisdom can only mock their anguish.

God’s Rejection of Sinners, 1:28–32

The core of these verses is:

Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; Because they . . . did not choose the fear of the Lord (1:28–29).

When the judgment comes (1:26–27), it is too late to seek the Lord.

Invitation Repeated, 1:33

In this final verse of the section, the Lord reminds His listeners that His invitation to sinners stands, that those who listen to Him shall live securely.

The following comments are made on words and phrases of this section that also appear in later parts of the book.

(a) “Instruction” (1:2). This is teaching by discipline. The root of the Hebrew word is “chastise.” Compare 13:24, where the same Hebrew word appears.

(b) “Simple” (1:4). The Hebrew word comes from a root meaning “to leave oneself open.” Such a “simple” man is one who flirts with sin and yields quickly to satanic enticement. The word “entice” of 1:10 is from the same root as “simple.”

(c) ”Wise counsels” (1:5). The Hebrew root suggests the idea of a steersman. Hence these translations:

“attain to leadership” (Berkeley) “become leaders” (tlb)

(d) “Your father’s instruction . . . your mother’s teaching” (1:8). This is not primarily a reference to parental advice as such, but to godly parents’ instruction and application of God’s Word in the raising of their children.

(e) In Proverbs the word “hear” usually connotes the stronger response of obedience. (For example, the Hebrew word translated “hear” in Proverbs 1:5 is translated “obey” in Deuteronomy 11:27.) Obedience plays an essential part in a person’s salvation and in his walk as a believer. (Compare Jesus’ use of the word “hear” in Matthew 13:13.)