Are the Proverbs Commands or Guidelines?

[Abeard]

Someone brought this question to me the other day (are the proverbs commands or guidelines?) I wasn't sure how to answer them. My thinking was that some of the most obedient people I know may not necessarily be the wisest in other practical areas of life. Is it sinful not to be wise?

 

[earl40]

It takes God given wisdom to discern when to apply a proverb. For instance, it is commanded to not answer a fool according to his folly in sometimes and it is commanded to answer a fool according to his folly other times.

 

[Contra_Mundum]

It may be helpful to consider how few imperatives there are in the whole book. It is a book of descriptions and contrasts, explaining how things are, implying how things ought to be. In short, it is "wisdom literature," not law per se.

To really appreciate the book requires parallel instruction in the law. So from the early-going, where the instruction is mainly father-to-son, through to the end of the book, note how often is the counsel concerning the "fear of the Lord." Reverence for God is a byproduct of seeing, experiencing, and understanding his discipline.

To deplore descriptions of wickedness presupposes the ability to distinguish right from wrong. Abhorring bloodshed, deceit, robbery, the seducer--all this is built on the foundation of divine prescription. But neither simple description nor commands are able to impart the power of imitation or obedience. Proverbs purely as a book of good counsel will not make a truly wise man.

Dt.31:12-13 "Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law: And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it."

What is not fully expressed there (not in so many words) is how necessary is Holy Spirit to the appreciation of the nature of grace toward the people (even before they were a people). And yet, no obedience is really possible without that heartfelt reverence.

Proverbs is first-and-foremost instruction for the future, later the present, mediatorial king. Dt.17:19-20 "And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel." Wisdom is required for rule. 1Ki.3:8-9 "And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?"


Proverbs is a description of the law applied. It describes sin restrained as a good, and sin unfettered as an evil. It implicitly urges the King and Head to bind sin and eradicate it, for the good of the body.

 

[Semper Fidelis]

roverbs is a description of the law applied. It describes sin restrained as a good, and sin unfettered as an evil. It implicitly urges the King and Head to bind sin and eradicate it, for the good of the body.

Great description.

One might also note that it sort of give graphical imagery of what the pursuit of Wisdom or Folly look like. It points out how enticing sin is at times but then fast-forwards to ruin. It is densely packed with illustrations that are intended for us to desire Wisdom and flee Folly.

 

[Abeard]

Thank you for the responses! I will pass on info

 

[hammondjones]

And I especially like reading Proverbs alongside Ecclesiastes, with an eye to the former as 'how things ought to be' and the latter as 'how things really are'.

 

[bookslover]

Proverbs express general truths about life that might not be relevant to every single specific case that comes up. Hence, as Bruce says, there are so few commands in the Book of Proverbs. It is, of course, a very wise book.

 

[DMcFadden]

Proverbs "commands" or "guidelines"?

Wisdom.

 

[Scott1]

Excellent description by Rev. Buchanan and the oft necessity of Proverbs parallel with the Law.

A simple application approach you may find helpful:

Commandments- explicit or implicit instructions to do or not do something
Principles- practical application consequences of actions
Convictions- specific leading based on God's plan for your life

While not entirely sufficient theologically, understanding these three can be useful in thinking through what you are doing.

Much of the Proverbs would fall in the "principles" category, e.g. "...borrower is servant to the lender." (Proverbs 22:7)

 

[Jack K]

"Guidelines" is too weak a word. It might suggest you only have to follow the teaching if you like it or if you can't devise a better guideline on your own.

I prefer something like "wise applications of godly living." That allows room to apply wisdom to a particular situation rather than wrongly treat every proverb as an absolute rule in every situation, while it also affirms that the Proverbs are wisdom from God and therefore not simply to be pushed aside on a whim. Far from being weak, optional law, the Proverbs actually greatly extend the reach of God's law as they apply the law to those "gray areas" of life where we have to consider circumstances before deciding how to act in a godly manner. God's rule and counsel are not just for obvious parts of life where direct commands clearly apply, but also for those parts of life that require subtle wisdom.

 

[whirlingmerc]

I agree that guidelines is too weak. Some of the claims might be rules of thumb for such a behavior generally results in such a result. Some provers are stated almost as puzzles meant to be grappled with. Proverbs is mostly not like 'case law' like some of the laws of Moses Sometimes they are riddles....
Proverbs 1: 6 "to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles." Mike Reeves says wisdom literature is not about having a list of handy tips
but rather to woo you to know the Lord, sometimes thorugh contradictory riddles like Answer a fool according to his folly. Don't answer a fool according to his folly

There are two ways. The way of the righteous (personified by Lady Wisdom and her invitation) contrasted with the way of the wicked (personified by Lady Folly and her invitation)
and the conclusion in Proverbs 31 is itself a big proverb riddle, not a command for gals to be wonder woman. Now that you seen the two paths and where they lead, what should you do?
Marry wisdom. Make it part of your life.

Maybe how you make a wise principle part of your life can be a bit like a riddle to be grappled with or how to look at it.