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BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 2, Day 5: Acts 2:36-47

September 12, 2019September 10, 2019 by atozmom, posted in BSF Acts 2019/2020

Summary of Acts 2:36-47:

God has made Jesus Lord and Christ.

The people asked what should they do and Peter told them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus to be forgiven of your sins and receive the Holy Spirit. Everyone of you can receive such a gift. 3000 chose to be baptized that day.

These people were considered the first church. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of the bread, and prayer. They gave to everyone as needed. They continued to meet and eat together and praise God. The Lord grew their numbers daily.

BSF Study Questions Act 2 Lesson 2, Day 5: Acts 2:36-47

12) Part personal Question. My answer: “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” I have done just that many times humbly.

13a) They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. All of the believers were together, selling their possessions and goods and giving to anyone who had need. They met together every day in the temple courts to break bread together and eat together, praising God and enjoying each other. The church is unified here as everyone made an effort.

b) Part personal question. My answer: It looks much the same in today’s church, except the selling the possessions part. Instead, we bring our tithes for the church to use to help those in need. In my life, it’s definitely not a daily activity. Instead, it’s on Sunday. I don’t really share my life with anyone except my immediate family.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Act 2 Lesson 2, Day 5: Acts 2:36-47

I like the picture of how the early Christians had to rely on each other. There were so few of them that they knew they were stronger together, so they drew on that strength to grow their numbers. In today’s world of self-sufficiency, we could definitely take a lesson from the past.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Act 2 Lesson 2, Day 5: Acts 2:36-47

Cut to the heart

This is a good way of describing the conviction of the Holy Spirit. The people now knew that they were responsible for the death of Jesus (as each of us are), and they had to do something in response to this responsibility.

Peter had some previous experience with cutting. When Jesus was arrested, Peter cut off the right ear of one of the men who came to arrest Jesus (John 18:10). All this was an embarrassing mess that Jesus had to clean up. That showed Peter in the flesh, doing the best he could with a literal sword of human power.
When the resurrected Jesus changed Peter’s life and when the power of the Holy Spirit had come upon him, Peter did some much more effective cutting; cutting hearts, opening them to Jesus. This is what Peter could do in the power of the Spirit, doing God’s best with the sword of the Spirit, God’s Word. Which sword is more powerful? Man’s sword or God’s sword?

Repent

Repent means to change one’s mind or direction of thinking and embrace Jesus as Lord and Messiah. Repent has been rightly called “the first word of the gospel.”

When John the Baptist preached he said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2).
When Jesus began to preach He said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).
When Peter began to preach, he started with repent.

Be Baptized

In that day, Jews were not commonly baptized, only Gentiles who wanted to become Jews. For these Jewish men and women to be baptized showed just how strongly they felt they needed Jesus.

This day of Pentecost saw an amazing harvest of souls. The church went from about 120 people to 3,120 people in one day.

Many of the 3,000 were undoubtedly pilgrims who came to Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost who went back home, traveling far from Jerusalem, taking the good news of Jesus Christ with them. There were huge resources of water available on the temple mount, and pools and reservoirs nearby, so it was not difficult to find a place where the baptisms could take place.

Fellowship

Verse 42: The ancient Greek word koinonia (translated here as fellowship) has the idea of association, communion, fellowship, and participation; it means to share in something.

The Jews had a tremendous custom of hospitality during any major feast like Pentecost. Visitors were received into private homes, and no one could charge for giving a bed or a room to a visitor or for supplying their basic needs. The Christians took this tremendous feast-time hospitality and made it an everyday thing.

Christian Living

God wants us to share our lives with one another.

Christian experience was daily, joyful, and simple.

Historical Note

The group of new believers is a mere annoyance to the Roman Empire, but it does not stop growing. In fact, in less than one generation, Christians will have penetrated Rome, the center of civilization. In an era when new religions are a dime a dozen and disappear virtually overnight, Christianity instead grows — all beginning on one day — Pentecost.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 2, Day 4: Acts 2:22-35

September 11, 2019September 10, 2019 by atozmom, posted in BSF Acts 2019/2020

Summary of Acts 2:22-35:

Peter is still speaking to the crowd that has gathered on the day of Pentecost. “Jesus who performed miracles was handed over to you for God’s pre-ordained purpose. You killed him by nailing him to a cross. But God has raised him from the dead. David himself prophesied Jesus’ resurrection when he said he saw the ‘Holy One’ at the Lord’s right hand and raised him from the dead.”

It’s as if Peter is shouting, “Even though you idiots killed Jesus He is alive!”

Peter says that Jesus now sits at the right hand of God and pours out what we now see and hear. He has received the promised Holy Spirit. David did not ascend to heaven (for a detailed explanation of this see my previous post here. David is in heaven now but not at the time of his death).

BSF Study Questions Act 2 Lesson 2, Day 4: Acts 2:22-35

9) God handed Jesus over to man for His set purpose and foreknowledge. The people killed Jesus. God and David knew Jesus would die.

10) David was revered and loved by all so Peter is referencing him to lend credibility to the fact that David knew Jesus would die for them. Peter points out that this Psalm cannot be speaking of its human author, David because David is dead and buried. The Psalm must speak prophetically of the Messiah, Jesus. Peter used this to show the Messiah, who is the focus of Psalm 110, is in fact Divine – He is God.

11) Part Personal Question. My answer: Omniscient, omnipotent, goodness, and grace. God does not forsake and is always with us. All of these. God is good despite what the world says.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Act 2 Lesson 2, Day 4: Acts 2:22-35

Straight-forward questions today. Peter basically says, “Look, you killed Jesus, the Son of the One, True God but there is hope because God has raised Jesus. All is not lost.”

End Notes BSF Study Questions Act 2 Lesson 2, Day 4: Acts 2:22-35

Peter refered to what these people already knew about Jesus. They already knew of His life and miraculous works. Often in speaking to people about Jesus, we should start with what

they already know about Him.

It was impossible Jesus should remain a victim of the sin and hatred of man; He would certainly triumph over it.

In the phrase pains of death, the word pains is actually the word for “birth pains.” In this sense, the tomb was a womb for Jesus.

“It was not possible that the chosen one of God should remain in the grip of death; ‘the abyss can no more hold the Redeemer than a pregnant woman can hold the child in her body.’” (Bruce, quoting Bertram)

Jesus bore the full wrath of God on the cross, as if He were a guilty sinner, guilty of all our sin, even being made sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). Yet, that work was an act of holy, giving love for us, so that Jesus Himself did not become a sinner, even though He bore the full guilt of our sin.

Peter points out that this Psalm cannot be speaking of its human author, David because David is dead and buried. The Psalm must speak prophetically of the Messiah, Jesus.

Fun Fact: This begins the third Old Testament passage Peter used in his sermon, Psalm 110:1. This verse of the Old Testament is quoted in the New Testament more than any other single verse; either quoted or referred to at least 25 times. In this Psalm, David understood and proclaimed the deity of the Messiah.

In this Psalm, King David – by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit – recorded that Yahweh, Israel’s covenant God (The LORD), spoke to David’s Lord (my Lord) as God. Peter used this to show the Messiah, who is the focus of Psalm 110, is in fact Divine – He is God.

It is as if Peter said, “You were all wrong about Jesus. You crucified Him as if He were a criminal, but by the resurrection, God proved that He is Lord and Messiah.”

BSF Study Questions People of the Promised Land 1: Lesson 26, Day 5: 1 Kings 6:14-38

March 28, 2019March 2, 2019 by atozmom, posted in BSF People of the Promised Land Part 1

Summary 1 Kings 6:14-38:

It took 7 years to build God’s temple. Cedar lined the interior walls. The ark of the covenant was placed in the inner sanctuary, along with a pair of cherubim made of olive wood and overlaid with gold. The entire inner and outer rooms of the temple was covered in gold layering.

BSF Study Questions People of the Promised Land 1: Lesson 26, Day 5: 1 Kings 6:14-38:

12) Solomon built the temple to dedicate to the Lord to have a place for burning fragrant incense before him, for setting out the consecrated bread regularly, and for making burnt offerings every morning and evening, on the Sabbaths and New Moons, and at the appointed feasts of the Lord. The temple had to be great because God is great. It as meant as a place to burn sacrifices to God.

13) Personal Question. My answer: I love how Solomon honors God with the best of the best. He takes his time to get it right. He makes everything perfect for a perfect God.

14) Personal Question. My answer: By using God’s talents for God’s glory and not your own and always giving the glory and credit to God, not yourself. I need to better reflect God in my work.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promised Land 1 Lesson 26 Day 5:1 Kings 6:14-38:

I love the detail the Bible provides of what the temple looks like since we have no pictures. Awesome and splendid!

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promised Land 1 Lesson 26, Day 5:1 Kings 6:14-38:

God’s temple completed

Special attention was given to the Holy of Holies or Most Holy place. It was a 30-foot (10 meter) cube, completely overlaid with gold. It also had two large sculptures of cherubim (15-foot or 5 meters in height), which were overlaid with gold.

Image result for 1 kings 6 There were gold chains across the veil separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. “The gold chains, stretched across the front of the inner sanctuary, served to strengthen the concept of the inaccessibility of this Most Holy Place” (Patterson and Austel).

The two cherubim inside the Most Holy Place faced the entrance to this inner room, so as soon as the High Priest entered, he saw these giant guardians of the presence of God facing him.

There was gold everywhere in the temple. The walls were covered with gold (1 Kings 6:20-22), the floor was covered with gold (1 Kings 6:30) and gold was hammered into the carvings on the doors (1 Kings 6:32).

The tabernacle had woven designs of cherubim on the inner covering. It was the court of the priests where the altar and laver were set and sacrifice was conducted. Outside it was the great court, where the people came to pray. Outside it was the court of the women, and outside that was the court of the Gentiles.

Under the Old Covenant, the temple was not for the people of Israel. It was only for the priests to meet with God on behalf of the people. The people gathered and worshipped in the outer courtyard.

Image result for 1 kings 6 When the temple was finished it was a spectacular building. It was easy for Israel to focus on the temple of God instead of the God of the temple. Yet without continued faithfulness to God, the temple’s glory quickly faded. This glorious temple was plundered just five years after the death of Solomon (1 Kings 14:25-27)

BSF Study Questions People of the Promised Land 1: Lesson 26, Day 2: 1 Kings 5:1-6

March 25, 2019March 2, 2019 by atozmom, posted in BSF People of the Promised Land Part 1

Summary 1 Kings 5:1-6:

Solomon uses the cedars of Lebanon from the King of Tyre for God’s temple.

BSF Study Questions People of the Promised Land 1: Lesson 26, Day 2: 1 Kings 5:1-6:

3) He planned to build God’s temple. Solomon knew the King of Tyre was his friend so he asked for wood for the temple as well as the men to fell the timber.

4) The King of Tyre has always been on friendly terms with David. David had already prepared a lot of the materials. God has given Solomon rest from wars, Satan, and natural disasters, so he’ll have the time and the resources to build the temple and pay the Sidonians for their skill. The envoy arrived at the perfect time.

5) Personal Question. My answer: God has given me this work on this forum to do, as well as my current position. I work hard at both to bring the most value. He’s inviting me to trust Him to His timing in this work.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promised Land 1 Lesson 26 Day 2:1 Kings 5:1-6:

I love how God does include the Gentiles in the building of the temple. It shows God’s foresight of His overall plan for the world.

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promised Land 1 Lesson 26, Day 2:1 Kings 5:1-6:

“Hiram is an abbreviation of Ahiram which means ‘Brother of Ram,’ or ‘My brother is exalted,’ or ‘Brother of the lofty one’… Archaeologists have discovered a royal sarcophagus in Byblos of Tyre dated about 1200 BC inscribed with the king’s name, ‘Ahiram.’ Apparently it belonged to the man in this passage.” (Dilday)

David had already gathered many of the supplies needed to build the temple (2 Chronicles 22:4)

“To put enemies under the feet was the symbolic act marking conquest. In contemporary art, enemies were often depicted as a footstool (Psalm 110:1)

The word adversary here is literally Satan. The Latin Vulgate translates this, “nor a Satan.”

Of course, Solomon did not build a temple for a name but for a living God. This is a good example of avoiding direct mention of the name of God in Hebrew writing and speaking. They did this out of reverence to God.

“Solomon also used this phrase because he wanted to explain that he didn’t think the temple would be the house of God in the way pagans thought. Pagan temples might be intended for the actual residence of the god, but Solomon knew that the heaven of heavens could not contain God, much less this temple which he was about to build.” (Maclaren).

The cedar trees of Lebanon

The cedar trees of Lebanon were legendary for their excellent timber, showing how Solomon wanted to build the temple out of the best materials possible.

“The Sidonians were noted as timber craftsmen in the ancient world, a fact substantiated on the famous Palmero Stone. Its inscription from 2200 BC tells us about timber-carrying ships that sailed from Byblos to Egypt about four hundred years previously. The skill of the Sidonians was expressed in their ability to pick the most suitable trees, know the right time to cut them, fell them with care, and then properly treat the logs.” (Dilday)

Solomon was willing to build this great temple to God with Gentile wood and using Gentile labor. This was a temple to the God of Israel, but it was not only for Israel. Only Jews built the tabernacle, “But the temple is not built without the aid of the Gentile Tyrians. They, together with us, make up the Church of God.” (Trapp)

BSF Study Questions People of the Promised Land 1: Lesson 25, Day 4: Proverbs 28 and 29

March 20, 2019February 24, 2019 by atozmom, posted in BSF People of the Promised Land Part 1

Summary Proverbs 28:

Follow the law. A leader with wisdom can keep order. Don’t take advantage of others. Confess your sins and you’ll find mercy. Hard workers are rewarded. Those who trust the Lord will prosper. Give to the poor, and you’ll lack nothing.

Summary Proverbs 29:

A wise man keeps himself under control. Evil doers hate men of integrity. Punishment teaches your wisdom. Blessed are law-keepers. The Lord administers justice. Don’t speak in haste. The humbled are honored.

BSF Study Questions People of the Promised Land 1: Lesson 25, Day 4: Proverbs 28 and 29:

9) Personal Question. My answer: A leader must be just, listen to the truth, and judge fairly. This is more in the realm of my kids than anything. A leader has to gather all the facts before making a judgement and surround himself or herself with valued advisors, or a core group of Christian friends in our book.

10) Personal Question. My answer: Don’t take advantage of others to gain wealth. Hard work leads to wealth. Give to the poor, and you’ll lack nothing. Don’t be stingy. If you trust in the Lord, you’ll prosper. If you’re faithful, you’ll be blessed. I need to give more to worthy causes and to the poor and trust more in the Lord, so I’ll prosper. And I can be stingy at times.

11) Personal Question. My answer: The righteous are bold. The righteous thrive when the wicked perish. The righteous sing and rejoice and care about justice for the poor. The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright people. In essence, God will handle the wicked, so we don’t need to fret about them.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promised Land 1 Lesson 25 Day 4: Proverbs 28 and 29:

This lesson was a big “what did you learn” with no real tie back to Solomon’s reign where we left off, besides this is his advice. It was too much to take in, and I had a hard time doing so.

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promised Land 1 Lesson 25, Day 4: Proverbs 28 and 29:

Commentary Proverbs 28:

Proverbs 28:1: The wicked, prompted by a guilty conscience or a fear of judgment, become fearful and suspicious of everyone.

Proverbs 28:2: Many rulers speak of how a large, complex, and multi-layered government can be a curse to a people.

Proverbs 28:3: There are poor who oppress the poor. Man’s nature doesn’t change just because of how much money you have in your pocket.

Image result for proverbs 28 Proverbs 28:4: As the Apostle Paul would later explain in Romans 13:1-7, one reason God gives law and government to men is to restrain the wicked.

Proverbs 28:6: There are worse things than poverty, and to live without integrity is worse. We are defined more by our character than our bank account.

Proverbs 28:7: Just being a companion to a glutton makes you guilty as well. Choose your friends wisely.

Proverbs 28:9: God is not bound to hear or honor the one who neglects His word.

Proverbs 28:10: There are those who take pleasure in causing the godly to go astray.

Proverbs 28:11: There are some lessons only poverty can teach, and one should never forget those lessons, even if he or she becomes wealthy.

Proverbs 28:12: Examples of this include: Moses fled and hid himself from Pharaoh, David from Saul, Eliah from Ahab, Obadiah’s clients from Jezebel, Jeremiah from Jehoiakim, Joseph and the child Jesus from Herod.

Proverbs 28:13: Spurgeon describes the ways man attempts to hide his sin from God, all in vain:

With excuses and justifications.
With secrecy.
With lies.
With schemes to evade responsibility.
With time.
With tears.
With ceremonies or sacraments.

The path to receiving God’s mercy is to confess and repent (forsake) our sin. This is the way to prosper spiritual and in life in general and receive God’s mercy.

The Biblical practice of confessing sin can free us from the heavy burdens (spiritual and physical, as in James 5:16) of unresolved sin, and it can remove hindrances to the work of the Holy Spirit. It is a tragedy when the confession of sin is neglected or ignored among believers, and a cause of much spiritual weakness and hypocrisy.

Proverbs 28:17: People need to suffer the consequences of their sin.

Proverbs 28:18: Under the Old Covenant, God’s blessing and protection was upon those who walk blamelessly.

The one who is twisted and crooked in his dealings can’t expect God’s blessing and protection. That crooked, twisted person should expect to suddenly fall one day.

Image result for proverbs 28 Proverbs 28:20: Proverbs always rejects greed. The one who hastens to be rich is almost always willing to cheat or compromise to gain wealth.

Proverbs 28:21: Don’t bribe others.

Proverbs 28: 24: Examples of those who robbed parents in the Bible: Micah robbed mother of her gold; [Judges 17:2] as Rachel robbed her father of his gods; as Absalom robbed his father, David, of his crown.

“The language is strong. The word for ‘robs’ could be rendered ‘plunders.’ ‘Him who destroys’ is someone who causes havoc in society.” (Garrett)

Proverbs 28:25: Greedy is rendered proud in original translations. The proud demand attention and thus cause strife.

Proverbs 28:26: Today’s society is always telling us to “follow our heart” instead of following God’s values, morals, and wisdom. We are a fool if we do. We need to look to the Lord, not ourselves.

Proverbs 28:28: “In the early ages of the Christian church, after the death of the persecuting Herod, the Word of God grew and multiplied.” (Bridges)

Commentary Proverbs 29:

Proverbs 29:1: As in many places in the Bible, the hard neck is used as a figure of speech to speak of the stubborn attitude that resists and disobeys God. This proverb speaks about the man who is often rebuked but doesn’t listen to the rebuke; instead he hardens his neck.

Proverbs 29:4: A nation can only expect strength and progress when it is ruled with justice. Bribes destroy the foundations of fairness and equality before the law, allowing the rich and devious to prosper.

Proverbs 29:5: A flatterer does not flatter to please you, but to deceive you and profit himself.

Proverbs 29:8: Mockers are so settled in their combative, cynical rejection of God and His wisdom that they may bring the judgment of God and fury of man against their own city.

Image result for proverbs 29 Proverbs 29:11: Anger will destroy you before it destroys anyone else.

Proverbs 29:13: God gives some kind of light, some kind of revelation in creation and conscience, to every person (Romans 1:19-21). One may obey or reject God’s message in that light, but God gives light to the eyes of both.

Proverbs 29:14: John Trapp thought of how this pointed to the throne of Jesus Messiah, established forever: “Lo, such a prince shall sit firm upon his throne; his kingdom shall be bound to him with chains of adamant, as Dionysius dreamt that his was; he shall have the hearts of his subjects, which is the best life-guard, and God for his protection; for he is professedly the poor man’s patron, [Psalms 9:18-19] and makes heavy complaints of those that wrong them. [Isaiah 3:13-15; Isaiah 10:1-3; Amos 5:11-12; Amos 8:4-6; Zephaniah 3:12].”

Proverbs 29:15: We learn through correction.

Children who are never trained with loving correction often bring shame to their parents. “His mother, and father too; but he names only the mother, either because her indulgence oft spoils the child, or because children commonly stand in least awe of their mothers, and abuse the weakness of their sex, and tenderness of their natures.” (Poole)

Proverbs 29:18: The revelation in mind here is not the spontaneous word from a purported prophet. It is God’s great revelation, His revealed word through the Hebrew prophets and later the apostles and prophets who gave us the New Testament. When God’s word is unavailable or rejected, the people cast off restraint. They no longer have a standard greater than they own feelings or current opinions.

Proverbs 29:19: This refers to someone of menial service who has slave-like mentality that can’t be lifted above his or her present misery. That person is unlikely to be corrected by mere words. Tough life experience and discipline will be more likely to teach them.

Image result for proverbs 29 Proverbs 29:20: Fools speak hastily.

Proverbs 29:21: The one who pampers his servant will make the servant so attached to him that he will end up with another obligation and another person who expects an inheritance.

Proverbs 29:24: To partner with a thief is to reject wisdom and embrace folly. The one who steals from others will steal from you, and perhaps with violence threatening your own life.

Proverbs 25-26: Many worry far too much about what people think, instead of first being concerned about what God and wisdom say, and what integrity would lead them to do. The ‘fear of man’ describes any situation in which one is anxious about not offending another person. We are called to do what is right. Saul, Aaron, and Peter are examples of men who were stained by the fear of man.

Proverbs 29:27: The righteous life is an unwelcome rebuke to the wicked.

“Here is the oldest, the most rooted, the most universal quarrel in the world. It was the first fruit of the Fall (Genesis 3:15). It has continued ever since and will last to the end of the world.” (Bridges)

“This proverb…serves as an apt summation of the whole Hezekiah text. Righteousness and immorality are mutually exclusive. One must follow one path or the other (Jeremiah 6:16).” (Garrett)

Image result for proverbs 29

BSF Study Questions People of the Promised Land 1: Lesson 25, Day 2: Proverbs 1

March 18, 2019March 18, 2019 by atozmom, posted in BSF People of the Promised Land Part 1

Summary of Proverbs 1:

Solomon lays out the reasons for the book of Proverbs, including to be wise, to have understanding, to be prudent, and to fear the Lord. Solomon says to listen to your parents, to ignore sinners, and to be wise and listen to him, so you will learn about life.

BSF Study Questions People of the Promised Land 1: Lesson 25, Day 2: Proverbs 1:

3) Personal Question. My answer: Once you fear the Lord, as in revere Him and fear Him as Lord in your life and creator and controller of all things, you can begin to live. God should be regarded with respect, reverence, and awe. This proper attitude of the creature toward the Creator is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom.

4) Part personal Question. My answer: Wisdom is remembering to pray, ask God for things, and wait on His response. It’s to ask Him for knowledge of the world. Wisdom brings safety, ease, and without fear of harm.

5) Part personal Question. My answer: Keep God’s commands in your heart. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Let love and faithfulness never leave you. Fear the Lord. Honor the Lord with your wealth. Don’t resent God’s rebuke. Have good judgement and discernment. Don’t withhold good from those that deserve it. Have no fear of sudden disaster. Don’t envy. Don’t plot against neighbor or accuse him. The wicked is cut off from the land. If I ask God more for understanding, He’ll give it to me.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promised Land 1 Lesson 25 Day 2: Proverbs 1:

The point of Proverbs is this: Godly, moral, hardworking, and wise people will reap many rewards. Wisdom starts with the fear of God. Starts. Wisdom is a life-long process of getting to know God. Many of us need to get started!

We did read and study Proverbs 1 in Lesson 24, Day 3.

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promised Land 1 Lesson 25, Day 2: Proverbs 1:

Commentary Proverbs 1:

The Book of Proverbs is a collection of practical life wisdom given mostly in short, memorable statements. Though part of a larger body of wisdom literature that includes Job, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon, the Book of Proverbs is unique.

The book of Proverbs is mostly a collection of individual statements without much context or organization by topic.
The book of Proverbs is unique in its theology, being concerned with practical life wisdom more than ideas about God and His work of salvation.
Proverbs is also unique in its connection with the secular literature of its time. Neighboring kingdoms had their own collections of wisdom literature, and in some places, there are significant similarities to these writings.

There are several sections of Proverbs (22:17-23:14, 22:23, 22:26-27 are examples) that seem to be borrowed from The Teaching of Amenemope, an ancient Egyptian writing. There is debate as to whom borrowed whom, but most scholars believe Amenemope is earlier.

Proverbs teach wisdom

Proverbs teach wisdom through short points and principles but should not be regarded as “laws” or even universal promises.

“Proverbs are wonderfully successful at being what they are: proverbs. They are not failed prophecies or systematic theologies. Proverbs by design lays out pointed observations, meant to be memorized and pondered, not always intended to be applied ‘across the board’ to every situation without qualification.” (Phillips)

He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five. Also he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree of Lebanon even to the hyssop that springs out of the wall; he spoke also of animals, of birds, of creeping things, and of fish. And men of all nations, from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom, came to hear the wisdom of Solomon. (1 Kings 4:32-34)

There are a few other authors specifically mentioned for the book of Proverbs. Solomon may have collected all these other proverbs and set them in his book — scholars are unsure.

“The book tells us that it is the work of several authors. Three of these are named (Solomon, Agur and Lemuel), others are mentioned collectively as ‘Wise Men’, and at least one section of the book (the last) is anonymous.” (Kidner)

Purpose of book of Proverbs

The book of Proverbs is to give the attentive reader wisdom, instruction, perception, and understanding.

Knowledge and wisdom are different. Knowledge is the collection of facts; wisdom is the right use of what we know for daily living.

“It is probably a safe bet to say that most people today are not much interested in wisdom. They are interested in making money and in having a good time. Some are interested in knowing something, in getting an education. Almost everyone wants to be well liked. But wisdom? The pursuit of wisdom is not a popular ideal.” (Boice on Psalm 111

Simple means gullible

Simple: “The word indicates the person whose mind is dangerously open. He is gullible, he is naïve. He may have opinions, but he lacks deeply thought-through and field-tested convictions.” (Phillips)

True knowledge and wisdom flow from the fear of the LORD.

God should be regarded with respect, reverence, and awe. This proper attitude of the creature toward the Creator is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom.

The instruction and law given from parent to child will adorn the life of their children, if they will only receive it.

Warning to choose friends wisely

Significantly, this first instruction and warning in the book of Proverbs speaks to the company we keep and the friendships we make. There are few more powerful forces and influences upon our life than the friends we choose. It has been said, show me your friends and I can see your future. It speaks to the great need for God’s people to be more careful and wise in their choice of friends.

Stay away from the wicked and all their plotting.

Tragically, Solomon’s company with sinners – in the form of his wives given to idolatry – became a trap he himself was caught in.

“The greatest tragedy is that there’s so much noise that people can’t hear the things they really need to hear. God is trying to get through to them with the voice of wisdom, but all they hear are the confused communications clutter, foolish voices that lead them farther away from the truth.” (Wiersbe)

The problem with these simple ones was that they loved their simplicity. They preferred their foolish ignorance than the effort and correction required by the love and pursuit of wisdom.

The end result of this love of foolishness and scorn will be death (will slay them) and destruction (will destroy them).

“The eleven other occurrences of turning away are all in Hosea or Jeremiah, always with reference to Israel’s apostasy, faithlessness, and backsliding from God and from the Mosaic covenant.” (Waltke)

BSF Study Questions People of the Promised Land 1: Lesson 24, Day 3: 1 Kings 3:5-28; 2 Chronicles 1:7-13; Proverbs 1

March 12, 2019February 17, 2019 by atozmom, posted in BSF People of the Promised Land Part 1

Summary of 1 Kings 3:5-28:

God appears to Solomon at Gibeon in a dream and told Solomon to ask for whatever he wanted. Solomon asked for a discerning heart to govern the Israelites by. God not only gives Solomon a discerning heart for asking for something so noble but also gives him what he doesn’t ask for: riches and honor like no other. If Solomon obeys God, he will have a long life as well. Solomon returns to Jerusalem and makes fellowship offerings at the ark of the covenant.

Two prostitutes came before the king, arguing over the baby. One claims the other stole her baby because hers died in the night. Solomon decides to cut the baby in two to solve the dispute. The real mother does not want her baby to die and when she says so, Solomon knows which is the real mother. Here we see the gift of wisdom in action.

Summary of 2 Chronicles 1:7-13:

Solomon asks for wisdom and knowledge to govern God’s great people by. God granted Solomon’s request, plus added on riches, honor, and wealth. Solomon returned to Jerusalem and reigned over Israel.

Summary of Proverbs 1:

BSF Study Questions People of the Promised Land 1: Lesson 24, Day 3: 1 Kings 3:5-28; 2 Chronicles 1:7-13; Proverbs 1:

6) Solomon is very humble. He starts by stating God’s greatness of being kind to his father, David. He praises God in this and for this (saying God is faithful, righteous, upright in heart, and kind). He says how he’s not qualified to lead his people but wants to be. Solomon is humble and wants to follow God. He loves God.

7) God not only gives Solomon what he asks for because he asked for a gift not for himself, but God gives Solomon even more — what he doesn’t ask for. God wants to bless us if we follow Him.

8 ) Part personal Question. My answer: Listen to your parents. Ignore sinners. Accept wisdom and prudent advice and fear the Lord. Read more. Learn more. Pray more. Always be learning and seeking and taking advice from those who are close to God. Pray for discernment.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promised Land 1 Lesson 24 Day 3: 1 Kings 3:5-28; 2 Chronicles 1:7-13; Proverbs 1:

If we put others first and do for others, God will reward us and give us what we do not ask for. It all comes down to obedience and having God first in your heart. He knows your desires, and all He wants to do is give them to you.

As a mother, this is one of my favorite stories in all of the Bible because it is so true. I love reading this story every time.

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promised Land 1 Lesson 24, Day 3: 1 Kings 3:5-28; 2 Chronicles 1:7-13; Proverbs 1:

Commentary 1 Kings 3:5-28:

God seemed to offer Solomon whatever he wanted. This wasn’t only because Solomon sacrificed 1,000 animals; it was because his heart was surrendered to God, and God wanted to work something in Solomon through this offer and his response.

We have the same offer:

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7)
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. (John 15:7)
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (1 John 5:14)

Solomon asked for more than great knowledge; he wanted understanding, and he wanted it in his heart, not merely in his head. The ancient Hebrew word translated understanding is literally, “hearing.” Solomon wanted a hearing heart, one that would listen to God.

Lessons learned from Solomon’s request:

Solomon experienced God’s ability to do far beyond all that we ask or think.
What we are is more important than what we have.

Many scholars believe Solomon wasted his gift from God since he turned away from God in the end (1 Kings 11:4-11). Many believe he could have accomplished so much more. However, what he did accomplish was far more than that average human. Judging Solomon is not our job, and if you are tempted to do so, then examine your own heart first.

Solomon and the baby

The problem with the baby seemed impossible to solve; it was one woman’s word against another’s with no witnesses.

Solomon’s solution seemed strange. The works – even the judgments – of God often first seem strange, dangerous, or even foolish. Time shows them to be perfect wisdom.

Commentary 2 Chronicles 1:7-13:

“God’s answer to Solomon’s request was a beautiful instance of the overflowing love and grace of the divine heart. All the things Solomon set aside for the sake of wisdom were also given to him.” (Morgan)