AM Sermon — “Profiting from the Proverbs” (Prov 1:1-6)
I mentioned how the literary structure of Proverbs can be broken down in different ways. One common approach is to divide the book into seven parts:
v.1-6 — “Preamble” i.e., Purpose Statement
1:7–Chapter 9 — Discourses on the Nature of Wisdom & Folly
Prov 10-22 — First Section of Solomonic Wisdom
Prov 22-24 — Assorted Sayings of the Wise
25-29 — Second Section of Solomonic Wisdom
Prov 30-31 — Sayings of Agur & Lemuel
Prov 31 — Poem to the Virtuous Woman
For a full introduction to the structures and themes of Proverbs, I suggest:
An Introduction to the Old Testament: Second Edition by Tremper Longman III and Raymond B. Dillard — this is where I got the outline above. It’s in the church library.
How to Read Proverbs by Tremper Longman III — an expanded version of what’s above
One or two good commentaries on Proverbs are a must. From beginner-level to more advanced, I recommend:
Proverbs: Wisdom that Works by Ray Ortlund, Jr. — lots of application. I ordered a copy for the church which should be here in the next two weeks.
Proverbs: a Shorter Commentary by Bruce Waltke — more technical, still good application.
Proverbs by Charles Bridges (Banner) — the language is a bit antiquated but its full of treasure!
Finally, in terms of daily devotions, you might enjoy a stand-alone edition of the Book of Proverbs. I use this one regularly:
PM Sermon — David’s Desire for Zion
Here’s a 4-minute video on YouTube portraying the capture of Jerusalem in David’s time.
