Proverbs are Not Promises

Some people are shocked to learn that proverbs are not promises. It might have come as a surprise to you. But it's true.

The Bible is a collection of 66 books of differing genres. These include law, historical narrative, wisdom, prophetic, epistolatory, and apocalyptic literature. Different styles of writing show up within the individual books, which include narrative (telling of an event), poetry (song and artistic language), and prose (ordinary language to state information). As is the case when we read anything, we must understand the genre, style, context, and purpose.

Proverbs is wisdom literature. It's written within a poetic framework and style (which is why the formatting is not justified in many printings). The book itself tells us what it is right out of the gates. Proverbs 1:1-7 is critical to the understanding of the book. Solomon wrote it to his son, "for learning wisdom and discipline; for understanding insightful sayings." It goes on to say the book is to help the son understand a proverb or a parable as well as riddles. Verse seven is critical. It says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline."

From this point, Solomon uses two fictional characters to teach his points. These characters represent the life of wisdom and the life of folly, and they are both women. Wisdom is like a wonderful woman, and folly is like a tempting prostitute. There is practical teaching along the way, but the chief point is to teach the reader how to seek wisdom and avoid folly.

Solomon teaches and makes his points through chapter 9. Then, Chapter 10 offers a list and collection of saying and proverbs so the young learner can put to practice what he (or she) has learned.

The book concludes with the Proverbs 31 women. Take note; this is not a statement of precisely what a godly wife must be, although it's a good guide. Remember how the book started? There's a wonderful woman named wisdom and a terrible woman called folly. We've gotten to the end of the book and look at the reward. It's a wonderful woman! One would be wise to find this wife (wisdom) rather than folly.

As you read all those proverbs between Chapter 10 through Chapter 29, it's wise to say before the statement, "It is wise. . ."

These proverbs are not promises of God. God is not promising that if you "start a youth out on his way, even when he grows old he will not depart from it" (22:6). Ask King David, whose son tried to kill him and overthrow the king. But when faced with options, IT IS WISE to raise up your child in the way he should go. 23:1 says the "drunkard and the glutton will become poor." We'll be sorely disappointed if we take that as a promise from God. But when we take it in its proper context, WE WOULD BE WISE to avoid associating with "those who drink much wine or those who gorge themself on meat" because (or for) "the drunkard and the glutton will become poor, and the grogginess will clothe them in rags" (23:20-21). There is a principle here for prudent living, which isn't to have only vegetarian friends who don't drink. It's that associating with undisciplined friends may lead you to laziness too. It would be wise to associate with disciplined people.

We're back to the original point: proverbs are not promises. They are statements for prudent living, and we would be wise to learn their lessons and live by them.