Proverbs #2 – Study Questions
The Treasure of Wisdom
Proverbs 2:1-3:35 (CGS#2)
INTRODUCTION: Last Sunday, we started our journey through the book of Proverbs. We talked about the genre of wisdom literature and gave a handful of tips that will help us read Proverbs well. Those tips were:
- Parallelism – Contrasts that sharpen.
- Is the passage offering advice, observation, warning, or reflection?
- Proverbs are situation-sensitive. They need to be applied appropriately.
- “Young man” – How does it apply to men and women?
- What biblical stories clarify the truth of the Proverb?
- How do I see Jesus live this out?
The reason that we need to utilize these tips in reading and studying Proverbs is that there is a tendency to read wisdom literature with the goal of behavioral modification in mind. That is, we can read it like it is an ancient self-help book. Now, don’t get me wrong, as the wisdom of God that is expressed in the Proverbs saturates us, it will change our behavior. But that is a secondary outcome. The primary outcome is that God wants to change our hearts and minds. He wants to form us into the image of his Son, Jesus (2 Cor. 3:18; Rom. 8:29; Col. 3:10). Proverbs chapters two and three also make this primary outcome of formation clear to us. As we read, we hear about our hearts, souls, eyes, flesh, bones, necks, and ears. These can all sound like odd references to the body, poetic sure, but still odd. However, what the author is trying to convey to you and me is that wisdom is not something that is merely an attachment to our lives. It is something that saturates us completely to the core. Behavioral modification is an attachment. It is something that we put on for a little while as long as we find it beneficial. Then, when it is no longer deemed good for us, we discard it. In contrast, that saturation that is to come with Godly wisdom leads to the transformation of the entire person. It isn’t something that can just be easily put off or discarded. Instead, it flows into every aspect of our lives.
Proverbs also lets us know that this kind of formation isn’t easily attained. We are told to incline our ears and hearts, call out for, seek, and search for wisdom. Too often, we confuse sanctification (becoming like Jesus) with salvation. We become like Jesus after we are saved, and our salvation is a gift of grace that we cannot earn or work towards. Sanctification is also a gift of grace that God helps us in the forming process. But we are also called to put in the effort to cooperate with the Spirit of God. Wisdom and Christlikeness will not accidentally seep into our bones, hearts, or minds. We will not look back and say, “How did we get here?” on the journey of becoming like Jesus. Proverbs is clear: gaining wisdom is going to require some effort on our part. But here again, we must not be deluded. Even the strength to incline our hearts and call out for wisdom is from God and is a gift of grace. I love the way that Ray Ortlund summarizes our needed effort, “Your most meaningful prayer is to “call out for insight” and “raise your voice for understanding” (2:3). [1]
Finally, not only is the wisdom and the deep character change that comes with it more precious than silver (3:14), but it also has a natural outflow in the everyday spaces of our lives. Proverbs has called us to resist legalism, and now it calls us to resist intellectualism. Loving God results in moral and ethical actions. Our formation is demonstrated in the way we live our lives, love our neighbors, and think about our resources. The person who discovers the treasure of wisdom is the person whose life demonstrates it. And wisdom is a treasure worth seeking.
GETTING STARTED – As a group, take time to answer this question. I’m willing to bet that not too many of us became really good at something accidentally. Instead, it took practice and effort. What is something that you are good at, and how did it happen?
IN THE WORD – Let’s dig back into the passage(s). It is important to strengthen our muscles in reading God’s Word. On Sunday, we walked through the passage in the sermon. Hopefully, that helped you to see the landmarks of the passage with fresh eyes. Now, with your group, go back through it and see what God is saying to you specifically.
First, before you read the passage, take a moment to ask God’s Spirit to quiet your mind and heart and to illuminate the text to you. Second, read the passage aloud to the group. Then, follow the simple method below. (O.P.A)
Observe: Make 8-10 observations from the passage. Pay close attention to observe and note repeated words and phrases, names, places, and themes.
Principles: From your list of observations, what patterns or big ideas do you see emerging? Can you distill it down into 2-4 big idea truths?
Apply: Moving from your list of principles, it is time to apply God’s Word. Remember, we believe that God’s Word is living and active and that it can change the way we live Monday- Friday. What is one tangible way to apply a truth from your list above?
Note: Another way to approach your time together is to talk through the following questions.
- What did you hear God’s Spirit say to you through the passage this week? How does it encourage you? How does it sharpen you?
- Is there an image, word, or picture that stands out to you in the passage from this week, and what about it is powerful or helpful?
- When you think about behavioral modification and character formation, what are the key differences? How do you know if you are resisting legalism and/or intellectualism?
- Why do you think the author of Proverbs encourages us not to despise the Lord’s discipline? What role does discipline play in our formation into the image of Jesus?
- How do you see God working in your life to form you into the image of Jesus? Has he brought people situations or prompted your heart in a particular way that led you deeper in your spiritual growth?
[1] Raymond C. Ortlund Jr., Preaching the Word: Proverbs—Wisdom That Works, ed. R. Kent Hughes (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012), 51–52.