“The book of Proverbs contains the essence of Israel’s wisdom. It provides a godly worldview and offers insight for living.”1 Its purpose is to describe “the close relationship between religion and everyday life. . . . Far from there being an unbridgeable gap between religion and the secular world, Proverbs shows the results, in noble character and harmonious, happy homes, when the whole of life is brought under God’s control. A danger exists when the moral elements are taken in isolation from the religious foundation which is assumed throughout. Then the pursuit for happiness or success can become selfish, inward looking, and ultimately self-defeating.”2
This makes the benediction of Proverbs particularly interesting. Whom does this divinely-inspired book of practical theology consider to be under God’s favor and destined for salvation? While a full answer to this question really requires a careful study of the whole book of Proverbs, a review of its seven specific statements in benedictory form (our main points) yields much spiritual and practical insight. At least three purposes come to the fore.
Examination. Proud resolution is an easy blunder when we discover the character and lifestyle of the blessed. “Well, if this is what it means to be good and do good, then this is what I shall be and do from now on.” This is misguided. A godly person humbly acknowledges that these traits and habits expose his sins of heart and conduct. He craves these virtues as grace gifts from God. “Oh Lord, forgive me and have mercy, changing my heart and redeeming my life, so that these fruits of Your saving power will be clearly seen in me.” These benedictions are not telling us what we must be and do in our own strength to be saved, but what God begins accomplishing in and through us when He is saving us.
Exhortation. These benedictory statements are also useful to the godly for direction and motivation. Even the best Christian falls far short of the ideal, that is, Jesus Christ Himself. Every one of these seven traits were on perfect display in our blessed Savior, God Incarnate in this world. The goal of the Christian life with respect to ourselves is conformity to Him. This righteous Christ lives in every true believer. To the degree that we imbibe His spirit, fellowship with Him, and yield to His influence, we shall exhibit His heavenly character and righteous conduct.
Encouragement. Another angle for our meditation in this study relates to the Christian hope. God’s revealed will for His children is both our holy calling and His inviolable commitment to us. Far from crushing us, His commandments are a welcome revelation of how we can satisfy our deepest spiritual craving to please Him, and of His benevolent purpose to restore His marred image in us to the praise of the glory of His grace (Rom 8.29-30; Eph 1.5-6; Phil 1.6; 1 John 3.2-3).
“The Benediction of Proverbs” is a fitting title because these seven benedictory statements all fall upon the same persons and no others. Using the first two points as an example, all the wise are also faithful, and vice versa. There are no faithful fools, nor wise infidels. All the traits of the blessed are found, even if as small as a mustard seed, in the same individuals. If you can discern even one which is certainly present in you by grace, then it is a matter of faith to believe they have all taken root in your soul and life. Therefore, we can speak about the several benedictions as the one, multifaceted benediction of Proverbs.
Now consider these fascinating traits of the blessed in the book of Proverbs.
UPON THE WISE (3.13)
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,
And the man that getteth understanding.
In Proverbs, the near synonyms of “wisdom” and “understanding” are of religious and ethical import. Wisdom amounts to skill in righteous living which springs from the LORD and comes to us through knowing and fearing Him (1.7). Wisdom is not innate but a great treasure to be found. One must incline his ear and apply his heart and pray earnestly and seek it as a treasure, and those who do are promised their efforts shall not be in vain (2.1-5). The two verbs of 3.13 convey the sense of a permanent possession and a continually renewed and repeated attaining.3
The justification of this benediction is that wisdom is intrinsically valuable (vv. 13-15) and carries in her wake many other blessings (vv. 16-17) including the greatest of all, “life” (v. 18)—a loaded term in the OT for intrinsic and unending good.
In this benediction we hear the Gospel. Christ, who is Wisdom itself, is calling fools to seek Him, and promising to give Himself to us when we turn from evil (3.7) and search for Him with all our hearts (Jer 29.13). We must recognize Him and consider Him more precious than all else besides, for such an estimation is according to reality and is required for sufficient motivation (Matt 13.45-46).
UPON THE FAITHFUL (8.32)
Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children:
For blessed are they that keep my ways.
The speaker in this text is wisdom personified (8.1). The book of Proverbs figuratively portrays it as a noble rich woman calling the “simple” (naïve) and “fools” (immoral) to receive her counsel and enjoy her bountiful gifts and companionship (9.1-6).
To “hearken” is more than to be aware of her call. As in so many other OT passages it includes faith and obedience. In this verse it is coupled with “keep[ing] my ways,” or, “follow[ing] my advice” (CEV). This is contrasted in verse 33 with “refusing” it, that is, rebelling against the counsel of wisdom.
We must be conscientious doers of the work, for we are blessed only in our deed. It is not enough to hearken unto Wisdom’s words, but we must keep her ways, do everything that she prescribes, keep within the hedges of her ways, and not transgress them, keep in the tracks of her ways, proceed and persevere in them.4
Faithfulness is the dependability of a servant to his master. It is the conscientiousness that makes one reliable. “Old Faithful” in Yellowstone National Park gets its name from the fact that, unlike other geysers, it follows a dependable time schedule. Once every 65 minutes, it shoots a stream of boiling water over one hundred and seventy feet into the air.5
Sometimes hypocrites profess to love preaching, but they never sincerely apply the sermon to their lives (Ezek 33.30-32). They are nominal Christians only, unfaithful, and practical atheists under God’s wrath.
This benediction in Proverbs is just for those who dependably carry out wisdom’s directives—that is, those with real faith habitually issuing in good works.
Notes:
1 Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, in loc.
2 Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, in loc.
3 Lange, in loc.
4 Matthew Henry, in loc.
5 Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations, #1507.