The key passage of the book of Proverbs is found in chapter 1 verse 7. There, Solomon indicates that true knowledge begins with respect for God, and those who turn from instruction are foolish. The "then" statement found here in verse 5 gives greater depth and meaning to that concept. In the book of Proverbs, understanding is the mastery of a subject. The subject explained in this verse is the fear of the Lord. In Proverbs 1:7, we learned to put God first, to give honor and respect of the Lord priority over merely gaining knowledge for the sake of knowledge.

In ancient philosophy, virtues were a set of fundamental characteristics exhibited by moral men. This passage from Proverbs implies traits such as wisdom, integrity, courage, and justice. Virtue, in the philosophical sense, requires a person to develop all of these various abilities. The "then" statement featured in this verse concludes the prior "if" statements, leading us towards a full-circle understanding of virtuous living.

These steps can be arranged in a logical, natural sequence for personal application. First give priority to the "fear of the Lord," then acquire knowledge which glorifies God, then learn to live virtuously, and then, finally, you will fully understand what it means to fear (respect, honor) the Lord.

The first five verses of chapter 2 continue the main theme from chapter 1: wisdom. Wisdom was often featured as a crucial virtue by later philosophers, such as Plato. These verses contain an IF–THEN structure. Verses 1–4 make three distinct ''if'' statements about the proper use of knowledge. Verse 5 gives the outcome that is ''then'' enjoyed by following the instructions which have been given. The same principles are illustrated by some of Jesus' parables found in Matthew 13:44–52.

In Proverbs chapter 2, Solomon highlights various virtues, as well as provides encouragement to live a virtuous life. As in chapter 1, specific concepts wil reoccur, and are used in certain ways. Here, these are ideas such as courage, integrity, wisdom, and justice. The gist of this passage is the positive effect that virtue—including these various aspects—will have on one's life. In contrast, those who pursue non-virtuous living will suffer dire consequences.

The overarching theme of Proverbs chapter 2 is the relationship between virtue and discernment. As described here, virtuous living is moral living. As a person strives to live a moral life, he or she develops a greater ability to discern right from wrong. Further, beyond simple matters of right and wrong, as virtue grows within a person, he or she becomes more proficient at discerning trickier situations. Real life predicaments often present two or more seemingly valid options. Discernment, then, also includes determining which of many different options is actually best. Likewise, many life situations appear to offer only a variety of bad options. There, discernment is once again required, to determine which option presents the correct choice, or to recognize where a ''good'' option has been hidden.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.

Accessed 5/6/2024 3:16:56 AM

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