S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

Author: King Solomon is the principal writer of Proverbs. Solomon's name appears in 1:1, 10:1, and 25:1. We may also presume Solomon collected and edited proverbs other than his own, for Ecclesiast...

Login or Sign Up to view the rest of this answer.

November 15 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

What I like about the book of Proverbs is that the gospel is there. I have believed for a long time that Jesus can be seen throughtout the Bible, not just in the New Testament but in the Old Testament as well. The gospel shows up all through Proverbs—not spelled out like in the New Testament, but clearly pointing to it. Proverbs 14:12 is a great example:

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

This captures a key gospel truth: we can’t trust ourselves to find the way to life. What feels right to us—good deeds, pride (my problem), or going with what the world calls “wise”—leads to destruction if it’s not God’s way. That’s exactly the kind of problem the gospel solves.

1. We need wisdom that only God can give.
Proverbs warns over and over that human understanding isn’t enough. Proverbs 3:5 says:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

This is a gospel principle. We can’t save ourselves—we have to trust God completely.

2. Proverbs keeps showing two roads: life or death.
This mirrors Jesus' teaching in Matthew 7:13–14. There’s a broad way that leads to death and a narrow way that leads to life. Proverbs isn’t just giving advice—it’s calling for a decision. This decision to follow the narrow way I have made. Will you?

3. Wisdom is pictured as a person who calls out to us.
In Proverbs 8, wisdom is almost like a living being offering life. That’s not just poetry. The New Testament tells us that Christ is the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24). He is the one Proverbs points to.

4. The real issue is the heart.
Proverbs 4:23 says to guard your heart because it directs your life. But we learn elsewhere in Scripture that our hearts are messed up (e.g. Jeremiah 17:9 -- “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” and need changing. Proverbs helps us see the problem; the gospel provides the solution—God gives us a new heart.

5 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report