with a sense of sin and of its deadly fruits that they have been known for centuries as the Penitential Pss (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143)” “Psalms,” in The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 4:2493) 17 Proverbs: Walking in the Fear of the Lord Proverbs is the second of three Bible books designated as “Wisdom Literature,” the other two being Job and Ecclesiastes Wilbur M Smith identi es the “wisdom” theme of Proverbs as a message about the fear of God The book of Proverbs contains the distilled essence of wisdom which is based upon a fear of God, setting forth in remarkable gures of speech, with innumerable contrasting clauses, what is right and what is wrong, in the sight of God, pertaining to man’s conduct… The basic truth constantly a rmed in Proverbs is expressed in the famous statement, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning 15:33).1 of wisdom” (1:7 and I PREPARATION FOR STUDY Review what you have already studied about poetic literature What di erent things does the word wisdom suggest to you? With the help of a concordance, study what the New Testament teaches about true wisdom Compare your ndings with the following description of the Old Testament concept of wisdom: [In the Old Testament there are] six di erent Hebrew words setting forth various aspects of wisdom, as discernment, knowledge, meditation, prudence, etc Wisdom among the Hebrews di ers from wisdom among other Oriental peoples in that it rested rmly on the conviction of a personal and holy God It assumes that the universe is regulated by reason and law It is practical and not speculative as it was with the Greeks Its exhortations have a universal application—it is interesting to note that neither the word Israel nor Jerusalem is even referred to in Proverbs, Ecclesiastes or Job Wisdom is derived from experience and is often expressed in similitudes and parables taken from nature, rarely by historical events The wise man, according to the Old Testament, is one who walks in the way of the Lord, which is a way of truth and righteousness, whose life is consequently blessed by God, and is a benediction to those within his family and circle of in uence, and brings contentment to his own heart.2 II BACKGROUND God inspired the writing of Proverbs ... in the Fear of the Lord Proverbs is the second of three Bible books designated as “Wisdom Literature,” the other two being Job and Ecclesiastes Wilbur M Smith identi es the “wisdom” theme of. .. does the word wisdom suggest to you? With the help of a concordance, study what the New Testament teaches about true wisdom Compare your ndings with the following description of the Old Testament. .. wrong, in the sight of God, pertaining to man’s conduct… The basic truth constantly a rmed in Proverbs is expressed in the famous statement, ? ?The fear of the Lord is the beginning 15:33).1 of wisdom”