Continuing our exposition on the book of Proverbs, we are going to dissect Proverbs chapter 2.
In the Bible, sentence structure is an important matter, such as the acrostic structure. Acrostic means that each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet, such as in Psalm 119, where each section begins with a Hebrew alphabet, starting from alef (א) to taf (ת). Except, acrostic structure does not have to follow this definition, it could also mean the presence of a particular structure. An example would be ICHTHYS (ΙΧΘΥΣ), a Greek acrostic for Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.
Below is the acrosticism used in Proverbs 2:
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| ICHTHYS |
Below is the acrosticism used in Proverbs 2:
There are 22 verses and 22 alphabets in the Hebrew language.
Verses 1-11 start with the alphabet alef (א)
Verses 12-22 start with the alphabet lamed (
We will dissect Proverbs 2 in several sections:
Verses 12-22 start with the alphabet lamed (
We will dissect Proverbs 2 in several sections:
PART I
a) Verses 1-4 alef
b) Verses 5-8 alef
c) Verses 9-11 alef
PART II
a) Verses 12-15 lamed
b) Verses 16-19 lamed
c) Verses 20-22 lamed
Theological and Ethical Educations
First of all, note that alef is the first alphabet and lamed is the twelfth alphabet in the Hebrew alphabet and that on the twelfth verse, the chapter begins its lamed acrostic structure.
Verse 1-11 also speak about the development of wisdom and character. In which, verse 1-4 are terms and conditions (if) and verse 5-8 are the consequences of fulfilling these terms and conditions (then you will). The consequences of valuing wisdom according to Proverbs 2 are theological and ethical educations.
Next, verses 12-22 speak of the defense, about what the meaning of wisdom development is and how wisdom could protect us. In which, verses 12-15 speak about the deliverance from the wicked men and verse 16-19 from wicked women. Finally, verses 20-22 speak about the ability of the righteous to live in the land and the wicked vice versa. In Proverbs, wisdom brings life and the folly leads to death.
So why use alef and lamed accordingly in this fashion? In the past, literature acts as an educational aid in order to engage and ease children in understanding and memorizing texts. This resembles the way we use music to understand and memorize a material. So then, what does this structure bring us?
Let us first see what we gain when we pursue wisdom. According to the book of Proverbs, theological and ethical educations are inseparable.
In Bruce Waltke's reflection, in the 20th century, the theology of liberalism began to rise which emphasizes moral education and diminishes supernaturalism. The reason behind this is that science and technology were becoming more advanced. So how do they introduce Christianity in such a way that people do not mock and belittle it? The answer is by emphasizing ethical and moral educations in Christianity as well! But then, they lack theological education, because they believe theological education is irrelevant to science. Waltke suggests that people in the past and at present lack this theological education. He refers to this as the shadow generation. A shadow is the byproduct of light, it cannot make its own shadow (another shadow). Alike, this generation cannot inherit its ethics to the future generations.
The revolution in the western period currently is the sexual revolution, which affects the westerns to this day. And this too affects music (giving birth to The Beetles Era) and economy (CEO was paid lower than staff). Hence, it is not merely a sexual revolution, as it leads also a moral revolution. All these occur due to the sole emphasis on ethical education and the neglect of theological education. Therefore, although the current generation emphasizes ethical education, they cannot possibly pass it down to the next generation.
The phrases if and then you will in verses 1-8 tell us that theological and ethical educations are inseparable. Therefore, we ought not to become a person who focuses merely on theology, but also on ethics (practicality). These two aspects must be present in balance, otherwise, the sexual revolution will repeat once again.
First of all, note that alef is the first alphabet and lamed is the twelfth alphabet in the Hebrew alphabet and that on the twelfth verse, the chapter begins its lamed acrostic structure.
Verse 1-11 also speak about the development of wisdom and character. In which, verse 1-4 are terms and conditions (if) and verse 5-8 are the consequences of fulfilling these terms and conditions (then you will). The consequences of valuing wisdom according to Proverbs 2 are theological and ethical educations.
Next, verses 12-22 speak of the defense, about what the meaning of wisdom development is and how wisdom could protect us. In which, verses 12-15 speak about the deliverance from the wicked men and verse 16-19 from wicked women. Finally, verses 20-22 speak about the ability of the righteous to live in the land and the wicked vice versa. In Proverbs, wisdom brings life and the folly leads to death.
So why use alef and lamed accordingly in this fashion? In the past, literature acts as an educational aid in order to engage and ease children in understanding and memorizing texts. This resembles the way we use music to understand and memorize a material. So then, what does this structure bring us?
Let us first see what we gain when we pursue wisdom. According to the book of Proverbs, theological and ethical educations are inseparable.
In Bruce Waltke's reflection, in the 20th century, the theology of liberalism began to rise which emphasizes moral education and diminishes supernaturalism. The reason behind this is that science and technology were becoming more advanced. So how do they introduce Christianity in such a way that people do not mock and belittle it? The answer is by emphasizing ethical and moral educations in Christianity as well! But then, they lack theological education, because they believe theological education is irrelevant to science. Waltke suggests that people in the past and at present lack this theological education. He refers to this as the shadow generation. A shadow is the byproduct of light, it cannot make its own shadow (another shadow). Alike, this generation cannot inherit its ethics to the future generations.
The revolution in the western period currently is the sexual revolution, which affects the westerns to this day. And this too affects music (giving birth to The Beetles Era) and economy (CEO was paid lower than staff). Hence, it is not merely a sexual revolution, as it leads also a moral revolution. All these occur due to the sole emphasis on ethical education and the neglect of theological education. Therefore, although the current generation emphasizes ethical education, they cannot possibly pass it down to the next generation.
The phrases if and then you will in verses 1-8 tell us that theological and ethical educations are inseparable. Therefore, we ought not to become a person who focuses merely on theology, but also on ethics (practicality). These two aspects must be present in balance, otherwise, the sexual revolution will repeat once again.
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| The School of Athens by the Italian Renaissance artist, Raphael |
Analyses:
VERSES 2:1-4 : Treasuring the Word of God
These verses, as we have mentioned earlier, list down the terms and conditions to obtain the rewards in the proceeding verses. The phrarse, "if you receive My words", in verse 1 does not mean that we take away His words but passively receive Him. And this has a negative connotation in the book of Psalm. I Corinthians 2:14 says that "the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned". In other words, if you do not possess the Spirit of God, you cannot possibly receive anything from Him. But this does not mean that there are no good works needed at all in Christianity. Proverbs 2:1 says that we must also "treasure up [His] commandments with [us]". Being passive here means being obedient to and treasuring up the LORD's commandments. Treasuring up could also mean remembering. This is because, in the Hebrew tradition, memorization is the basic in learning the word of God. Perhaps for us, learning is a matter of understanding, but not in their case. And this too explains the acrostic structure in the Bible. The word treasuring up in Hebrew means to store up, as in storing up a treasure chest. Let us be reminded for a moment about the story of the nativity when the wise men followed the star to find Jesus. The did not merely follow the star and find Jesus, didn't they? Herod had to first assemble the chief priests and scribes of the people to inquire where the Christ was to be born. Then, the wise men and Herod finally figured out the prophecy, "And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel". The wise men did not only depend on the star to find Jesus, but also consult with the Word of God. Meanwhile, the chief priests and scribes of the people knew about (and have memorized) the prophecy since birth, yet they have never get up to find Jesus. The wise men were able to find Jesus merely from reading a verse from the Bible, yet the chief priests and scribes refuse to walk 4 kilometers to find Jesus who is talked about in the whole Bible. I do not mention this so that we need only to learn one verse, the point of all of these is to treasure the Word of God. In the language of Jonathan Edwards, we might also claim that they lack religious affection in their treasuring of the Word of God. Once again, it all starts with the LORD's initiative, but there is also a need for us to respond.
VERSES 2:1-4 : Treasuring the Word of God
These verses, as we have mentioned earlier, list down the terms and conditions to obtain the rewards in the proceeding verses. The phrarse, "if you receive My words", in verse 1 does not mean that we take away His words but passively receive Him. And this has a negative connotation in the book of Psalm. I Corinthians 2:14 says that "the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned". In other words, if you do not possess the Spirit of God, you cannot possibly receive anything from Him. But this does not mean that there are no good works needed at all in Christianity. Proverbs 2:1 says that we must also "treasure up [His] commandments with [us]". Being passive here means being obedient to and treasuring up the LORD's commandments. Treasuring up could also mean remembering. This is because, in the Hebrew tradition, memorization is the basic in learning the word of God. Perhaps for us, learning is a matter of understanding, but not in their case. And this too explains the acrostic structure in the Bible. The word treasuring up in Hebrew means to store up, as in storing up a treasure chest. Let us be reminded for a moment about the story of the nativity when the wise men followed the star to find Jesus. The did not merely follow the star and find Jesus, didn't they? Herod had to first assemble the chief priests and scribes of the people to inquire where the Christ was to be born. Then, the wise men and Herod finally figured out the prophecy, "And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel". The wise men did not only depend on the star to find Jesus, but also consult with the Word of God. Meanwhile, the chief priests and scribes of the people knew about (and have memorized) the prophecy since birth, yet they have never get up to find Jesus. The wise men were able to find Jesus merely from reading a verse from the Bible, yet the chief priests and scribes refuse to walk 4 kilometers to find Jesus who is talked about in the whole Bible. I do not mention this so that we need only to learn one verse, the point of all of these is to treasure the Word of God. In the language of Jonathan Edwards, we might also claim that they lack religious affection in their treasuring of the Word of God. Once again, it all starts with the LORD's initiative, but there is also a need for us to respond.
VERSES 2:1-4 : Paying Attention to Wisdom
Waltke once assigned a paper to his students on the book of Proverbs. One of the students approached him and say that he wanted to write about self-discipline. Waltke allowed his student to write about self-discipline, although he thought that it is impossible to write about self-discipline on the book of Proverbs. Soon, the student then returned to Waltke saying that he could not find a part which talks about self-discipline in the book of Proverbs. What he could find is the notion of "attention to self". From here, we can learn that the book of Proverbs invites us to go outside of us (unselfing). In Proverbs, our transformation does not come from self-discipline, but from observing / paying attention to something that is outside of us.
How do you make your child idolizing the spiritual things (say, David Livingstone), and not the world (say, David Beckham)? Do you instruct them to read more about Livingstone and make a list of things that your child must do in order for him to idolize Livingstone? Reverend Ivan Kristiono said that you must get your children to see missionaries at work, take them to mission trips, and these will eventually transform their minds to idolize Livingstone. How? Because self-discipline does not lead to wisdom. They will be wise in their learning to pay attention to what is outside of them.
Iris Murdoch suggests that metanoia / repentance is not about surrendering our lives, but is a long process of unselfing. This is written in verses 1-4 of Proverbs chapter 2. Do you look for the Word of God because it is useful (practical and filled with life advice) or because it is beautiful? It is not wrong to claim that we seek the usefulness of the Word of God, but if it is your purpose, then it is a self-centered and an egoistic act. A man who loves a woman loves her for the sake of her self. If you love a tree because it is beautiful, then do you not lute its fruits, branches and everything it has? For these acts will destroy the tree. If you truly love the tree, you would instead take a good care of it. Furthermore, attention is not only looking at it in awe. In the past, people did not read the Bible, for they were not allowed to. Instead, they listen to the Word of God being read in the service standing up. Of course, we agree the Bible being made available for the congregations, but having the congregations listed to the Bible being read out loud requires more of their attention. Constantine the Great once was listening to the Word of God being read standing up, while he became very tired. When everyone told him that he could listen to the Word of God sitting down, he said it is wicked to give negligence ear when the Truth is being spoken.
VERSES 2:1-4 : Crying for Understanding (Internally Praying)
Activeness. What does it mean? Waltke said that wisdom comes from prayer, and it is God Who is the source of wisdom, hence we must pray and cry out to Him passionately asking for this wisdom. This supports James 1:5, that says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, Who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him". We often consider wisdom as a traffic sign, that is useful when we are to make a crucial decision in the intersections of our lives. We might even argue that even Proverbs said that we must cry out for this. But now let us open to James 3:13-18, "Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace". In verse 13, it is written that wisdom is a way of life (that is a good life of course). And it is also implied in verse 17 that wisdom is not the decision of whether we must make a left or right, but pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. A little background on the book of James, it is a very Jewish cultured book, which suits the context of Proverbs (for the book of Proverbs is also very much Jewish culture based). Above all, wisdom is a character. It is not a manual book of how to's and techniques.
The Bible never separates the supernatural (from above) and the natural (from below) wisdom. Pharaoh was given plagues for numerous times, but he never repented. His hardening of the heart might seem supernatural because he was oddly stubborn. Nobody could be that stubborn after being given such plagues! On the other hand, you might also say it is perfectly natural and follows a systematical and logical explanation: the river turning into blood might not actually be blood. A chemical element, mercury could also poison the river and give the same bloody red color effect. This mercury poisoning would then force the frogs to leave their habitats, which leads to the overpopulation of their preys, such as flies and gnats. The accumulation of flies and gnats then leads to the sickness of animals and humans. All these logical (and natural) explanation of the ten plagues of Egypt raise Pharaoh's skepticism towards the power of God. The conservatives highly reject such natural explanation. These two perspectives are both narrow, for the Bible does not separate the natural with the supernatural. The Bible gets us to see the supernaturalness of God through natural matters. The second perspective is as narrow because you are narrowing God to be a God who can only work through supernatural matters, and not the natural. Scientists are not the only group of people who can be narrow, but also the conservatives.
VERSES 2:1-4 : Crying for Understanding (Internally Praying)
The book of Proverbs is very balanced in a sense that it includes both aspects of an internal (prayer) aspect and an active aspect. In our lives, there must be a time for us to look for something desperately, as a woman who looks for her lost coin. The word silver in Proverbs 2:4 is truly a pearl. At that time, the most expensive item was a pearl. So much so, that it becomes the anecdote to value. In the story of Cleopatra and Anthony, they competed on who could hold the most valuable feast. Anthony held a feast so valuable, it was difficult to beat. But Cleopatra blended a pearl, which at the time worth 5 million USD, which could support a region of Rome. Cleopatra then put the blended pearl into the wine, which was given to the guests to drink. Hence, the seeking of the silver (Hebrew: pearl) is a very passionate action.
VERSES 2 : 5-8 : Causes
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The purposes of the sweeping statements (verses 5 and 9) are to bring help, care, and protection. We see once again that wisdom leads to protection. The question is, who protects us now according to these verses? Both natural wisdom (righteous human logic) and supernatural (divine and God-given). Faith and wisdom are not irrational. If you are faithful, it does not mean that we do not know, it is believing what we cannot see. If you are cancerous, and somebody told you about a good doctor, who speaks knowledgeably in his field. In disbelief of your friend's recommendation, you cross check all of this doctor's backgrounds. You talk to your other friends, the doctor himself and to his colleagues. And all witnesses confirm that he is the best doctor they have ever known. Now, you believe in the doctor, because you understand. Yet, when you are on the surgery table and the situation was becoming more intense, you start to lose faith. But why? Do you lose faith because you begin to reason (think), or because you stop to reason (stop thinking)? But then, you are reminded that you have done all you could to obtain information about the doctor's background and credibility. Remembering this, you begin to be calm again. Therefore, you calm yourself by remembering all the references (background check) that you have done, not by abandoning them. Of course, Augustine is right when he implied that faith looks for reasoning, yet reasoning cannot be without faith too. As I have said earlier, knowledge is an appetite towards wisdom. For example, you are serving a boiled egg for your child. When you crack the egg open, you find out the egg is rotten. Do you need to tell your child that he should not eat the egg? No, because a little child has no appetite. So what protects the child from illness: your warning or his appetite? Both! Christianity does not only make you do things differently but also to make you see differently the things that you do. This is wisdom. When you begin to unself yourself, only then will you begin to see how in the Biblical sense, the supernatural and natural cannot be separated. This too explains why men write the Bible too (we, of course, believe that its writing is carried by the Holy Spirit too). Neo-Calvinism states that the Truth is the truth from God. A clear example is the canonization of the Holy Bible. Was it done supernaturally or naturally? Both.
For instance, the Bible consists of 66 books and there are 66 chapters in Isaiah. And the book of Matthew (the first book of the New Testament) is the 40th book in the Bible, and Isaiah chapter 40 happens to also be the beginning of a new chapter, which prophecies the Messiah. Are these reading "too much", because the canon was created years after the Bible is written? You might argue so if you are a supernaturalist. But in the natural perspective, you might argue that the canon is natural, yet it could also deliver the word of God . If you can see this matter in a supernatural and natural way, your life will be filled with joy. You would quit saying things like, "God, why have You forgotten to answer my prayer?" Instead, you would say: "Without my asking, You have done so many miraculous things."
Begin to see God in the natural, insignificant, and silly things. Here is where we could witness the wisdom of God. In Hebrew 11, Jacob is included in the list of the faithful of the Old Testament. This is because he crossed his arms when blessing Ephraim and Manasseh. How was this action considered an act of faith? Because he saw beauty in a place of darkness. In the ancient law of Hukum of primogeniture, the firstborn receives the inheritance and blessing, while the blessing was upon Ephraim although he was not the firstborn. This supports the very essence of Christianity: "And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:8)." Why was David rejected when he asked if he could build the house of God. It is true that he has shed much blood in wars and is not worthy to build the house of the LORD. But most importantly was what God said through Nathan: "It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in. For I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up Israel to this day, but I have gone from tent to tent and from dwelling to dwelling. In all places where I have moved with all Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar" (I Chronicle 17)"? His people were sojourners, and so was He. Our God is an unselfish God, and this is the true essence of His reincarnation. He has experienced suffering, betrayal, mockery and even death. This is the wisdom of our LORD: it was God Himself Who at last build a house for David. For us to be unselfish in God, we must first learn to see that other Self.
Speaker: Vik. Jethro Rachmadi, B.Mus, M.Th.
Written by: Alicia Angie Wiranata
Summary has not been revised by the speaker
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