Solomon was a great man. He inherited the throne of his father David, king of Israel. The Lord promised to answer his prayer, and was pleased when Solomon asked for wisdom. God gave him a wise and understanding heart, to be the wisest man in all history (1 Ki. 3:12; 4:30-31).
In Solomon’s fourth year, he started to build the magnificent temple of Jehovah in Jerusalem. He used 100,000 talents of gold to cover the walls. A talent is about 114 pounds. Today gold is quoted at $271 per ounce. So each talent was worth about half a million dollars. The temple took seven years to build. Then King Solomon offered a great sacrifice, 22,000 bulls and 120,000 sheep. We well know the market price of beef or lamb today.
Solomon studied nature and taught his people about trees, plants, animals, birds, insects and fish. He wrote 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs.
Sometimes the Holy Spirit specially guided Solomon in writing, and has preserved it for us in the Scripture. Early in life he wrote the beautiful poem, the Song of Solomon. Later–after much experience–he wrote the book of Ecclesiastes. These books, with Proverbs, are written, like the book of Psalms, in the form of Hebrew poetry. Each verse usually has two lines. The second line may repeat the thought of the first, but in different words. For example, “For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck” (Prov. 1:9). Or it may add to the thought of the first line, as in Proverbs 1:8, 16, 18: “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother” “For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.” “And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.” Many others start the second line with the word “but”, and say just the opposite. For example, “A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother” (Prov. 10:1) and “Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction” (Prov. 10:14).
Don’t think of this book of Proverbs as the wisdom of man, not even the wisest. It is really the inspired Word of God. Christ is the wisdom of God and has became wisdom for us (1 Cor. 1:24, 30).
The book of Proverbs includes some proverbs of other wise men, (22:17; 24:34). Some sayings of Solomon were copied later by the servants of King Hezekiah (Prov. 25:1). It also contains wise sayings of Agur (ch. 30) and King Lemuel (ch. 31).
The Lord Jesus affirmed that the Scriptures testify of Himself (Jn. 5:39). The book of Proverbs tells us how a perfect man will act, and so it describes the only Perfect Man, the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us take a brief look.
Chapters 5-7 contain strong warnings to both men and women about immorality. But chapter 8 personifies Wisdom as a woman calling to men, and to all descendants of Adam, “Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man” (Prov. 8:4). We think of Christ, who usually spoke in a normal voice, but sometimes cried out (Jn. 7:28, 37; 12:44). She wants men to repent, “Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you” (Prov. 1:23); so did the Lord (Lk. 13:3, 5).
“The Lord possessed me in the beginning of His way, before his works of old” (Prov. 8:22). The Lord possessed me in the beginning. Some modern versions change this to “created.” This Hebrew word qanah is found in Jeremiah 32:15, translated there “possessed.” And the noun form is used in Genesis 23:18; 26:14; and 2 Chronicles 32:29. This verse in Proverbs does not teach that the Son was less than eternal (Jn. 1:1). God had all wisdom in all eternity (1 Cor. 2:7).
“I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was” (Prov. 8:23). God’s eternal plan was that Christ should reign as King. Other verses used by those who demean Christ are Proverbs 8:24-25. “I was brought forth” (v. 25). This word is used for childbirth, but also for dancing, for joy or anguish (Jud. 21:23; Esther 4:4). We can apply this passage to Christ, without pressing any doctrine contrary to the rest of Scripture.
Then in verses 30 and 31, the Son was always with the Father, in the most intimate relationship. The Son is constantly the Father’s delight, and always rejoiced in His presence. Yet the Son’s delights were with men on earth. Certainly men can find in Him eternal life and favor with the Lord (Prov. 8:35).
Agur also was led to ask who has ascended into heaven (Prov. 30:4). Who has power in nature? His Name is God and His Son’s Name is Jesus Christ.
We should search the Scriptures for every thought of Christ. The Father seeks true worshippers. The Son knocks at the door for fellowship with the believer. The Book of Proverbs can help us learn more of the Lord and His righteous ways.