Proverbs 1:1
The word proverb is the word masal, which means "to become like" or "to be comparable to." The idea seems to be that a proverb is a way of declaring or seeing a truth by comparing it with something else. It is the comparison that brings a truth to full view.
In the book of Proverbs, all types of comparisons are used to bring the truth of life with other humans to light. It is amazing how many people want life to work like they want it to work. It doesn't; it works like God structured it. Working with other humans has rules. When you follow those rules, things go much better.
Notice that these proverbs are the proverbs of Solomon, the son of David and the king of Israel, which suggests that he wrote these before he himself became king of Israel, which would date these writings before the book of Ecclesiastes.
God inspired Solomon's insights into life. How? One, by giving him the wisdom to see them in the first place; two, by allowing him to see the right comparison to bring out the truth; and three, by breathing into Solomon during those writing sessions only those truths that needed to be recorded and not writing those that did not need to be recorded.
One of the other things about this book is that it follows a Hebraic form with thought rhymes and not word rhymes. The ideas are connected by thoughts that are similar, which gives them the context. They are hooked one to another until there is an obvious break in the thought. We are not used to thinking in this way, but it is the basis of the book.
Are you willing to listen to the wisdom of the wisest man who ever walked the planet? Are you willing to adjust your life when you find that you are at odds with that wisdom? Incline your ear for you will find great truth and helpful actions to avoid many of the common problems that derail others.
Until tomorrow,
Gil Stieglitz