Last November, I decided to challenge a group of friends to study the book of Proverbs. We read one chapter of Proverbs to correspond with the days in November. Even though I had never attempted to go through a whole book before, I found it challenging to stay consistent. However, creating a Facebook messenger group Sisters in Christ helped me to stay accountable; we would check in with each other to remind each other to be in the Word. This study time was perfect for me as it involved more than just reading the Bible. It required meditating on it to gain a deeper understanding. As my pastor always says, Bible reading is not just a check mark on our list saying it is done. Get into the Word and study what you are reading.
When I began studying Proverbs, I changed my approach from the way I had done Bible reading before. First, I read the chapter repeatedly, then I looked up other verses connected to the chapter and read study notes at the bottom of the page. Additionally, I used a commentary for the first time. The journey into the book of Proverbs was captivating to me. Pictured on the left are notes in my own Bible from this study.
To begin our journey, it's essential to understand the foundational context of the book of Proverbs and its authors. Although Solomon wrote some of Proverbs, multiple authors contributed to the book. The book was likely written during the time of Solomon and complete no later than during Hezekiah's reign. We can immediately see the theme of Proverbs in chapter 1 verse 7. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." Its goal was to show God's people how to obtain wisdom and how to avoid folly.
I have gained so much knowledge and understanding through studying the book of Provers and I am thrilled to share it with others. I hope to encourage people to dive deeper into the Word and grow in their knowledge of the Lord. When you gain a deeper understanding of God's Word, you can share it with other and help them grow as well. Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you have any questions please email me and I will try and find you an answer.
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