Reflections: What is a proverb?

The beginning of another calendar year seems like a good time to consider general principles for success in life, growing in wisdom and as a follower of Christ. Many of those can be found in the Book of Proverbs. 

Recently, a young friend who is “deconstructing” used a verse from the Book of Proverbs to assert that God is inconsistent and the Bible should not be trusted. Unfortunately, the example she picked is frequently taken out of context, leading me to ponder the question, “What is a proverb?” 

For starters, it’s important to realize that proverbs are principles, not promises for every situation every time. Scholars point to King Solomon as the primary author of proverbs, writing during his older years. The Old Testament historical books show that Solomon did many things well, but he also made mistakes. By the age at which he likely wrote proverbs and Ecclesiastes, he had learned that some practices generally lead to success and others . . . not so much. 

A recent devotional from the First 5 app of Proverbs 31 Ministries reinforces this concept, reminding readers that proverbs is part of the Bible’s “wisdom literature,” to help us orient our lives with principles that show the nature of God.  

The P31 writer used the example of Proverbs 15:1, “A soft answer turns away wrath.” Does it mean that being nice means people will never respond harshly or mistreat us? Unfortunately, not every time. Yes, a thoughtful rather than angry response can frequently help deescalate a situation, but more importantly, it helps develop our character to align with that of Jesus. This principle is beautifully illustrated by Christians who suffer tremendous persecution yet still hold fast to their faith and to Jesus’ promise that the meek will inherit the earth, looking forward to the future Kingdom in which Christ reigns and all unrighteous anger will be dealt with. And as a bonus, stories do occasionally surface of some persecutors being drawn to Christ by that faith! 

It’s important to use proverbs and other wisdom principles from the Bible to encourage one another and not to tear down, something the Apostle Paul exhorts Christians about in Ephesians 4:29. I’ve seen more than one parent of a wayward child sent on an unhelpful journey of self-deprecation by people quoting Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (ESV). Statistics show that children raised by biblical principles do have generally better outcomes, and at the very least, a foundation on which some later rebuild after mistakes. However, while I’ve actually apologized to my adult kids about how I handled a few situations, spending too much time wondering what one did wrong in the “training up” is much less helpful than prayerfully moving forward. 

The term “old wives’ tales” is often used in a negative context, but after growing up around older aunts and great-aunts, I’ve learned that old wives have a lot of wisdom. On topics as varied as gardening, herbal remedies, child discipline and even the weather, it turns out a lot of their sayings are true! Not hard-and-fast predictions, but a good guide! Similarly, the longer I live, the more I see the importance of the admonishment to “get wisdom” (Proverbs 4:7). It’s not about nit-picking each proverb to see if it works every time; rather, it’s about seeking God and orienting myself toward His principles for the long haul.