The Book of Proverbs • What It Teaches About Being Good at Life

Summary

The video script explores the wisdom literature of the Bible, focusing on the books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job. It personifies Proverbs as a wise teacher offering insights into life's complexities through the concept of 'chokma,' or divine wisdom. This wisdom is portrayed as a guiding force for moral and practical decisions, accessible to all who seek it. The script also emphasizes the importance of the 'Fear of the Lord' as the foundation of wisdom, suggesting that true understanding of life's challenges requires more than Proverbs alone, hinting at the need for Ecclesiastes' critical perspective.

Takeaways

• 📚 The Bible contains wisdom literature including Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job, which explore questions about the nature of the world and how to live well within it.
• 🧠 Proverbs is likened to a brilliant young teacher offering insights on various aspects of life, such as work, relationships, and spirituality, and is guided by an unseen creative force called 'chokma'.
• 🌐 'Cokma', often translated as wisdom, is an attribute of God, intrinsically woven into the fabric of the universe, influencing every decision and action.
• 👁 Proverbs suggests that 'chokma' is like a moral law of the universe, with a cause-effect pattern that no one can escape, personified as Lady Wisdom offering guidance to all who listen.
• 🛠 Wisdom is not just intellectual knowledge; it's also the skill to apply it in life, akin to the expertise of a skilled artisan, allowing one to design a good life.
• 🚀 Proverbs emphasizes that wisdom can be accessed and interacted with by anyone, and using it can lead to a prosperous and successful life.
• 🙏 The journey to wisdom in Proverbs begins with the 'Fear of the Lord', which is a healthy respect for God's definition of good and evil, and understanding the boundaries set by God.
• 📖 Chapters one through nine of Proverbs focus on the concept of wisdom, while chapters ten to the end are a collection of sayings providing wise guidance for all aspects of life.
• 💪 The promise of Proverbs is that by living according to its sayings, one can expect health, prosperity, and a long, rich life.
• 🤔 Ecclesiastes is introduced as the critic who challenges the simplicity of Proverbs, acknowledging that life doesn't always reward the wise or punish the foolish as expected.
• 🌟 The Bible Project aims to present the Bible as a unified story leading to Jesus, offering profound wisdom for the modern world through videos on key themes and books of the Bible.

Q & A

What are the three books referred to as the wisdom literature in the Bible?

The three books referred to as the wisdom literature in the Bible are Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job.

What is the central theme that these wisdom books address?

The central theme these books address is understanding the nature of the world we live in and discerning how to live well within it.

How is the book of Proverbs personified in the script?

In the script, Proverbs is personified as a brilliant young teacher who offers insights on various aspects of life.

What is the Hebrew term 'chokma' and how is it related to wisdom?

The Hebrew term 'chokma' is usually translated into English as 'wisdom'. It is an attribute of God, used to create the world, and is woven into the fabric of how things work, guiding people in making good or just decisions.

What does it mean to 'tap into chokma' according to the book of Proverbs?

Tapping into chokma means making decisions that align with the moral law of the universe, which is a cause-effect pattern that no one can escape.

How does the book of Proverbs describe the personification of wisdom?

Proverbs personifies wisdom as Lady Wisdom, who runs around the earth, making herself available to anyone willing to listen and learn.

What is the significance of the 'Fear of the Lord' in the context of the book of Proverbs?

The 'Fear of the Lord' signifies a healthy respect for God's definition of good and evil, and it is considered the starting point of the journey to becoming wise in Proverbs.

What are the chapters in Proverbs that contain the main ideas discussed in the script?

The main ideas discussed in the script are found in chapters one through nine of Proverbs.

How does the book of Proverbs describe the benefits of living a life designed with its sayings?

Proverbs suggests that living a life designed with its sayings will lead to health, prosperity, and a long, rich life.

Why is the book of Ecclesiastes considered necessary to complement the teachings of Proverbs?

Ecclesiastes is necessary because it wrestles with the problem of why sometimes wise people suffer and foolish people are rewarded, offering a more nuanced perspective on the good life.

What is the purpose of the Bible Project as described in the script?

The purpose of the Bible Project is to present the Bible as a unified story that leads to Jesus and offers profound wisdom for the modern world through videos about key themes and books of the Bible.

How can viewers access more content from the Bible Project?

Viewers can access more content from the Bible Project by visiting their YouTube channel, website, or joining as supporters to download full-resolution videos, posters, and study guides for free.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Wisdom Literature: Proverbs as a Guide

The video script introduces the wisdom literature of the Bible, focusing on the book of Proverbs. It discusses the fundamental questions these books address about life and the world we live in. Proverbs is personified as a brilliant teacher who provides insights into various aspects of life, including work, relationships, and spirituality. The concept of 'chokma' or wisdom is presented as a divine attribute, an invisible force guiding moral and ethical decisions. The script emphasizes that wisdom is accessible to everyone and can be applied to create a good life. It also touches on the importance of the 'Fear of the Lord' as the starting point of wisdom, which is respecting God's definition of good and evil. The summary of the book's chapters is provided, highlighting the collection of sayings and their application to life for success and prosperity.

05:00

🌐 The Bible Project: Expanding Biblical Understanding

The second paragraph shifts focus to the Bible Project itself, a platform dedicated to exploring and explaining the Bible's unified narrative and its relevance to the modern world. The paragraph expresses gratitude to the supporters who enable the project to offer its video library for free. It invites viewers to visit the Bible Project's website to access high-resolution videos, posters, and study guides. The paragraph also mentions the intention to create more content, including videos on key themes and literary structures of different biblical books, all aimed at deepening understanding of the Bible's teachings.

Keywords

💡Wisdom Literature

Wisdom Literature refers to a genre of biblical texts that focus on the pursuit of wisdom and understanding of life's complexities. In the video, it is mentioned that Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job are part of this category, each offering a unique perspective on what it means to live a good life. The theme of the video revolves around exploring these books to gain a fully biblical perspective on the good life.

💡Proverbs

Proverbs is one of the books in the Bible categorized under wisdom literature. It is personified in the video as a 'brilliant young teacher' providing insights on various aspects of life, such as work, relationships, and spirituality. The book is characterized by its collection of sayings that offer wise guidance for living a successful life, as exemplified by the phrase 'it'll give health to your bones, prosperity, a long rich life.'

💡Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes is another book of wisdom literature, depicted in the video as a 'sharp middle-aged critic.' It is presented as a voice that challenges the simplicity of Proverbs by wrestling with the inconsistencies of life, where wise people sometimes face misfortune and foolish people are rewarded, thus pushing the viewer to consider a more complex understanding of the good life.

💡Job

Job is the third book of wisdom literature mentioned, characterized as the 'weathered old man who has seen a lot.' It likely represents the experiences and lessons learned through a life of trials and tribulations, contributing to the comprehensive biblical perspective on living well.

💡Hokmah

Hokmah, a Hebrew term, is translated as 'wisdom' in English and is an attribute of God. In the video, it is described as an invisible creative force in the universe that guides people in how they should live. It is the foundation of the moral law of the universe, as seen in the script where it says 'the waywardness of fools will destroy them but the one who listens to wisdom lives in security.'

💡Lady Wisdom

Lady Wisdom is a personification of wisdom in the book of Proverbs. She is depicted as running around the earth, making herself available to anyone willing to listen and learn. This concept illustrates the accessibility of wisdom and the active pursuit of it by individuals to improve their lives.

💡Fear of the Lord

The 'Fear of the Lord' is a concept in Proverbs that signifies a healthy respect for God's definition of good and evil. It is presented as the starting point of the journey to becoming wise, implying that true wisdom is aligned with God's moral boundaries, as stated in the video script, 'your journey to becoming wise has to begin with what Proverbs called the Fear of the Lord.'

💡Cause-Effect Pattern

The cause-effect pattern in the context of the video refers to the moral law of the universe as presented in Proverbs, where good decisions align with wisdom (hokmah) and lead to positive outcomes, while bad decisions lead to destruction. It is a fundamental principle that no one can escape, emphasizing the universality of moral consequences.

💡Skilled Artisan

A skilled artisan in the video represents the application of wisdom (hokmah) in one's craft, such as woodworking or stonemasonry. It illustrates that wisdom is not just intellectual knowledge but also the practical skill of excelling in one's work, which is a demonstration of possessing hokmah.

💡The Bible Project

The Bible Project is the creator of the video, aiming to present the Bible as a unified story that leads to Jesus and offers wisdom for the modern world. The project produces videos about key themes and books of the Bible, providing insights into their literary structure and themes, as mentioned in the script, 'We believe the Bible is a unified story at all leads to Jesus and has profound wisdom for the modern world.'

💡Unified Story

The term 'unified story' in the video refers to the overarching narrative of the Bible, which is presented as having a cohesive storyline that culminates in Jesus. This concept is central to the mission of The Bible Project, as they aim to explore and explain how different parts of the Bible contribute to this singular, comprehensive story.

Highlights

The Bible's wisdom literature includes Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job, each addressing questions about living well in the world.

Proverbs is personified as a brilliant young teacher offering insights on various aspects of life.

Ecclesiastes represents a sharp middle-aged critic, while Job symbolizes a weathered old man with life experience.

Proverbs believes in an invisible creative force, chokma or wisdom, guiding people in making good decisions.

Chokma is an attribute of God, used in creation and woven into the fabric of the universe.

Good decisions tap into chokma, while bad decisions work against this universal moral law.

Lady Wisdom personifies chokma, making herself available to those willing to listen and learn.

Chokma is not just intellectual knowledge but also represents skilled craftsmanship.

Wisdom can be accessed and used to create a good life, like a designer using their skills.

The journey to wisdom begins with the 'Fear of the Lord,' respecting God's definition of good and evil.

Proverbs chapters 1-9 unpack foundational ideas about wisdom and its relationship with God.

Proverbs chapters 10 to the end offer practical sayings applying wisdom to all aspects of life.

Wise people tend to fare better in life, as suggested by the promises of the book of Proverbs.

The simplicity of Proverbs is questioned, as it doesn't always align with real-life experiences of wise and foolish people.

Ecclesiastes, as the critic, grapples with the inconsistencies between wisdom and life outcomes.

The Bible Project aims to present the Bible as a unified story leading to Jesus with wisdom for the modern world.

The Bible Project provides videos on key themes and literary structures of different Bible books.

The video library is made available for free through donations, with resources like posters and study guides accessible on their website.

Transcripts

There are three books in the Bible that have come to be called the wisdom literature

Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Job

and all these books are addressing the same set of questions

What kind of world are we living in

and what does it look like to live well in this world?

so how to be good at life?

Yeah! So each of these books tackles these questions from a unique perspective

and it's important to understand all of them to get a fully biblical perspective on the good life

So as a thought experiment, you could actually imagine each of these books as a person

So Proverbs would be like this brilliant young teacher

and Ecclesiastes the sharp middle-aged critic

and Job would be the weathered old man who seen a lot in his day

We're gonna start by meeting the book of Proverbs the brilliant teacher

And she's not just smart she's smart about everything, work, relationships, sex, spirituality

She has incredible insights things you would see on your own

Yeah! She would be the perfect friend have around when you need really specific advice

So what makes her so smart?

Well! Proverbs can see things that most people don't see

She believes that there is an invisible creative force in the universe that can guide people and how they should live

You can't see it just like you can't see the gravity but it affects everything that we do

So what's this force?

In Hebrew, it's called chokma and it's usually gets translated into English as a wisdom

It's an attribute of God that God used to create the world

and hokmah has been woven into the fabric of thing and how they work

So wherever people are making good or just or wise decisions they are tapping into chokma

and whenever someone is making a bad decision they're working against chokma

Right! Or as it says in Proverbs chapter one

the waywardness of fools will destroy them but the one who listens to wisdom lives in security

So it's like a moral law of the universe

Yeah! It's a cause-effect pattern and no one can escape

and Proverbs personifies all of this as a woman

Yeah! Lady wisdom

Right! She runs around the earth calling out making herself available to anyone who's willing to listen to her and to learn

which leads to the second thing Proverbs believes that anyone can access

and interact with wisdom and use it to make the beautiful life for yourself or others

you can create with it like a designer

Yes, in fact, chokma in hebrew isn't simply intellectual knowledge

The word is also used to describe the skilled artisan who excels at their craft like woodworking or stonemason

so you show you possess chokma when you put it to work and develop the skill of making a Good Life

OK! That makes sense. So let's do this. Let's go find some wisdom

Before you do, Proverbs has one more really important thing to consider

chokma isn't some impersonal force it's an attribute of God himself

and so in Hebrew thought, your journey to becoming wise has to begin with what Proverbs called the Fear of the Lord

It's this healthy respect for God's definition of good and evil

and true wisdom means learning those boundary lines and not crossing them

Now all those ideas you just unpacked are in chapters one through nine in Proverbs

but when I think of the book of Proverbs, I think of the collection of sayings

the Proverbs themselves. Tell me about those

Yeah! Those are what you find in chapters ten onto the end of the book

it's a collection of hundreds and hundreds of Proverbs about any and all aspects of life

and chokma gets applied to them resulting in this wise guidance

to help you find a path toward success and no matter what you do

if I designed my life with these sayings, life is gonna be good

Yeah! or if proverbs puts it, it'll give health to your bones, prosperity, a long rich life

which is a really big claim

but you can see how it's often the case

wise people, they tend to do better, things usually work out well for them in life

and so that is the promise and the wisdom of the book of Proverbs

The book of Proverbs is really beautiful but if we take a step back

some people would argue it's a little too simplistic

cause sometimes horrible things happened to really wise people

and sometimes foolish people get rewarded

it doesn't always work the way we think it should work

that's right which is why we need to go and listen to our next wise friend ecclesiastes the critic

because he's wrestled with that very problem

and he's going to push us further in our journey to find the Good Life

Hey guys! Thank you for watching the Bible project

You can find a lot more videos like this one on our YouTube channel

We believe the Bible is a unified story at all leads to Jesus and has profound wisdom for the modern world

So we're making videos about key themes that run throughout the whole storyline of the Bible

We also make videos that unpack different books of the Bible

looking at its literary structure, the themes of that book kind of like the one you just watched on Proverbs

We've got a lot more videos to do and a few more series that we wanna do as well

The Bible project it is totally supported by you guys

and thank you so much for all that you're doing

we want to make this whole video library available for free to anyone anywhere

and that's because of you guys giving one time guests or you can sign up to become a monthly supporters as well

On our website you could download full resolution videos

you could download posters and study guides and other things.

It's all for free on jointheBibleproject.com

Thank you Guys