Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Job: Wisdom
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Lesson OneProverbs: Sayings of Sages (Proverbs 5–9, 22–30)25 Activities
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: Proverbs 5–9, 22–30
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In | Workbook: The Advice of the Proverbs
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In | Workbook: Gateway Literature
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In | Gateway Literature
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In | Intra-biblical Resonance
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In | Genres in the Wisdom Literature
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In | Workbook: Genres in the Wisdom Literature, Part 1
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In | Workbook: Genres in the Wisdom Literature, Part 2
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In | The Two Ways, Part 1
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In | The Two Ways, Part 2
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In | Workbook: The Two Ways
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In | The Two Ways, Part 3
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In | Workbook: Common Themes in Proverbs, Part 1
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In | Workbook: Common Themes in Proverbs, Part 2
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In | Advice and Character
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In | Principles vs. Promises
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Behind | Proverbs and Ancient Near Eastern Parallels
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Behind | Instruction of Amenemope, Part 1
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Behind | Workbook: Instruction of Amenemope
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Behind | Instruction of Amenemope, Part 2
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In Front | Workbook: Poverty and Wealth in Proverbs
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In Front | Workbook: Reflection on Promises and Principles
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In Front | Reflection on Promises and Principles
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson TwoProverbs: Wisdom, Our World and YHWH (Proverbs 10–21, 31)29 Activities|2 Assessments
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: Proverbs 10–21, 31
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In | Moral and Wisdom Literature, Part 1
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In | Workbook: Moral and Wisdom Literature
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In | Moral and Wisdom Literature, Part 2
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In | Deuteronomy and Wisdom Literature: Dr. Dan Block
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In | A Holistic and Integrated Worldview
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In | Lady Wisdom
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In | The Perspectives in Proverbs, Part 2
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In | The Wife of Proverbs 31 and Ruth, Part 1
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In | An Invitation to the Table, Part 1
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In | Workbook: An Invitation to the Table
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In | An Invitation to the Table, Part 2
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In | Wisdom Grounded in Nature and Culture
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In | Wisdom and the Fear of God
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In | Workbook: The Perspectives in Proverbs, Revisited
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Behind | Ahiqar the Assyrian Sage
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Behind | Ancient Near Eastern Parallels with Proverbs
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Behind | The Virtuous Woman as Domestic COO: Dr. Carol Meyers
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Behind | Women in Ancient Israel: Perspectives from Household Archaeology - Dr. Carol Meyers
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In Front | Which Are Biblical Proverbs?
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In Front | Workbook: Which Are Biblical Proverbs?
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In Front | Wisdom Wherever We Find It
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In Front | General Revelation
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In Front | Attentiveness as a Discipline
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In Front | Prayer and Wisdom
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In Front | Workbook: Reflection
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In Front | Workbook: Guiding Questions - Proverbs
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson ThreeEcclesiastes23 Activities|1 Assessment
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: Ecclesiastes
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In | Workbook: Who Is Qohelet?
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In | Qohelet
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In | Themes in Ecclesiastes
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In | Workbook: The Spirit of Ecclesiastes
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In | Realistic Pessimism and Faithful Resignation
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In | Alternative Conclusions
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In | Workbook: Alternative Conclusions in Ecclesiastes - Part 1
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In | Workbook: Alternative Conclusions in Ecclesiastes - Part 2
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In | Foolishness and Authenticity
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Behind | Epic of Gilgamesh, Part 1
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Behind | Workbook: Epic of Gilgamesh
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Behind | Epic of Gilgamesh, Part 2
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Behind | Workbook: Solomonic Authorship of Ecclesiastes
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Behind | Solomonic Authorship of Ecclesiastes
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In Front | A Sobering Revelation
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In Front | Realism and Resignation
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In Front | Eternity in our Hearts
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In Front | Ecclesiastes and Film, Part 1
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In Front | Reading Ecclesiastes as Christians
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In Front | Workbook: Guiding Questions - Ecclesiastes
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson FourThe Lament of Job (Job 1–3, 32–42)30 Activities
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: Job 1–3, 32–42
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In | Workbook: When It All Comes Crashing Down
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In | Diagramming the Book of Job
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In | Literary Structure
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In | The Logic of Retribution
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In | Parallel Universes
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In | Workbook: The Satan
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In | The Satan
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In | Narrative Lament
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In | Narrative Lament in the Bible
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In | The Narrative Pattern of Jesus’ Ministry
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In | Exile and Restoration
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Behind | Devils and Demons in the Ancient Near East
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Behind | Chance or Retribution?
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Behind | Ancient Near Eastern Theodicy, Part 1
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Behind | Ancient Near Eastern Theodicies, Part 2
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Behind | Workbook: Ancient Near Eastern Theodicies
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Behind | Ancient Near Eastern Theodicies, Part 3
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Behind | 360 View: The Weaver’s Work
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Behind | Is Job a Historical Figure?
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Behind | The Bible and History
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In Front | Why Do the Righteous Suffer?
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In Front | Vindication and Retribution
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In Front | Martyrdom and Vindication
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In Front | The Reversal Doesn’t Always Happen in This Life
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In Front | Michael Card’s "Job Suite" Part 1
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In Front | Michael Card’s "Job Suite" Part 2
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In Front | Workbook: Michael Card’s "Job Suite" Part 3
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson FiveThe Wisdom of Job (Job 4–31)20 Activities
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: Job 4–31
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In | Workbook: Out of the Whirlwind
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In | Job as Wisdom Literature
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In | Legal Language
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In | Workbook: God’s Relationship to the Cosmos
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In | God’s Relationship to the Cosmos
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In | God the Creator
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Behind | Ancient Near Eastern Wisdom
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Behind | Sages and Schools
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Behind | Lord of the Animals
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In Front | Knowledge vs. Wisdom
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In Front | Wisdom and Testing
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In Front | Job’s Hope
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In Front | God Is Sovereign Over Satan
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In Front | Wisdom and Revelation
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In Front | Welcome to the Darkness
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In Front | No Pat Answers
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In Front | Workbook: Guiding Questions - Job
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Course Wrap-UpCourse Completion1 Activity|1 Assessment
Participants 23
In Front | Workbook: Reflection on Promises and Principles
Grab your Workbook Journal!
[Record your answers in the workbook provided at the beginning of this course.]
There are some passages in Proverbs that we can read as timeless truths. The Proverbs below all tell us something about God that is true in every situation and era.
A false balance is an abomination to the LORD,
But a just weight is His delight.
Proverbs 11:1 (NASB)
Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD,
But those who deal faithfully are His delight.
Proverbs 12:22 (NASB)
The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good.
Proverbs 15:3 (NASB)
The rich and the poor have a common bond,
The LORD is the maker of them all.
Proverbs 22:2 (NASB)
Reference: Greg W. Parsons, “Guidelines for Understanding and Proclaiming the Book of Proverbs,” Learning from the Sages: Selected Studies on the Book of Proverbs, edited by Roy Zuck, 1995, pp. 157-160.
When we’re not talking about God’s character in Proverbs, we have to be careful how we interpret the maxims we find here. As we noted In the Text, we need to distinguish between principles and promises.
- Name some Proverbs that you have treated as personal promises, perhaps leading you to frustration, disappointment or anger. Explain in your workbook.
- If none come to mind, what passages have you noticed have been used that way by others?