Heavenly Wisdom: Proverbs Simply Explained

by Gary Brady

Publisher:

Evangelical Press

, 2003

Overview

The book of Proverbs is intensely practical. Here is "truth in street clothes." It deals with everyday subjects such as laziness, pride, handling money, and telling lies. Here we meet familiar folk such as the bargain-hunter, the neighbor you see too much of, the practical joker, and the "morning person" who forgets that others take a while to surface.

Charles Bridges once said that of all Old Testament books it is the one which we may think of as most distinctively educational. This is its tone. A speaker speaks to his student, an old man to a young man, and a father to his son.

Above all, Proverbs points us to Christ, the one "who has become for us" who believe "wisdom from God." Here is an excellent place to begin to learn about Christ and about wisdom. It has been said that, as the Psalms give us Christ singing the law, so the Proverbs give us him meditating on it. Truly to understand him, we must get to grips with Proverbs. Truly to be wise, we must get to grips with Christ.

Contents

Top Highlights

“Wisdom Literature is striking. Although it refers to ‘the Lord’, the covenant God of Israel, it is nevertheless willing to put the matter of Mosaic laws and ceremonies largely to one side and communicate in a way more readily understood by those without that background. It endeavours to show, not so much the sinfulness of sin, but the folly of it and deals much in what we may term ‘sanctified common sense’.” (Page 22)

“At the entrance to Plato’s school, we are told, there was a notice which said, ‘Let no one who is not a geometrician enter.’ Over the entrance to Solomon’s school we read, ‘Let the simple, ignorant, foolish and immature come in.’” (Page 34)

“According to Hebrews 5:14, mature Christians have ‘trained themselves to distinguish good from evil’.” (Page 32)

“By God’s grace, wisdom and discipline are attainable. Cry to God for them.” (Page 32)

“Here is, in Derek Kidner’s words, ‘truth in street clothes’.” (Page 22)

Product Details

• Title: Heavenly Wisdom: Proverbs Simply Explained
• Author: Gary Brady
• Publisher: Evangelical Press
• Series: Welwyn Commentary Series
• Publication Date: 2003
• Pages: 496

About Gary Brady

Gary Brady, a native of South Wales, has been the pastor of Childs Hill Baptist Church, northwest London, since 1983. He has studied at the University of Wales, in Aberystwyth and Cardiff, and in London at the London Theological Seminary and John Owen Center. He holds a ThM degree from Westminster Theological Seminary. He has previously published commentaries on Proverbs and Song of Solomon.