1. Adult Bible Study Guide Jan Feb Mar 2015 Adult Bible Study Guide Jan Feb Mar 2015 powerpoint presentation designed by claro ruiz vicente http://clarovicente.weebly.com

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3. Jacques B. Doukhan, Principal Contributor

4. Proverbs Our Goal F rom the book of Proverbs we will learn how to be wise, but correctly, in practical ways. Wisdom isn’t necessarily intellectual might. The prerequisite for wisdom is, instead, to be humble, to feel our need and then to seek for wisdom.

5. Proverbs Contents 1 The Call of Wisdom 2 From Ears to Feet 3 A Matter of Life and Death 4 Divine Wisdom 5 The Blessings of the Righteous 6 What You Get Is Not What You See 7 Dealing With Fights 8 Words of Wisdom 9 Words of Truth 10 Behind the Mask 11 Living by Faith 12 The Humility of the Wise 13 Women and Wine

6. Proverbs Lesson 12, March 28 Proverbs Lesson 12, March 28 Women and Wine

7. Key Text Proverbs 31:3, 4 NKJV “ D o not give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes intoxicating drink.”

8. Women and Wine Initial Words P roverbs began with the teachings of a father (1:8) and ends with the teachings of a mother (31:1). The father’s introduction was concerned with the spiritual acquisition of wisdom. The mother’s conclusion is concerned with applying wisdom. For the spiritual principles taught would mean nothing if the practical advice were not followed.

9. Women and Wine Quick Look 1. A Toast to “Life” or “Death” (Proverbs 31:4-7) 2. A Toast to a Symbolical Woman (Proverbs 3:13-15) 3. A Toast to a Literal Woman (Proverbs 31:10-12)

10. Women and Wine 1. A Toast to “Life” or “Death” Proverbs 31:4-7 NKJV “ I t is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes intoxicating drink; lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the justice of all the afflicted. Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those who are of bitter heart. Let him drink and forget his poverty and...his misery....”

11. 1.A Toast to “Life” or “Death” Alcohol and Life I n many cultures, drinking alcohol is associated with living a good life. People raise a glass and wish one another a long life. Nicely designed bottles, poetic and funny drinking songs, clever commer- cials, and even some “scientific” findings all comfort drinkers in their idea that alcohol is good for them.

12. 1.A Toast to “Life” or “Death” Alcohol and Life The destructive effect of wine can be seen in how it can so easily distort one’s judgment. The drinking king not only “forgets the law” and does not know what is right, but he subsequently issues distorted judgments: the guilty are declared innocent, and the innocent guilty.

13. 1.A Toast to “Life” or “Death” Alcohol and Life What is at stake here is the capacity to discern between right and wrong, good and evil. As such, prohibition should apply to every human being. This concern is precisely the reason implied in the special prohibition of drinking for the priest: “that you may distinguish between holy and unholy” (Lev. 10:9, 10, NKJV).

14. 1.A Toast to “Life” or “Death” Alcohol and Death It hardly makes sense to offer some- thing to the perishing (vs 6) that would only make their health and well-being worse. And giving alcohol to a depressed person (vs 7) is like giving salt to someone who is already dehydrated. “By leading men to drink alcohol, Satan would cause them to descend lower and lower in the scale.” — Temperance 12.

15. 1.A Toast to “Life” or “Death” Alcohol and Death An analysis of the use of the expression “who is perishing” reveals that it is speaking about the wicked (10:28; 11:7, 10; 19:9; 21:28; 28:28). As for the expression “bitter of heart,” it refers to the depressed person (31:6, NKJV), who, like the wicked, becomes insensitive and “forgets” poverty (vs. 7).

16. Women and Wine 2. A Toast to a Symbolical Woman Proverbs 3:13-15 NKJV “ H appy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding; for her proceeds are better than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.”

17. 2. A Toast to a Symbolical Woman A Virtuous Woman W ho is the “virtuous woman” of 31:10? A number of indications suggest that the author has more in mind than a godly woman. Following the lead of many passages of the book (Prov. 1:20–33, 3:13–20, 4:5–9, Proverbs 8), we have good reason to think that “the virtuous woman” represents wisdom.

18. 2. A Toast to a Symbolical Woman A Virtuous Woman This personification of wisdom as a woman is justified, because the Hebrew word for “wisdom,” chokmah, is a feminine noun. Wisdom is not pictured as some lofty and unreachable ideal but as a very practical and approachable woman who could become our life companion.

19. 2. A Toast to a Symbolical Woman A Virtuous Woman 1. She is precious and worth finding (31:10.......8:35). 2. Her worth is more than rubies (31:10.......8:10, 11, 18, 19). 3. She provides food (31:14.......8:19). 4. She is strong (31:17, 25.......8:14). 5. She is wise (31:26.......8:1). 6. She is praised (31:28.......8:34).

20. Women and Wine 3. A Toast to a Literal Woman Proverbs 31:10-12 NKJV “ W ho can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.”

21. 3. A Toast to a Literal Woman She Works T he virtuous woman in Proverbs 31 is not lazy; she works hard and is very active. The field of her activities is comprehensive and concrete. The woman “willingly works with her hands” (Prov. 31:13, NKJV).

22. 3. A Toast to a Literal Woman She Works To be spiritual does not mean that we should be idle, all under the pretext that we are concerned with highly important religious issues, and thus do not have time to take care of “trivial” matters. (See Luke 16:10.) It is interesting that this very spiritual person is never depicted praying or meditating.

23. 3. A Toast to a Literal Woman She Cares The woman is known for her wisdom and for her kindness. They are related. Notice the phrase the “law of kindness.” That is, kindness isn’t just some fleeting attribute that escapes from her mouth now and then. It is a law, a principle of her very existence.

24. Women and Wine Final Words “ A great name among men is as letters traced in sand, but a spotless character will endure to all eternity.” —EGWhite, God’s Amazing Grace 81.