By
Bishop Elijah H. Hankerson III, BA, MA, DD
LESSON NOTES:
I.
THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING
THE ENTIRE BIBLE. If
you understand that the Bible is written to show us how humanity was created
for God, fell into sin, was reconciled through Christ (who was the product of a
family) and God will restore everything through His sacrifice on the Cross;
then you have the message of the entire Bible.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 17Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new. 18And all things are of God, who
hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the
ministry of reconciliation; 19To wit, that God was in Christ,
reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them;
and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20Now then we
are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in
Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21For he hath made him to
be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God
in him.
A.
JESUS AND THE EARLY CHURCH
TAUGHT THAT THE ENTIRE OLD TESTAMENT TEACHES ABOUT JESUS. You can preach the Gospel
from ANY Old Testament book; just as well as you can the New Testament.
John 5:39-40 39You
study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal
life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40yet you
refuse to come to me to have life.
Luke 24:44-47 44He
said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you:
Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the
Prophets and the PROVERBS." 45Then he opened their minds so
they could understand the Scriptures. 46He told them, "This is
what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third
day, 47and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached
in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Acts
18:24-28 24Meanwhile a Jew named
Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a
thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25He had been instructed in
the way of the LORD, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus
accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26He began to
speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they
invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. 27When
Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and
wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great
help to those who by grace had believed. 28For he vigorously refuted
his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was
the Messiah.
Acts 13:13-39 New
International Version
13 From Paphos, Paul and his companions
sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to
Jerusalem. 14 From Perga they went on to Pisidian
Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law and
the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying,
“Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.”
16 Standing up, Paul motioned with his
hand and said: “Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen
to me! 17 The God of the people of Israel chose our
ancestors; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt; with mighty
power he led them out of that country; 18 for
about forty years he endured their conduct in the wilderness; 19 and he overthrew seven nations in
Canaan, giving their land to his people as their inheritance. 20 All this took about 450 years.
“After this, God gave
them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. 21 Then the
people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the
tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. 22 After
removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning
him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will
do everything I want him to do.’
23 “From this man’s descendants God has
brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. 24 Before
the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of
Israel. 25 As John was
completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one
you are looking for. But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am
not worthy to untie.’
26 “Fellow children of Abraham and you
God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been
sent. 27 The people of Jerusalem and their rulers
did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of
the prophets that are read every Sabbath. 28 Though
they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him
executed. 29 When they had
carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the
cross and laid him in a tomb. 30 But
God raised him from the dead, 31 and
for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to
Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people.
32 “We tell you the good news: What God
promised our ancestors 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children,
by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm:
“‘You
are my son;
today I have become your father.’
today I have become your father.’
34 God raised him from the dead so that he will
never be subject to decay. As God has said,
“‘I
will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’
35 So it is also stated elsewhere:
“‘You
will not let your holy one see decay.’
36 “Now when David had served God’s purpose in
his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his
ancestors and his body decayed. 37 But the one whom God raised from the
dead did not see decay.
38 “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know
that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through
him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you
were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.
II.
THE AUTHOR OF PROVERBS.
A.
SOLOMON ASKS GOD FOR WISDOM.
2 Chronicles 1:7-12 7That
night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, "Ask for whatever you want
me to give you." 8Solomon answered God, "You have shown
great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. 9Now,
LORD God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made
me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10Give
me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern
this great people of yours?" 11God said to Solomon, "Since
this is your heart's desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or
honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a
long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have
made you king, 12therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you.
And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was
before you ever had and none after you will have."
1 Kings 10:23 23King
Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth.
Ecclesiastes 1:16 16I
said to myself, "Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone
who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom
and knowledge."
1.
JESUS IS WISDOM.
1 Corinthians 1:30 30It is because of him that you are
in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that
is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
2.
THE PREEMINENCE
OF CHRIST OVER ALL CREATION IS DESCRIBED IN PROVERBS.
Proverbs 8:22-31 22"The
LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; 23I
was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be. 24When
there were no watery depths, I was given birth, when there were no springs
overflowing with water; 25before the mountains were settled in
place, before the hills, I was given birth, 26before he made the
world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth. 27I was there
when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of
the deep, 28when he established the clouds above and fixed securely
the fountains of the deep, 29when he gave the sea its boundary so
the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the
foundations of the earth. 30Then I was constantly at his side. I was
filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, 31rejoicing
in his whole world and delighting in mankind.
3.
THE PREEMINENCE
OF CHRIST DESCRIBED.
Colossians 1:13-20 13For
he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom
of the Son he loves, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness
of sins. 15The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn
over all creation. 16For in him all things were created: things in
heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers
or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17He
is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he
is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from
among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19For
God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and through
him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in
heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Psalm
89:27 27And I
will appoint him to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the
kings of the earth.
Revelation 1:5 5and
from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn
from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him
who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
John
1:1 1In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Romans
8:29 29For
those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son,
that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
4.
JESUS WAS NOT CREATED. However,
His Sonship was in the plan of God from the beginning. Jesus is God in flesh
and could not have been created.
Matthew
1:23 23Behold, a virgin shall be
with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel,
which being interpreted is, God with us.
John 8:58
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham
was born, I am.”
Isaiah 9:6
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
Revelation 1:17
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His
right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,
Revelation 1:8
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who
was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 7:3
Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither
beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a
priest perpetually.
Revelation 1:18
And the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive
forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
Psalm 110:4
The Lord has
sworn and will not change His mind,
“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”
“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”
Hebrews 5:6
Just as He says also in another passage,
“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”
“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”
Hebrews 7:17
For it is attested of Him,
“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”
“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”
Hebrews 7:21
(for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an
oath through the One who said to Him,
“The Lord has sworn
And will not change His mind,
‘You are a priest forever’”);
“The Lord has sworn
And will not change His mind,
‘You are a priest forever’”);
Hebrews 7:24
But Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds
His priesthood permanently.
Hebrews 6:20
Where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a
high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 7:28
For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the
word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect
forever.
John 8:35
The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does
remain forever.
Matthew 28:20
III.
WHAT IS THE THEME AND
PURPOSE OF PROVERBS? Proverbs
was written so that people could gain the same type of wisdom that Solomon had.
It was this wisdom that caused Solomon to help Israel become a great nation.
Proverbs
1:1-7 1The
proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2for gaining
wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; 3for
receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and
fair; 4for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and
discretion to the young- 5let the wise listen and add to their
learning, and let the discerning get guidance- 6for understanding
proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. 7The
fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and
instruction.
A.
BOTH DAVID AND HIS
SON SOLOMON LED THE NATION OF ISRAEL IN ITS GOLDEN AGE. There was no one like
Solomon. This set the tone for Messiah to come. Because Jesus was greater than
Solomon!
1 Kings
3:12 12I will do
what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there
will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.
Matthew 12:42 42The queen of the south
shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for
she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon;
and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
1. GOD LOVED HIM. Solomon was a type of Christ; in that He was
the beloved son and heir to the throne.
2 Samuel 12:24-25 24Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he
went to her and made love to her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him
Solomon. The LORD loved him; 25and because the LORD loved him, he
sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah.
1 Kings
1:13 13Go
in to King David and say to him, 'My LORD the king, did you not swear to me
your servant: "Surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will
sit on my throne"? Why then has Adonijah become king?'
a.
JESUS IS THE BELOVED
SON.
Matthew 3:17
17And a voice from heaven said, "This
is my Son,
whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
Luke 9:35
35A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have
chosen; listen to him."
b.
JESUS IS THE HEIR TO
THE THRONE.
Luke 1:32 32He will be great and will be called the Son of
the Most High. The LORD God will give him the throne of his father David,
2. SOLOMON’S LEADERSHIP CONFIRED THAT GOD HAD CHOSEN DAVID
TO BE ANCESTOR OF THE REDEEMER.
2
Samuel 7:12-16 12When
your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your
offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his
kingdom. 13He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I
will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14I will be his
father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod
wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. 15But my
love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed
from before you. 16Your house and your kingdom will endure forever
before me; your throne will be established forever.'"
IV.
WHAT DOES THE NAME PROVERBS
MEAN? It
means a short wise saying.
V.
JESUS IS IN THE BOOK OF PROVERBS.
A.
JESUS IS A FRIEND.
Proverbs 18:24 24A
man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that
sticketh closer than a brother.
B.
JESUS BLOOD IS BETTER THAN SILVER AND GOLD.
Proverbs 8:10-11 10Receive
my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. 11For
wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to
be compared to it.
1 Peter 1:18-19 18For
you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you
were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your
ancestors, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without
blemish or defect.
VI.
SINCE JESUS IS WISDOM IT
ONLY MAKES SENSE THAT AN ENTIRE BOOK WOULD BE DEDICATED TO THE SUBJECT.
A.
WISDOM SHOULD BE A PRIORITY
(Proverbs 1-9). This
whole section shows that wisdom is to be pursued. This section contrasts a
wicked life from a righteous life. Following wisdom will help a person to avoid
a wicked life.
Proverbs
4:20-27 20My son, pay attention to
what I say; turn your ear to my words. 21Do not let them out of your
sight, keep them within your heart; 22for they are life to those who
find them and health to one's whole body. 23Above all else, guard
your heart, for everything you do flows from it. 24Keep your mouth
free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. 25Let your
eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. 26Give
careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. 27Do
not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.
1.
THIS TEXT IS FULFILLED IN
CHRIST.
Matthew 7:24-27 24"Therefore
everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a
wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the
streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not
fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who
hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish
man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams
rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great
crash."
B.
THE TEACHING OF SOLOMON
(Proverbs 10-22:16). Proverbs
was a joy to his parents because of how he carried himself. He passes this
teaching on to the reader.
Proverbs 10:1 1The
proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son
brings grief to his mother.
1.
THIS TEXT IS FULFILLED IN
CHRIST.
John
3:35 35The Father loves
the Son and has placed everything in his
hands.
John
5:20 20For the Father loves
the Son and shows him all he does. Yes,
and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.
C.
WISE SAYINGS (Proverbs
22:17-24). If
you follow these you will have a good name, just like Solomon has.
Proverbs 22:1 1A
good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather
than silver and gold.
1.
JESUS NAME IS ABOVE ALL
NAMES.
Philippians
2:9-11
Therefore God has
highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and
under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father.
Acts 4:12
And there is
salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among
men by which we must be saved.”
John 14:14
If you ask me
anything in my name, I will do it.
Acts 2:38
And Peter said to
them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for
the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 1:21
She will bear a son,
and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their
sins.”
John 16:23-24
In that day you will
ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father
in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my
name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do,
in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to
God the Father through him.
D.
SOLOMON TEACHES AGAIN
(Proverbs 25-29). It
is a royal thing to receive God’s wisdom.
Proverbs 25:1-3 1These are more proverbs of
Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah: 2It is the
glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.
3As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of
kings are unsearchable.
1.
THROUGH JESUS WE ARE KINGS.
And
He reveals His secrets to us!
Revelation 1:5-6 5And
from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the
dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and
washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6And hath made us kings
and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and
ever. Amen.
Matthew 11:25-26 25At
that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, LORD of heaven and earth,
because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed
them to little children. 26Yes, Father, for this is what you were
pleased to do.
E.
PROVERBS OF AGUR (Proverbs
30). We
do not have any information on who he was. However, he makes one of the most
descriptive statements about Christ in Proverbs:
Proverbs 30:4 4Who hath ascended up into heaven,
or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the
waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is
his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?
1.
THIS IS JESUS!
Ephesians 4:5-11 5one
LORD, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is
over all and through all and in all. 7But to each one of us grace
has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8This is why it says:
"When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his
people." 9(What does "he ascended" mean except that
he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10He who descended
is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the
whole universe.) 11So Christ himself gave the apostles, the
prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,
John 20:17 17Jesus
said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go
instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your
Father, to my God and your God.'"
Romans 10:6-10 6But
the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who
will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) 7"or
'Who will descend into the deep?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the
dead). 8But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in
your mouth and in your heart," that is, the message concerning faith that
we proclaim: 9If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is
LORD," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you
will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are
justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
F.
PROVERBS OF LEMUEL
(Proverbs 31). We
know that his name means king. So he was a king. But, we do not have any other
information regarding him. Lemuel speaks about a virtuous woman; a good wife.
Proverbs 31:10-12 10A
wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. 11Her
husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. 12She
brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
1.
THIS IS SYMBOLIC OF THE
WIFE OF CHRIST! We
are preparing for the soon return of the Lord.
Ephesians 5:25-27 25Husbands, love your wives, just
as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her
holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27and
to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any
other blemish, but holy and blameless.
VII.
PRAYER FOR SALVATION. As we close, if you have not received this
Jesus pray this simple prayer:
"Father, I know that I
have sinned against You. Please forgive me. Wash me clean. I promise to trust
in Jesus, Your Son. I believe that He died for me—He took my sin upon Himself
when He died on the cross. I believe that He was raised from the dead. I
surrender my life to Jesus today.
"Thank You, Father, for Your gift of
forgiveness and eternal life. Please help me to live for you. In Jesus' name,
Amen."
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