The Message of Wisdom: Learning and Living The Way of The Lord (The Bible Speaks Today Themes)

by Daniel J. Estes

Publisher:

IVP

, 2020

Overview

‘For the LORD gives wisdom…he stores up sound wisdom for the upright… The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom’ (Proverbs 2:6, 7; 9:10).

The Old Testament books of Proverbs, Job and Ecclesiastes are often referred to as the wisdom books of the Bible. The theme of wisdom, however, is not limited to these books: it actually pervades much of the Bible. Dan Estes explores wisdom in key passages in Scripture.

In Part 1, he investigates the concept of wisdom in the book of Proverbs: what wisdom is and how it calls out to humans to follow its path. In Part 2, he considers how wisdom is presented in various contexts in the Old Testament, in passages from the law (Deuteronomy 30), history (1 Kings 3-4), prophecy (Jeremiah 8-9) and Psalm 112. Part 3 focuses on Proverbs to learn how wisdom affects our conduct in our work, our speech, our decisions and our righteous living. There is complexity in the biblical message of wisdom. Part 4 shows how the prominent theme of retribution in Proverbs is balanced and qualified in the books of Job and Ecclesiastes. In Part 5, Estes examines the culmination of wisdom in the New Testament, as we see that Jesus is the master teacher of wisdom and the source of all wisdom, and that we are challenged to live by God’s wisdom rather than falling into folly.

Throughout the Bible, we are constantly challenged to learn God’s wisdom, to live God’s wisdom, and to love God’s wisdom.

Key Features

• Investigates the concept of wisdom in the book of Proverbs
• Considers how wisdom is presented in various contexts in the Old Testament
• Focuses on Proverbs to learn how wisdom affects our conduct in our work, our speech, our decisions and our righteous living

Contents

The concept of wisdom

• An invitation to wisdom (Proverbs 1:1-7)
• Searching for wisdom (Proverbs 2:1-11)
• The contrasting paths of wisdom and folly (Proverbs 9)
• The personification of wisdom (Proverbs 8)

The context of wisdom

• Choose life (Deuteronomy 30:15-20)
• Solomon the prototype of wisdom and folly (1 Kings 3:5-15; 4:29-34)
• The distortion of wisdom (Jeremiah 8:8-10; 9:23-24)
• The blessings of fearing the Lord (Psalm 112)

The conduct of wisdom

• Wisdom in work (Proverbs 6:6-11)
• Wisdom in speech
• Wisdom in decisions
• Wisdom as righteousness

The complexity of wisdom

• Retribution and its limits
• Wisdom resides in the all-knowing Lord (Job)
• Enjoy God's portion as his gift (Ecclesiastes 9:7-10)

The culmination of wisdom

• Jesus the teacher of wisdom (Matthew 7:13-29)
• Christ the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:18-25)
• Knowing Christ, the source of wisdom (Colossians 2:1-7)
• Living by wisdom from above (James 3:13-18)
• Walking in godly wisdom (Ephesians 5:15-21)

Praise for The Message of Wisdom

This book is powerful, pastoral and trustworthy, and makes wisdom accessible to contemporary believers. Dan Estes explains the text is clear and balanced way, and only introduces other scholarly views to clarify what the passage actually means. He has one foot firmly planted in the world of Old Testament wisdom, but the other one is just as firmly grounded in the contemporary world. He rightly sees that wisdom is not simply confined to a few books, but it flows into other parts of the Old Testament (‘like a recurrent motif woven throughout a symphony’), and into the teaching of Jesus and the apostles. Estes teaches wisdom wisely, and this book will make you want to preach a series on wisdom.

—Lindsay Wilson, Senior Lecturer in Old Testament, Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia

Product Details

• Title: The Message of Wisdom: Learning and Living the Way of the Lord
• Author: Daniel J. Estes
• Series: The Bible Speaks Today: Bible Themes Series
• Publisher: IVP
• Print Publication Date: 2020
• Logos Release Date: 2023
• Pages: 252
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Subjects: Wisdom in the Bible; Wisdom literature › Criticism, interpretation, etc
• ISBNs: 9781783599820, 9781783599837, 1783599820, 1783599839
• Resource ID: LLS:BSTTWISDOM
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2024-10-02T19:19:09Z

About Daniel J. Estes

Daniel J. Estes (Ph.D., University of Cambridge) is professor of Bible and dean of the school of biblical and theological studies at Cedarville University in Ohio. His books include Hear, My Son and Handbook on the Wisdom Books and Psalms.