Category Archives: Faith

Introduction to Proverbs

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King Solomon Writing the Book of Proverbs.

In the opening verses of Proverbs, the writer King Solomon, son of King David, provides an overall view of his goal, making Proverbs the only book of the Bible with a formal introduction. He also gives counsel to his son, saying: “A wise man will hear and will increase learning, and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.” Solomon states that in order to have knowledge, you must fear the Lord and the wicked are foolish because they do not trust in God. In chapter one verses 8-19, Solomon gives his son more advice, telling him to not walk in the counsel of the wicked and do not consent to their enticing. 

The material in the Proverbs is similar to that of the Psalms, except the Psalms is written in the form of a song. Just like the Psalms stated many times, verses two and three of Proverbs are about the positive and negative sanctions God can give us. Because it is good for your soul, verse two advises the reader to stay away from the wicked and have wisdom. Chapter three starts with Solomon commanding his son to always keep the law and let his heart keep God’s commandments. 

The first section of the book of Proverbs is mainly focused on wisdom. Referencing it again in chapter five, Solomon says that wisdom is ethical and parents must teach it to their children. Wisdom also brings honor, grace, and life. Chapters six and seven tell the reader to be motivated and labor like an ant for the Lord, and hold up the lamp of law and let it shine bright. 

Themes of the first chapters of the Proverbs are mainly wisdom and sanctions, similar to Psalms. The writer King Solomon, also known as “Solomon the Wise,” focuses much more on wisdom than his father King David did in the previous book. 

The Great Flood

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Picture depicting the ark floating on the flooded Earth.

Genesis 6-9 describes God’s judgment regarding mankind’s sin and His punishment via the Great Flood. It also explains Noah’s relationship with God, his family, and the animals he brought with him on the ark. 

In the time of Noah, the human race was almost totally and completely depraved. Genesis chapter 6 states, “the thoughts of man’s heart was only evil continually.” God grieved, however, he decided to destroy the Earth because he saw nothing but heinous sin. Even in the midst of all this sin, one man, Noah, and his family found grace with God. Opting to show the holy man mercy, God instructed him to construct an ark that would keep, not just his family, but also seven pairs of every “clean” animal safe during the coming armageddon. Noah did as God commanded him and eventually the ark was completed. 

After boarding with his family and the animals, heavy rains began to fall on the face of the Earth. The storms didn’t cease until the whole planet was flooded, killing every living being outside of the ark. 150 days later, Noah sent out a dove. If the bird didn’t return, that would mean it had found dry land, but if it did, that meant the land was still covered with water. The first time Noah sent the dove, it came back, having not found any land. The second time, it returned but came bearing an olive branch, suggesting that trees were sticking above the surface of the ocean. And the third and final time, the dove didn’t return at all, telling Noah the water had receded far enough for him and his family to exit the ark. 

After leaving the massive ship, God demanded all men and beasts to multiply and promised to never flood the Earth again. The symbol of this covenant would be the rainbow, which would be shown periodically to remind men of His covenant. The ark that had saved Noah would come to represent God’s grace and the dove would stand for the peace God made with mankind. 

Even though most of people perished during the Great Flood, God still showed his mercy and love for man by saving Noah and his family and promising to never flood the Earth again. The Great Flood account, as described in Genesis 6-9, is one of the most crucial events of world and religious history.

Themes of the Psalms

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First Page of the Book of Psalms.

The Psalms are mostly imagery and metaphors, like most poems or songs. Mainly, the five themes are Sovereignty, Hierarchy, Law, Sanctions, and Future. 

In verses about Sovereignty, the Psalms say how God is still above all, but we have are own will and can choose to disobey him. In Psalm 18 verse 1-3, David writes that the Lord is his rock and his fortress, and God will deliver him from his enemies, who have chosen to disobey God so they will be smited. 

Hierarchy mainly focuses on how the kings of the earth are no match for the king of heaven and that the earthly ruler’s dominion is not theirs but the Lord’s since he created it. David explains in Psalm 2 that the kings of the earth will take counsel against God, but God will sit in heaven and laugh at them. Instead, David instructs them to be wise, serve the Lord with fear, and kiss the son, lest he be angry. 

Another important theme is Law. In verse 1 it states that he who has delight in the Law will bring forth good fruit and not wither. Wickedness will be judged by God and will come to an end. David proclaims his defense in God, who will save the upright in heart and Law. Emphasizing his point, David again states that the only people who are worthy to stand in the tabernacle are the ones who walk upright, worketh righteousness, speaketh truth, that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor do evil to their neighbor. Subsequently, the only people who follow God’s Law will enter heaven. 

In addition, David says we have a code with God, and if we break it, there will be sanctions for us. Defending himself, David notes that he has not sat with vain persons and he hates the congregation of evil and will not sit with the wicked. Washing his hands with innocence, he will compass the Lord’s altar and ask the Lord to gather not his soul with sinners because they have broken God’s sanctions. Those who give themselves to wine and debauchery will not be able to grow their corn due to their unrighteousness. 

The future is shown multiple times in the Psalms, mostly in examples of what will happen to the wicked. Psalm 9 tells that the sinners have ruined cities, and the destruction that the wicked have done will come to an end. David says the Lord’s name will endure forever and all nations shall call him blessed. The overall message of the Psalms is that God is sovereign: he rules men, even the rulers of the earth, he rules in terms of Law, he brings sanctions, positive and negative, and his inheritance will only be granted to those who keep the law.