The author of the Book of Proverbs is said to be Solomon, the son of David, the king of Israel. Scripture tells us that “he was wiser than all men;... And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.” 1 Kings 4:30-3230And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about. 32And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five. (1 Kings 4:30‑32). Solomon was not only superior to all intellectually; he was divinely inspired as well. “God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the seashore.” What is more minute than a grain of sand, and what is more extensive than that which surrounds the ocean.
“Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.” Mere human intelligence and learning, however extraordinary, fell far short of the God-given excelling wisdom of the gifted son of David, king of Israel. Solomon was therefore pre-eminently and divinely fitted to instruct the young and the inexperienced. “His fame was in all nations round about.” “And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart.” 2 Chron. 9:2323And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart. (2 Chronicles 9:23). His exalted position, his unsurpassed wisdom and his boundless wealth enabled him to acquaint himself with the springs and course of all moral conduct. Under the direction of divine inspiration the results of his vast experience have been preserved for the instruction of future generations in this wonderful book of the Proverbs. Though Solomon spoke 3,000 proverbs, the Spirit of God has selected only those contained in this book to be preserved in the Holy Scriptures.
If “all the kings of the earth” thought it worth their while to assume the cost and encounter the dangers of long journeys in order to enjoy the privilege of hearing “the wisdom of Solomon,” what excuse can anyone offer in our day for neglecting the precious instruction so readily displayed to the eye and heart in book of the Proverbs?
At the time the Lord was on this earth, the Old Testament Scriptures were spoken of as being divided into three parts: the Law, being the five books of Moses; the Prophets, which also included some of the historical books; and the Psalms, which included Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Lamentations, and some of the historical books.
Of these the Lord Jesus spoke saying: “All things must be fulfilled, which are written in the Law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me.” Luke 24:4444And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. (Luke 24:44).
As another has said, “Jesus here recognizes the body of writings called the Old Testament in its three parts; and it is still thus entitled in the Hebrew Bibles.” So we see that He looked upon what was contained in the Hebrew Bible as the Scriptures. Those extra books called the Apocrypha were not contained in the Hebrew Bibles, nor were they considered as part of the Scriptures.
ML 07/09/1961