For your final exam, I will be combing what are usually study
questions 3 and 4. I'll be asking your for comments on this
generalization:
The Hebrews may not have added
much to human knowledge, but their
contributions to human wisdom are very impressive. Especially important are their explorations
of
the problem of evil
I'll be giving you a lot of
material on the final part of the generalization, but you can if you
like spend some time dealing with the "wisdom" books of the Bible
including (especially) Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.
For extra credit, please read the first chapter of Proverbs and skim the rest of the book. Choose three proverbs that you think is a particularly good examples of Hebrew contributions to human wisdom. Explain your choice, and note what makes each Proverb particularly memorable.
Broc Kilber- Every time I read through proverbs different Proverbs pop out at me and make me think and this time was no different. The first proverb is found in 12:9 "Better to be lowly and have a servant than play the great man and lack bread". This is getting ta the point that flaunting your wealth will usually lead you to being poor and destitute. In our modern internet culture everyone wants to flaunt their wealth and show off. However many of these stars end up broke because of this lifestyle. The second is 22:16 "Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty". As people decry here in America the apparent wealth gap it is important to remember that the badly treating of the poor is not only bad morally but will lead to you becoming impoverished yourself. 27:17 "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another" This proverb shows the best way to become a better person and that is to be around good people. People rub of on each other and if you hang around with people that are rude you will become a rude person.
ReplyDeleteProverbs 6:12-15: This is a good reminder to people, that word tends to get around about someone, especially bad things, and how the subject of rumors, is often unaware of what is being spread. Just don't go around spreading needless drama about other people and it's much harder for people to spread it about you. Proverbs 8:1-3: I love how obvious this one is, it's saying, wisdom is not hard to come by, it's literally everywhere. You have to be trying not to look for it, in order to miss it. Proverbs 12: 1: This is an often hard one, it's hard to accept responsibility for your actions, especially when you work extremely hard towards something and it doesn't pan out the way you want it to. To brush off people trying to tell you the hard things in life, isn't a good or healthy way to live. It's very damaging to you in the long term, I myself need to be better at hearing the hard truths in life. I do not have all the right answers.
ReplyDeleteThe first Proverb I choose is 1:8-19 -
ReplyDeleteBe careful with those you choose to hang out with, as there are some who walk a bad path. If you choose to walk with them, it is possible that you will end up doing some fairly horrendous acts.
The second Proverb I choose is 3:29 -
When living next to someone, you should try your best to be a happy and flexible individual. You shouldn't be planning to do evil against your neighbor, especially given the fact that you will continue to live next to them. Not only is being evil simply not a good lifestyle, you will be forced to face the consequences of your actions for however long you will be next to your neighbor.
The third Proverb I've chosen is 19:20 -
When people teach others, there is a sense of humility in accepting the wisdom being bestowed to you. You should aim to be accepting of this wisdom so you can learn easier in the future compared to being argumentative or proud and refusing to take the advice given.
The first Proverb I chose is in Proverbs 1
ReplyDeleteThe fear of the lord is the beginning of knowledge
The lord is all-loving and forgiving. He is also wrathful in his word. You need to love the Lord, but fear him as well. Fearing him opens the pathway to his promises. That one day it can be taken away.
In Proverbs 3, it states
My son do not forget your teachings, but keep my commandments in your heart.
Never forget the Lord's promises. Keep his rules in your heart and never forget your sins. Ask for forgiveness for what you have done. Never forget that the Lord gave up his life for us.
For the third one, I chose "Honesty is the best policy." This shows that you should never lie and be truthful with your God. I had many choices, but I picked these three based on importance.
Walker Larson: For extra credit, please read the first chapter of Proverbs and skim the rest of the book. Choose three proverbs that you think is a particularly good examples of Hebrew contributions to human wisdom. Explain your choice, and note what makes each Proverb particularly memorable.
ReplyDeleteProverbs 5:3-5
The warning against adultery in the book of Proverbs is one of the most lasting and useful warnings throughout time. More people's lives have been destroyed by adultery than almost any other act. A recent example: just this year, a Minnesota State Senator was caught soliciting a minor. In that one act he lost absolutely everything, his wife, his children, his career, and his freedom. It is an absolutely devastating act that completely ruins people.
Proverbs 25:6
"Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence." This one stands out to me as particularly useful. I do not often think about who I send to deliver a word or message as important. But the more I think of it the more I realize how important it is to pick the right person to represent you. After the Black Hills purchase went through and the Native Americans were being forcefully relocated, President Grant sent troops to peacefully relocate the Natives onto reservations, hoping for a nonviolent confrontation. Among those companies was George Armstrong Custer, someone Grant knew was to say the least, cavalier and not particularly lacking in confidence. Grant should have known Custer would be a problem and ordered him to be left out of the mission, but he did not, and Custer provoked a fight leading to his eventual death along with nearly three hundred men and the further straining of Native and American relations. This directly led to the Wounded Knee Massacre nearly a decade later. Who you send to be your representative has consequences.
Proverbs 22:1
"A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold." Sometimes when you are young, it is hard to remember that your reputation matters, and it matters a lot. What is often lost on people is how fragile your reputation is. But what is good is, if you work hard to cultivate a good reputation, rumors about you are often impermanent or easily dismissible. This is a good one to keep in the back of your mind.
Proverbs 17:10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
ReplyDeleteI have seen situations in real life where exemplary students are treated more strictly, while those who are not are often neglected. I always felt this was unfair. Even though I understand that no matter how many times you discipline foolish students, they rarely change, I worried that treating the good students too harshly might eventually cause them to go astray. However, after reading this verse, I thought about it differently. It teaches that a truly wise person will not be shaken by a single rebuke but will take it to heart and continue to walk the right path.
Proverbs 22:2
The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.
It is an important statement that points out the emptiness of material things. Even today, in a society where class still confines individuals, this statement holds great significance.
Proverbs 29:15
The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
Of course, in today's world, using physical punishment as a form of discipline is absolutely wrong. However, it is still important to firmly teach children what behavior is unacceptable. Some parents today believe that letting their children do whatever they want is a sign of good parenting, but in the end, this may bring shame upon themselves.
Sophia Lee